Entertaining animated family fare; Williams is a riot

Rating: 8/10 (12 December 2006)

HAPPY FEET (2006) *** (VOICES OF: Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Robin Williams, Hugo Weaving, Johnny A. Sanchez, Carlos Alazraqui, Lombardo Boyar, Jeff Garcia, Fat Joe, Magda Szubanski, Miriam Margolyes, E.G. Daily, Steve Irwin, Anthony LaPaglia,) Surprisingly better-than-anticipated animated family fare about a happy-go-lucky misfit penguin named Mumble (Wood), whose lack of having a signature 'song' that all of his breed have, instead has the titular syndrome of tap dancing to the beat of his own drummer and his quest to find his 'voice' in the world. Some amazing CGI animation of the arctic landscapes and the amusing characters including Williams as a Latino-flavored fine-feathered friend and a Barry White-influenced lothario penguin are take it as you please entertaining. (Dir: George Miller)