Story is a bit of a jumble, but it's still quite charming

Rating: 7/10 (13 November 2014)

Even though the story is a little jumbled and the message is a little too obvious, the animation quality and incredible voice cast make this a treat for kids and their parents. The story is about Mumble, born into a colony of penguins that woo each other through song, but unable to sing himself. Instead, he knows how to tap dance, which makes him somewhat of an outcast. At the same time, the fish supply is dwindling. After being banished, he goes on an adventure to figure out why the fish are disappearing. If that description makes it seem like the plot is a little confused at times, that's because it is. The movie felt like a mash-up of two movies instead of one. The first half is about Mumble's attempts to fit in, while the second half goes into an almost preachy mode about humanity's impact on the environment. Still, the penguins are so charming that the kids probably won't mind and their are a wealth of singing and dancing sequences that are sure to put a smile on your face. Overall, while the story isn't the tightest and the environmental message might be a little heavy-handed, everything else about the movie screams quality entertainment, for kids and parents alike.