 After Friends , Schwimmer starred in the 2005 independent drama Duane Hopwood , as the title character , who is an alcoholic whose life is spiraling downward rapidly after a divorce and is looking to turn his life around . The film received ambivalent reviews . Despite the reception , Schwimmer 's performance was favored by critics ; Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun @-@ Times reported that the role was Schwimmer 's " career @-@ transforming performance " . Duane Hopwood was screened at a special presentation at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival . Furthermore , in the same year he voiced Melman , a hypochondriac giraffe , in the computer animated film Madagascar ( 2005 ) . The Washington Post noted that Schwimmer is particularly appealing as Melman . Despite the mixed response from critics , the film was a commercial success , earning US $ 532 million worldwide , making it one of the biggest hits of 2005 . 
