The ideal family film of 2006.

Rating: 7/10 (18 December 2006)

If "Ice Age" and "The March of the Penguins" conceived a child, it would be probably be something along the lines of "Happy Feet", the latest addition to the abyss of personified animal cartoons. Although Happy Feet doesn't bring anything new to the world of animated cinema, it does happen to carry the warmest of hearts as we're stuck in the middle of a season that's full of movies that are as cold and languid as the arctic itself.
The film opens with a panorama of the South Pole, loaded with exotically vibrant shades of blue that are fueled by some of the most beautiful animation you've ever seen. And if that isn't enough to indulge your eyes, then those cute dancing penguins are sure to unlock a smile upon your face.
Don't let the fact that Happy Feet contains a slew of singing penguins make you think that it's a pure-bred musical. The harmony of music just plays as a sort of crux of the film, as the penguins utilize singing as a sort of strict social code. To penguin society, each penguin is destined to have a "love song", or a song that will help them find their true love and happiness. This harmonic tactic works radically for the penguins, yet, is obsolete to the film's protagonist, Mumble (the ever so youthful voice of Elijah Wood). As an egg, Mumble was accidentally dropped by his father, Memphis, and as a result, was born incapable of singing and instead developed feet with a magnetic energy towards rhythm, pouncing to any beat imaginable. Mumble's disability acts crucially towards his social status among the community, making him an outcast amongst his peers. In a way, Mumble is proud of his difference and takes accepts it as his own, personally joyful and unique talent. Yet, when it comes to winning the heart of his life-long love Gloria (Brittney Murphy) and her harmonic crescendo of a voice, his vibrant feet just won't do, leading him to embark on an adventurous journey of self discovery.
The film is full of star-studded voice talents, from the youthful Elijah Wood to the irresistibly comedic Robin Williams, who entertains the audience with a feast of accicents and sessions of improvisation. The animation is nothing shorter than awe-inspiring, bringing not only a lush collection of colors but also a rather large sense of realism.
Happy Feet carries the essential, heart-warming elements a good family film should carry. There's the underdog hero and his struggle to win his true love, the tale of morality, the comedic spine, and those impeccably cute penguins that will have you smiling long after the film has reached its conclusion. Although it does have its flaws, particularly its rather extensive running time that is built by its collection of subplots, Happy Feet is an overall congenial film for the holiday season.