Fantastic visual but fatuously overwrought in expositionary dialogue & dizzying visuals at times

Rating: 7/10 (31 March 2007)

I love the Mad Max franchise -- The Road Warrior the best action movie ever produced next to Terminator 2. I loved Lorenzo's Oil, a genuine epic of a medical drama that, like Zodiac, is rarely or never repeated in the sense of "engaging epicness" tackling a complex subject in strict dramatic work. I loved Babe: Pig in the City as a flawed masterwork.
The latter bombed at the box office so bad I thought George Miller have been sent to the proverbial "movie jail," recollecting Elaine May's last directorial effort in Ishtar that was one of the biggest commercial flops in cinema history 20 years ago.
No, Mr Miller have returned in full form, and his massively immense directing talent is evident throughout the film, with astonishing photorealistic visuals and often silly humor to boot.
But there are a few scenes that I thought are so overscripted it borders on annoying. Particularly Adélie Penguins as the Spanish amigos (however amusing the group of five amigo characters are in their way, which is one of the highlights of the film in entertaining storytelling) talking incessantly & commenting on the main characters' interaction in love and needing space, as if small children in the audience should know the nuances translated aloud. And the visual gets quite excessive with the continuously revolving camera movements that literally fly all over. There are some amazing FX shots, but there are dizzying and rapidly confusing shots that serve almost nothing but resemble an elaborately designed Six Flags roller coaster ride. And the environmental message as well as commentary on religious matter, while pointed, come off fairly contrived but saved by Miller's near impeccable directing style without beating the heads over a lil' too much.
Overall, Happy Feet is a good film that makes the viewer tap his or her feet in intuitive response to the film's music and visuals featuring singing & dancing penguins, albeit with minor flaws. I think consistently entertaining story and dazzling visuals by Animal Logic & other FX houses contributed to Miller receiving a Best Animated Feature Oscar, which may be deserved. I haven't seen Cars & Monster House but will be sure to catch up with these, despite my reservation about the movies. It's about time Pixar lose the monopoly on Best Animated Feature Oscars (with the exception of The Incredibles).
Happy Feet is a fine achievement in CG animation and visual aesthetics to date, because there are a few times when I was momentarily stunned by the splendid creative vision while watching the movie without influence of unnecessary real-world cynicism. George Miller and the production crew at Animal Logic did a fantastic job realizing their vision that pass for photorealism in near-perfection. Story, however, remains a tad maudlin for my taste, but humor - especially the amigos - help to overcome the saccharine element.
Be forewarned, Happy Feet is properly rated PG for scary scenes of peril, rude humor and mild language with brief underlying sexual innuendos that children may or may not catch. May be offensive to devoutly religious conservative viewers (parents & individuals) whose faith is questioned by the movie (I know, typical unsubtle Hollywood imposing values). Still a good picture for the family to enjoy on a relaxing night.
*** 1/2 (close to 3)