Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, and Hugh Jackman provide the voices in the animated kids movie, Happy Feet. This is the story of a little penguin named Mumble who has a terrible singing voice and later discovers he has no Heartsong. However, Mumble has an astute talent for something that none of the penguins had ever seen before: tap dancing. Though Mumble's mom, Norma Jean, thinks this little habit is cute, his dad, Memphis, says it 'just ain't penguin'. Besides, they both know that, without a Heartsong, Mumble may never find true love. As fate would have it, his one friend, Gloria, happens to be the best singer around. Mumble and Gloria have a connection from the moment they hatch, but she struggles with his strange 'hippity-hoppity' ways. Mumble is just too different--especially for Noah the Elder, the stern leader of Emperor Land, who ultimately casts him out of the community. Away from home for the first time, Mumble meets a posse of decidedly un-Emperor-like penguins--the Adelie Amigos. Led by Ramon, the Adelies instantly embrace Mumble's cool dance moves and invite him to party with...Read full review
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If someone would have told me that a movie about a dancing penguin would be box-office gold, I would have laughed in their face. Of course, I also laughed when people told me about buying bottled water in the 80s, cars that ran on electricity and George W. Bush would be re-elected. Happy Feet is a sweet family movie that centres around penguin namd Mumble. Now, in this world, all penguins sing and when they find their 'heart song', they are ready to face the world. Unfortuantely, when Mumble sings, is sounds about as charming as someone wailing on a sack of cats. Our hero does have one special talent and that is his ability to dance up a storm. However, this talent has a value of zero in penguin society. Feel depressed for his lack of acceptance, Mumble winds up on a whirlwind adventure that eventually leads to his redemption. I really tried to like this movie. The first hour was pretty solid. Filled with catchy tunes and good dialogue, it kept my attention. It also felt a lot like I was watching an animated version of "March of the Penguins". However, the second half the film seems a little week and the "I can't sing" thing was getting a little tired for myself. Only one of my three daughters would sit through it (The 9 year old). The four year old wanted to leave half way through. On the plus, the animation is crisp and sharp. The sound is well done and I think it is one of the few family movies that I can honestly say has a little something for everyone. If your little ones can sit through a two hour showing, then this is the film for you.Read full review
Happy Feet is a cute fun film the entire family can enjoy. The movie is full of humor that will be appreciated by old and young alike while the music will appeal to audiences of all ages. The animation here is top notch and the voice overs are some of the best in the business featuring talent from Robin Williams, Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, and Nicole Kidman. The movie even won an Academy Award for best animated film. The only reason I don't give the film a perfect rating is because there is quite a bit of propaganda towards the end concerning environmental protection and global warming which tends to damper the easy going mood that prevails for most of the movie. All things in consideration, Happy Feet should be an easy choice is you or your family, especially if you enjoy the animated genre.Read full review
CRITICAL CONSENSUS Visually dazzling, with a thoughtful storyline and catchy musical numbers, Happy Feet marks a successful animated debut from the makers of Babe. SYNOPSIS In the great nation of Emperor Penguins, deep in Antarctica, you're nobody unless you can sing-which is unfortunate for Mumble (ELIJAH WOOD), who is the worst singer in the world. He is born dancing to his own tune...tap dancing. Though Mumble's mom, Norma Jean (NICOLE KIDMAN), thinks this little habit is cute, his dad, Memphis (HUGH JACKMAN), says "it just ain't penguin." Besides, they both know that without a Heartsong, Mumble may never find true love. As fate would have it, his one friend, Gloria (BRITTANY MURPHY), happens to be the best singer around. Mumble and Gloria have a connection from the moment they hatch, but she struggles with his strange "hippity-hoppity" ways. Mumble is just too different-especially for Noah the Elder (HUGO WEAVING), the stern leader of Emperor Land, who ultimately casts him out of the community. Away from home for the first time, Mumble meets a posse of decidedly un-Emperor-like penguins-the Adelie Amigos. Led by Ramon (ROBIN WILLIAMS), the Adelies instantly embrace Mumble's cool dance moves and invite him to party with them. In Adelie Land, Mumble seeks the counsel of Lovelace the Guru (also voiced by ROBIN WILLIAMS), a crazy-feathered Rockhopper penguin who will answer any of life's questions for the price of a pebble. Together with Lovelace and the Amigos, Mumble sets out across vast landscapes and, after some epic encounters, proves that by being true to yourself, you can make all the difference in the world. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy Miller production, in association with Animal Logic Film. A George Miller film, "Happy Feet" features the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving and Anthony LaPaglia. The film also features the tap dancing of Savion Glover. "Happy Feet" is directed by George Miller, who also co-wrote the screenplay with John Collee, Judy Morris and Warren Coleman. The film is produced by Doug Mitchell, George Miller and Bill Miller, with Zareh Nalbandian, Graham Burke, Dana Goldberg, and Bruce Berman executive producing. The music is composed by John Powell, and the soundtrack also includes songs performed by Prince, Yolanda Adams, Fantasia Barrino, Gia Farrell, Chrissie Hynde, Patti LaBelle, k.d. lang, Jason Mraz, and Pink. "Happy Feet" will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. MOVIE MISTAKES Mistake #1 Throughout the movie, the patting of the feet is out of time to the feet themselves. Mistake #2 When Mumble is still a baby, his "bowtie" does not appear until Boss Skua has him pinned down under his foot. Then shortly after, it disappears again, only to reappear when Mumble falls into the crack in the ice. Mistake #3 When Mumble is talking to Boss Skua and he says his line "They could have eated you", his "bowtie" is visible. When the shot goes back to show Mumble again (when he's asking Boss Skua if he can appeal to his better nature) the "bowtie" is gone. Mistake #4 Several times throughout the movie Mumble can plainly be heard gasping underwater - definitely breathing, not talking - although this wouRead full review
Boy, I wanted more than anything to really like this movie.. My who;e family was just not into it. Everyone made a fuss about it, but it was rather sad and the ads were misleading.. There are some "happy" parts to the movie but there are alot of more sad and hurtful things too, the father is very hard on his son, even though he is the one who makes son the way he is.. songless. He is outcasted and put down by others. He does how ever make the best of all that happends to him, he trys to dance for a mate and saves the family by finding the fish. My three year old cried near the end when he got trapped in the zoo. I have never seen her cry about a movie before. It's most certainly is heart felt and will tug your heart strings, but the name doesn't fit the whole movie emotions. Our family is very big on childrens movies but I hate to say it that we should have rented it before we bought it.Read full review
Mumble is an Emperor Penguin who is kinda different from the others - instead of singing like the rest of them all he wants to do is tap dance. This does not sit well with any of the other EP's (emperor penguins) and eventually it leads him into some exciting misadventures. Ultimately these adventures lead him into contact with the "Aliens", which are actually humans who are impacting on the penguin environment. The animation is superb, some scenes are very exciting and suitably scary, the songs and dances are toe-tapping fun, and the message - well, it's an important one.
I bought this movie for my children because like most parents, now adays when a movie conveys a message that older children can take and apply to every day life you buy it and hope that they receive the message. Happy Feet did just that!! The Message of it being ok to be different, and also helping saving animals are shown as well as great music that sends us adults back down memory lane! I recommend this movie for ages 5 and older younger children will like it but may not get the messages as clearly.
I love music; all kinds of music. From the moment it begins Happy Feet is singing. Hugh Jackman's portrayal as Memphis, i.e. Elvis, is right on. He's great; and Nicole Kidman as Happy Feet's mother sings so very well, too. It a touch of the 50's and 60's, using Elvis and the Platters material, just to name a few, to the days of disco, Boogy Wonderland and more! I love watching it with my grandkids because there's a great message of being kind, and overcoming life's unfairness in general, and striving to be the best you can be...not what someone else thinks you can be. And once you've reached your potential, forgiving those who couldn't see what you were trying to become.
Pixar has been making the best animated movies this side of Japan for almost 20 years, and was recently bought by Disney. No, not the corporate Disney that's churned out crap, it's the GREAT, groundbreaking Disney, that set the standard for animation 50 years ago. Specifically, it's the Disney that knew the songs and music were at least as important as the pictures. Music was the foundation for Disney's success decades ago, and the reason The Lion King was such a renaissance for Disney. Now I'm not saying films like The Incredibles or Cars aren't great, but honestly: I'd rather watch Happy Feet... again. Music makes the world go 'round, and Happy Feet uses music better than any Disney or Pixar film in years. Maybe ever, but I've got a bias towards Penguins and Prince and Elvis. Sure, I'm a music geek, and an anime geek, but I'm a dad too, and this movie is fun. Lots of fun, and I can't wait to watch it with my next baby. (Due next month!) And I'm hoping for a little girl so we can do duets... :)Read full review
I am 46 years old and I am so hooked on this movie! My husband rented it a few weeks ago for me since I told him that I couldn't wait for it to come out on DVD and to get it as soon as it did. Now I just purchased it on eBay and can't wait for it to arrive. The animation is terrific (how'd they do that?) and the music is absolutely wonderful. Mumble is a true sweetheart and I love the religious undertones of this movie, if you care to watch it closely enough to find them. Mumble has a heart of gold and is such a humble penguin in every way. It touched me very deeply when he was a baby penguin and was trying to sing with the group, but couldn't. Eventually he'd stand at the back of the crowd and let his mind wander about life in general, all the while being ignored by the others who could sing. This movie teaches us all that we should be very careful how we treat people, or penguins for that matter, 'cause you never know when they will be the one to have to save you or come to your rescue. My kudos to the film maker and director. ASTONISHING WORK !!!Read full review
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