Animal activism came as a surprise

Rating: 6/10 (23 November 2006)

I had seen the commercials and the little penguin rapping, "Don't push me 'cause I am close to the edge..." had me eager to see this animated film. I understood the movie would be about being different and learning how to live and love yourself and fit in by staying true to you. And I was hoping for a lot of tap dancing penguin. The movie took an unexpected and awkward turn when the main character Mumble tries to win the hearts of the penguins by finding out what is happening to all the fish. The last 20 minutes seemed very out of place and almost like an after thought as Mumble finds giant fishing boats and chases them to the United States (fron Antarctica) and then ends up in a very sad zoo situation, only to be electronically tagged and brought back to his family and friends. Apparently to get food, all they have to do is dance for the people, which will stop the fishing, and get Mumble's father to dance.
The voices were disappointing, neither Nicole Kidman nor Hugh Jackman ever made their characters likable, and the best characters didn't get enough screen time.
The animation was amazing and the scenes were there was tap dancing were lots of fun. But the confusing and disjointed message about safe fishing and animal rights made the end of the movie kind of a downer, and was something you never saw coming from the commercials.