I love sharing movies with my kids, and we watch a lot of them. However, “family” films, like all others, vary in quality and impression. I have a pretty good memory, but when it came time for us to see Happy Feet Two, I couldn’t remember seeing the original, which says something about it. And while I’m pretty sure the sequel will disappear down the same rabbit-hole in my mind, it does have its moments.
Luckily, little knowledge of the first Happy Feet is required. Mumble the Emperor penguin (Elijah Wood) has grown old enough to have a child of his own (but apparently not enough to moult his feathers, which would confuse the kids). Like his father did, little Erik (Ava Acres) is struggling with finding his place in the world, since he can’t dance well enough to fit in with the gigantic chorus line that is the rest of his colony.
Embarrassed, Erik runs away to the neighbouring group of Adelie penguins, and Mumble pursues. While they’re gone, a rogue iceberg that has snapped off the Antarctic shelf crashes inland, trapping the Emperors in their valley, where they will soon starve if not free to get fish from the ocean. It’s up to Mumble to save the day.
Director George Miller again delivers a fantastic visual experience – the computer animation is absolutely convincing, even when we know full well that penguins cannot move like this. And he underscores the film’s message about unity with beautiful panoramic shots of the Earth.
The voice talent is very high calibre, too, though performances are uneven. Brad Pitt and Matt Damon provide most of the comic relief, in a parallel story about two krill that separate from their swarm. Hank Azaria is fun as The Mighty Sven, a Swedish puffin that has convinced the Adelies he is a flying penguin. Alecia Moore (aka the singer Pink), as Mumble’s wife Gloria, is an excellent singer, but her voice acting seems out of place. Robin Williams, voicing a couple of roles, is largely annoying, though that’s more the fault of the script.
And overall, the whole thing ends up feeling flat, its impression as washed out as the snowy landscape. The weak story and lame jokes seem aimed at very young children, and yet there are a few scenes of characters in danger that will frighten them.
But the musical numbers don’t disappoint. They have little to do with the story, being mostly amped-up pop classics with lyrics that link vaguely to the action. And with the over-saturation of reality TV singing competitions and shows like Glee, it might seem hard to get excited about yet another over-produced and schmaltzy song-and-dance. But, darned if they don’t still stir the emotions. You’d have to have a heart of stone not to feel something, or at least resist tapping a toe, in the final scenes.
This is the power that music has over us, and director Miller knows how to wield it. Like its predecessor, Happy Feet Two may not stick in the mind for long, but it sometimes manages to hold your attention while you’re watching it.
Tags: movie review
About the author: David Raitt
David Raitt is a writer and lover of pop culture. He lives in Oakville. He has also worked as an actor for The Second City, and has written, produced and performed his own sketch comedy, including the Canadian Comedy Award-nominated ALL THE RAGE. Semi-retired from performing, he still teaches improv and communications skills to students and corporate groups through his association with The Second City. Check out Dave's website at http://davidraitt.com
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