Penguins are big of late, especially Emperor Penguins, some of which can be upwards of four, four-and-a-half feet tall. But, of course, they are also big in the media, what with 2005's "March of the Penguins" winning an Oscar for Best Documentary Film and 2006's "Happy Feet" winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. What's more, penguins have always been big. Think back on all those penguins you've seen in television commercials; or Walter Lantz's Chilly Willy of the 1950s and 60s; or the penguins in Disney's "Silly Symphonies" of the 1930s. Seems like our love affair with these courtly, cuddly, communal creatures will never end.
"Happy Feet" is the brainchild of George Miller, the movie's co-writer and director, who previously brought us "Babe," "Babe: Pig in the City," "The Witches of Eastwick," and all of the "Mad Max" movies. So you know going in the guy's got talent, and "Happy Feet" is going to show a good deal of creativity. It does; just not quite enough to keep this grown-up from yawning a few times in the process.
The big "however" about the film is that I can't remember another of Miller's works so overflowing with lessons, themes, and morals. And not just a few related lessons but ones going off in all directions. I have to admit that in more than a couple of places the film's transitions left me wondering what the heck was happening. Although I thought at first it might have been because of a few dull stretches catching me daydreaming, I soon came to realize it was because the screenplay sometimes moves from one episode to another without much rhyme or reason. Among other things, the film conveys such varied messages as it's OK to be different; everyone needs to fit in and belong; humanity should be open-minded; superstition, tradition, even religion, should not cloud our better judgment; opposite minds can and should get along; and, ultimately, we as a people should exercise greater responsibility over our environment. Save the penguins, save the whales, save Antarctica, save the world. These are noble, valuable, and in some cases very personal sentiments that Miller has every right to include in his film, particularly a film aimed at children who need all the good counsel they can get; but, understand, they are also sentiments that can be somewhat tedious and redundant for adults.
Fortunately, the movie counterbalances its wayward story line about a young penguin who would rather dance than sing like the rest of his kind with, perhaps ironically, its fine songs, splendid dancing, and glorious CGI animation. Make no mistake: The movie is a musical from beginning to end, and you will find just about every style of music in it, most of it well-known, previously recorded material, from pop and rock to gospel and country, from hip-hop to blues, you name it.
Besides that, the computer animation will knock your socks off, if you don't mind bare feet. The picture is not just detailed, it's almost photorealistic. It looks practically like "March of the Penguins" except with music. Considering that most of the movie takes place in the Antarctic, where colors are predominantly shades of gray and white, the movie is brimming over with the vitality of its hues, with little splashes of color showing up all the more vividly for their stark surroundings. Then, the artists' ability to create literally thousands of penguins that in real life pretty much all look alike and personalize them with individual characteristics is quite a trick. So, the picture is a treat for the eyes and ears.
I wish, though, there was as much inspiration in the voice characterizations as there is in visuals. Robin Williams, playing two parts, invests his usual imagination and energy in the roles and keeps things moving along. Hugh Jackman as an Elvis clone and Hugo Weaving as a village elder also do their best to inject a little life into their characters. But, honestly, if I had not read on the keep case that Elijah Wood voiced the main character and that Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy, Anthony LaPaglia, Steve Irwin (who died shortly after completing the film), and others were also in it, I doubt that I would have recognized their speaking voices, they're so nondescript.
There is also another tiny oddity in the film. When the main character, a young Emperor penguin named Mumble, goes off in search of answers to his problems, he runs into a community of smaller penguins he's never seen before. Now, here's the thing: These little guys all speak English in Hispanic accents. Is this, I wonder, because they are all from south of Emperor Land's border? Or because the filmmakers are suggesting that Hispanic people are short? Figuring that surely a film taking such high moral ground as this one does would not stoop to such obvious ethnic stereotypes, I concluded by giving the filmmakers the benefit of the doubt and assumed they were just trying to be inventive. Or not.
Despite the film getting more than a bit erratic and preachy, "Happy Feet" is generally cute and entertaining, particularly for youngsters, and it is surely a delight to the senses. Don't be surprised if the dancing, at least, has you up on your feet and tapping your toes.
"Happy Feet" is the brainchild of George Miller, the movie's co-writer and director, who previously brought us "Babe," "Babe: Pig in the City," "The Witches of Eastwick," and all of the "Mad Max" movies. So you know going in the guy's got talent, and "Happy Feet" is going to show a good deal of creativity. It does; just not quite enough to keep this grown-up from yawning a few times in the process.
The big "however" about the film is that I can't remember another of Miller's works so overflowing with lessons, themes, and morals. And not just a few related lessons but ones going off in all directions. I have to admit that in more than a couple of places the film's transitions left me wondering what the heck was happening. Although I thought at first it might have been because of a few dull stretches catching me daydreaming, I soon came to realize it was because the screenplay sometimes moves from one episode to another without much rhyme or reason. Among other things, the film conveys such varied messages as it's OK to be different; everyone needs to fit in and belong; humanity should be open-minded; superstition, tradition, even religion, should not cloud our better judgment; opposite minds can and should get along; and, ultimately, we as a people should exercise greater responsibility over our environment. Save the penguins, save the whales, save Antarctica, save the world. These are noble, valuable, and in some cases very personal sentiments that Miller has every right to include in his film, particularly a film aimed at children who need all the good counsel they can get; but, understand, they are also sentiments that can be somewhat tedious and redundant for adults.
Fortunately, the movie counterbalances its wayward story line about a young penguin who would rather dance than sing like the rest of his kind with, perhaps ironically, its fine songs, splendid dancing, and glorious CGI animation. Make no mistake: The movie is a musical from beginning to end, and you will find just about every style of music in it, most of it well-known, previously recorded material, from pop and rock to gospel and country, from hip-hop to blues, you name it.
Besides that, the computer animation will knock your socks off, if you don't mind bare feet. The picture is not just detailed, it's almost photorealistic. It looks practically like "March of the Penguins" except with music. Considering that most of the movie takes place in the Antarctic, where colors are predominantly shades of gray and white, the movie is brimming over with the vitality of its hues, with little splashes of color showing up all the more vividly for their stark surroundings. Then, the artists' ability to create literally thousands of penguins that in real life pretty much all look alike and personalize them with individual characteristics is quite a trick. So, the picture is a treat for the eyes and ears.
I wish, though, there was as much inspiration in the voice characterizations as there is in visuals. Robin Williams, playing two parts, invests his usual imagination and energy in the roles and keeps things moving along. Hugh Jackman as an Elvis clone and Hugo Weaving as a village elder also do their best to inject a little life into their characters. But, honestly, if I had not read on the keep case that Elijah Wood voiced the main character and that Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy, Anthony LaPaglia, Steve Irwin (who died shortly after completing the film), and others were also in it, I doubt that I would have recognized their speaking voices, they're so nondescript.
There is also another tiny oddity in the film. When the main character, a young Emperor penguin named Mumble, goes off in search of answers to his problems, he runs into a community of smaller penguins he's never seen before. Now, here's the thing: These little guys all speak English in Hispanic accents. Is this, I wonder, because they are all from south of Emperor Land's border? Or because the filmmakers are suggesting that Hispanic people are short? Figuring that surely a film taking such high moral ground as this one does would not stoop to such obvious ethnic stereotypes, I concluded by giving the filmmakers the benefit of the doubt and assumed they were just trying to be inventive. Or not.
Despite the film getting more than a bit erratic and preachy, "Happy Feet" is generally cute and entertaining, particularly for youngsters, and it is surely a delight to the senses. Don't be surprised if the dancing, at least, has you up on your feet and tapping your toes.
Penguins are big of late, especially Emperor Penguins, some of which can be upwards of four, four-and-a-half feet tall. But, of course, they are also big in the media, what with 2005's "March of the Penguins" winning an Oscar for Best Documentary Film and 2006's "Happy Feet" winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. What's more, penguins have always been big. Think back on all those penguins you've seen in television commercials; or Walter Lantz's Chilly Willy of the 1950s and 60s; or the penguins in Disney's "Silly Symphonies" of the 1930s. Seems like our love affair with these courtly, cuddly, communal creatures will never end.
"Happy Feet" is the brainchild of George Miller, the movie's co-writer and director, who previously brought us "Babe," "Babe: Pig in the City," "The Witches of Eastwick," and all of the "Mad Max" movies. So you know going in the guy's got talent, and "Happy Feet" is going to show a good deal of creativity. It does; just not quite enough to keep this grown-up from yawning a few times in the process.
The big "however" about the film is that I can't remember another of Miller's works so overflowing with lessons, themes, and morals. And not just a few related lessons but ones going off in all directions. I have to admit that in more than a couple of places the film's transitions left me wondering what the heck was happening. Although I thought at first it might have been because of a few dull stretches catching me daydreaming, I soon came to realize it was because the screenplay sometimes moves from one episode to another without much rhyme or reason. Among other things, the film conveys such varied messages as it's OK to be different; everyone needs to fit in and belong; humanity should be open-minded; superstition, tradition, even religion, should not cloud our better judgment; opposite minds can and should get along; and, ultimately, we as a people should exercise greater responsibility over our environment. Save the penguins, save the whales, save Antarctica, save the world. These are noble, valuable, and in some cases very personal sentiments that Miller has every right to include in his film, particularly a film aimed at children who need all the good counsel they can get; but, understand, they are also sentiments that can be somewhat tedious and redundant for adults.
Fortunately, the movie counterbalances its wayward story line about a young penguin who would rather dance than sing like the rest of his kind with, perhaps ironically, its fine songs, splendid dancing, and glorious CGI animation. Make no mistake: The movie is a musical from beginning to end, and you will find just about every style of music in it, most of it well-known, previously recorded material, from pop and rock to gospel and country, from hip-hop to blues, you name it.
Besides that, the computer animation will knock your socks off, if you don't mind bare feet. The picture is not just detailed, it's almost photorealistic. It looks practically like "March of the Penguins" except with music. Considering that most of the movie takes place in the Antarctic, where colors are predominantly shades of gray and white, the movie is brimming over with the vitality of its hues, with little splashes of color showing up all the more vividly for their stark surroundings. Then, the artists' ability to create literally thousands of penguins that in real life pretty much all look alike and personalize them with individual characteristics is quite a trick. So, the picture is a treat for the eyes and ears.
I wish, though, there was as much inspiration in the voice characterizations as there is in visuals. Robin Williams, playing two parts, invests his usual imagination and energy in the roles and keeps things moving along. Hugh Jackman as an Elvis clone and Hugo Weaving as a village elder also do their best to inject a little life into their characters. But, honestly, if I had not read on the keep case that Elijah Wood voiced the main character and that Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy, Anthony LaPaglia, Steve Irwin (who died shortly after completing the film), and others were also in it, I doubt that I would have recognized their speaking voices, they're so nondescript.
There is also another tiny oddity in the film. When the main character, a young Emperor penguin named Mumble, goes off in search of answers to his problems, he runs into a community of smaller penguins he's never seen before. Now, here's the thing: These little guys all speak English in Hispanic accents. Is this, I wonder, because they are all from south of Emperor Land's border? Or because the filmmakers are suggesting that Hispanic people are short? Figuring that surely a film taking such high moral ground as this one does would not stoop to such obvious ethnic stereotypes, I concluded by giving the filmmakers the benefit of the doubt and assumed they were just trying to be inventive. Or not.
Despite the film getting more than a bit erratic and preachy, "Happy Feet" is generally cute and entertaining, particularly for youngsters, and it is surely a delight to the senses. Don't be surprised if the dancing, at least, has you up on your feet and tapping your toes.
"Happy Feet" is the brainchild of George Miller, the movie's co-writer and director, who previously brought us "Babe," "Babe: Pig in the City," "The Witches of Eastwick," and all of the "Mad Max" movies. So you know going in the guy's got talent, and "Happy Feet" is going to show a good deal of creativity. It does; just not quite enough to keep this grown-up from yawning a few times in the process.
The big "however" about the film is that I can't remember another of Miller's works so overflowing with lessons, themes, and morals. And not just a few related lessons but ones going off in all directions. I have to admit that in more than a couple of places the film's transitions left me wondering what the heck was happening. Although I thought at first it might have been because of a few dull stretches catching me daydreaming, I soon came to realize it was because the screenplay sometimes moves from one episode to another without much rhyme or reason. Among other things, the film conveys such varied messages as it's OK to be different; everyone needs to fit in and belong; humanity should be open-minded; superstition, tradition, even religion, should not cloud our better judgment; opposite minds can and should get along; and, ultimately, we as a people should exercise greater responsibility over our environment. Save the penguins, save the whales, save Antarctica, save the world. These are noble, valuable, and in some cases very personal sentiments that Miller has every right to include in his film, particularly a film aimed at children who need all the good counsel they can get; but, understand, they are also sentiments that can be somewhat tedious and redundant for adults.
Fortunately, the movie counterbalances its wayward story line about a young penguin who would rather dance than sing like the rest of his kind with, perhaps ironically, its fine songs, splendid dancing, and glorious CGI animation. Make no mistake: The movie is a musical from beginning to end, and you will find just about every style of music in it, most of it well-known, previously recorded material, from pop and rock to gospel and country, from hip-hop to blues, you name it.
Besides that, the computer animation will knock your socks off, if you don't mind bare feet. The picture is not just detailed, it's almost photorealistic. It looks practically like "March of the Penguins" except with music. Considering that most of the movie takes place in the Antarctic, where colors are predominantly shades of gray and white, the movie is brimming over with the vitality of its hues, with little splashes of color showing up all the more vividly for their stark surroundings. Then, the artists' ability to create literally thousands of penguins that in real life pretty much all look alike and personalize them with individual characteristics is quite a trick. So, the picture is a treat for the eyes and ears.
I wish, though, there was as much inspiration in the voice characterizations as there is in visuals. Robin Williams, playing two parts, invests his usual imagination and energy in the roles and keeps things moving along. Hugh Jackman as an Elvis clone and Hugo Weaving as a village elder also do their best to inject a little life into their characters. But, honestly, if I had not read on the keep case that Elijah Wood voiced the main character and that Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy, Anthony LaPaglia, Steve Irwin (who died shortly after completing the film), and others were also in it, I doubt that I would have recognized their speaking voices, they're so nondescript.
There is also another tiny oddity in the film. When the main character, a young Emperor penguin named Mumble, goes off in search of answers to his problems, he runs into a community of smaller penguins he's never seen before. Now, here's the thing: These little guys all speak English in Hispanic accents. Is this, I wonder, because they are all from south of Emperor Land's border? Or because the filmmakers are suggesting that Hispanic people are short? Figuring that surely a film taking such high moral ground as this one does would not stoop to such obvious ethnic stereotypes, I concluded by giving the filmmakers the benefit of the doubt and assumed they were just trying to be inventive. Or not.
Despite the film getting more than a bit erratic and preachy, "Happy Feet" is generally cute and entertaining, particularly for youngsters, and it is surely a delight to the senses. Don't be surprised if the dancing, at least, has you up on your feet and tapping your toes.
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