The Best Animated Musical in Years

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2006)

The 90s was the decade when animated musicals were prominent in the movie theaters. Disney being the highest of them all in the animated musicals business, with immortal films, such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Hercules and Don Bluth with his less popular films, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Rock-a-Doodle and Anastasia. After the year 1999, the last animated musical to appear in theaters was Disney's Tarzan and all other animated films to follow would be straight dialogue with a few songs by popular celebrities, i.e. Wynona Jud's rendition of "Burning Love" in Lilo and Stitch. Happy Feet brings back the days when animated musicals flowed into movie theaters like wine. Not only that but with the miracle of motion capture, the technique used in The Polar Express and Monster House, we get the most visually amazing tap dancing since Gene Kelly.
Many people feel that a movie is ruined by over casting, which is when they get big shot celebrities to be in the film. In actuality, the film would not be the same without all these celebrity actors for they have that prestige and presence when they come on the screen. Elijah Wood brings the shy charm to our hero Mumble, Brittany Murphy brings to us her hidden talent of singing to the screen as the beautiful Gloria, Hugh Jackman gives us the best Elvis-esquire performance since Jim Carrey in Man on the Moon as Memphis, Nicole Kidman gives us a sensual feel to the sweet hearted mama Norma Jean, Hugo Weaving is back with his dramatic force as the hard headed and tradition oriented Noah the Elder and, get this, as if this wasn't enough we have Robin Williams brining his brand of funny to the egotistical Ramon the lead penguin in a Latino gang of Adelie penguins and the all knowing sham of a guru Lovelace. The story is very familiar to E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan, being that is about a community of birds that must sing to find a mate and one who uses unique method to find their true love. But the story doesn't matter, what matters is that everybody can relate and will enjoy the story. I'm happy to say that both parents and children will fall in love with the story of finding your place, following your goals and loving all the things that make you unique. Kids will love the adorable antics of Baby Mumble, voiced by E.G. Daily, and parents will love all the songs from long ago and the frenetic humor of Robin Williams, singing a Spanish rendition of Sinatra's My Way. Of course, the story becomes tense near the end and may be too frightening for the little ones but I can name a lot of films that were dark and not as innocent as the advertisements make them out to be. But thanks to the good people at the MPAA we have them giving us a PG rating that basically says, "Children 7 and up will most likely be less shocked."
Finally,the best part of the movie is, of course what I addressed before, the songs. Unfortunately, there are no original songs by award song writers like Alan Menken or Danny Elfman, but I ask you, did Moulin Rouge have original songs besides Come What Way? Much like Moulin Rouge, the film has creative renditions of songs from back in the day, including Elvis's Heartbreak Hotel, Queen's Somebody to Love, The Beach Boys' Do it Again and A Mi Manera, translated to My Way. Many great songs used in marvelous musical numbers that's just too extraordinary to feel like being in a Broadway theater. You'll feel like you're at a rock concert, with all these songs recreated for an awesome experience.
The best way to spend time with the family is not to take them to a movie made just for kids, but by taking to them to a film that everyone will enjoy. Take them to see Happy Feet for the wonderful cast, the awesome music and the story that will melt your heart, despite it being set in the coldest place on Earth. Seeing this film will have kids being like Stevie Wonder, wishing those days would come back once more, when animated musicals run rampant through the movie theaters.