Some people either aren't getting the point or hate the point this movie makes

Rating: 9/10 (2 December 2006)

Look, we are depleting too much of the world's fish. Don't blame the movie for telling the kids about it. The city I live in is a major fishing port, so when I saw the message coming across loud and clear I knew exactly how much it was going to aggravate people. But too bad, it's true. Do you want to know how they kill them because I've been on a fishing boat? Well they reel in the net and as the fish flop on the deck you're supposed to hit them in the head with a stick that has a nail in it. Tell your kids that if you hate propaganda.
Anyway, the story is about a misfit penguin who is in serious danger of never finding a soulmate because he can't sing his heart song. He taps it. Well it wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't for close-minded people, er, uh, I mean penguins. So he becomes an outcast and finds some friends who aren't like him but they don't have the same rigid standards as his original group. So he learns to believe in himself and at a crucial point in the movie he decides to do the right thing for those who shunned him even if it means certain death. I mean, come on. That's the real message for the kiddies. Self-sacrifice for the greater good. The other message is for us grown-ups. And that message is, we're not the only ones here who have lives to lead and babies to have and songs to sing, or tap. So stop acting like you are. In order to get the message across in the movie Mumble had to get his point across to humans and talking or singing wasn't going to help so he had to find a way to communicate with us. See, bridging gaps, self-sacrifice, the greater good. Who wants that message in a movie right?
The voice talent was great. I was surprised how little Jackman and Kidman were in it. Brittany Murphy is awesome. I've been saying this for a long time so now you all know. And well, Elijah Wood never got to sing. I was 100% sure he would by then end. That made me a little sad so I took a point off for that. The animation is top notch. Some real roller-coaster type action sequences. The music was good. You know I might have picked a few better songs myself, but "Boogie Wonderland" was the only choice for it's intended purpose. I did notice that the smaller kids never really settled down. Someone brought a stroller sized kid and he never stopped crying after some scary stuff and had to be removed. So I guess it isn't really for the wee ones. And in a way I thought the movie would be more enjoyable for adults anyway because the song selections were from our collective mental jukebox. I mean if you hate the environment, and singing and dancing, and cute little furry things then it probably isn't for you. And if you can't tie your own shoes, you might be too young. Otherwise go see it and break out some old-fashioned tappin'.