Not for young children

Rating: 6/10 (22 December 2006)

When I got the March of the Penguins DVD last year, before watching the film I was treated to a short, computer-animated sequence showing a fuzzy penguin chick dancing, and having a heck of a good time at it. I showed it to my family, who all thought it was hilarious, and looked forward to the film that it advertised, Happy Feet, due out in "Novembrrrr 2006." As the film's release date came, I saw more trailers, and heard about a review on Good Morning, America which said that kids wouldn't get the film's ending. Nonetheless, I decided to go see the movie for myself, just for the sake of the dancing penguins. In this regard, I was disappointed.
The penguins sing. They dance. They have lots of fun, and their musical numbers have top-notch production values and superb choreography. At the film's best it was like watching a Stomp act performed by penguins, and that was hilarious.
From the very start of the film, though, I realized that most of the song selections were not meant for the young children who'd come to see the film. The penguins are singing to find a mate, and this is not the fluffy saccharine singing of "The Pebble and the Penguin," but rather the sort of provocative fare that you'd find at a teenage dance party. The filmmakers may have intended a comic effect, in that these are penguins trying to entice each other. But their humorous intent is probably lost on small children, many of whom are already trying to become the next Brittany Spears.
What's not likely to be lost on small children is that the "aliens" are overfishing the Antarctic waters, causing the penguins to starve, and that only their withdrawal can make the food shortage abate. Some viewers will find the environmentalist message preachy, while others might disagree with a scene which portrays the UN as noble and able to act decisively. Personally, I thought the "alien" subplot was the most interesting part of the movie, as it really brought out the hero in the main character. And, I was pleased that it ended on an upbeat note.
The film was entertaining, but I won't be buying the DVD, and I suggest that parents review it themselves before taking their kids to see it.