Writer: Pairamaporn Buranakol Writer Ratings:Overall: 
Cast: Plot: Effects: 
Cinematography: Watch this if you liked: "The Incredibles", "Finding Nemo"
What comes to mind when a person thinks of animated films? "Shrek", "Finding Nemo", "The Incredibles", and the most anticipated one this month, "Happy Feet".
"Happy Feet" is a tale about a young penguin, Mumble, who is born deep in the Antarctica without the ability to sing well, yet he is a fearsome tap dancer. In his nation of Emperor penguins, where having a song, or a heartsong, is essential to fit in and find true love, Mumble finds himself an outcast; and is exiled for his outlandish, freaky behaviour.
In order to find a way back into the good graces of the penguins, especially his parents Norma Jean and Memphis - and the love of his life, Gloria - he sets out on a journey to find out what happened to the penguins' dwindling food supply. He is accompanied by his friends, Ramon, Lovelace and the Amigos and they hop their way into unknown danger.
The Australian-produced CG-animated movie is filled with classic songs performed by the actors and other artistes - but don't expect a strong storyline to come through like Disney's family piece "The Incredibles", nor for it to be filled with non-stop laughter like the "Shrek" franchise. It's a great movie for kids and music-lovers alike though, and will definitely be a hit with the girls when the cute and fluffy animated Baby Mumble (voiced by E.G. Daily) 'tippity-taps' his way around the screen.
Giggles are aplenty, with Robin Williams voicing the characters of Ramon, the regular Don Juan, and Lovelace, the great Rockhopper penguin 'guru' who apparently knows everything. Accompanying Ramon are his pack of 'Amigos', a bunch of wise-cracking Latino Adelie penguins, whose simultaneous actions and responses are just like the Worm Guys from "Men in Black". Listen out for when Mumble encounters an elephant seal; the seal is voiced by the late Steve Irwin a.k.a The Crocodile Hunter.
It's easy to forget Elijah Wood as Frodo the Hobbit as he voices the character of the grown-up Mumble the Penguin with ease and heart-breaking sadness, especially when Mumble is exiled from his fellow penguins and his parents - but the CG animators seem to have given the character of Mumble Wood's bright blue eyes.
The characters of Norma Jean and Memphis are a tribute to the famous late Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. Permission was obtained in order to have the voices and mannerisms mimicked by Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in this movie. Stepping into the shoes of these two legends is by account no mean feat - but both actors prove that Australia's pool of actors can beat Tinseltown anytime.
For music lovers, catch a great mash of Prince's
Kiss and Elvis Presley's
Heartbreak Hotel, performed by Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Also to listen out for is Brittany Murphy tackling Queen's
Somebody to Love, and a rendition of
My Way, sung by Robin Williams in Spanish.
Other songs in the movie were performed by Prince, Patti Labelle, Fantasia Barrino, k.d. Lang and even Pink; more notably is Prince, who also wrote a new song for "Happy Feet", called
Song of the Heart.
Perhaps the movie has been truly over-hyped, and over-publicised; but if you do catch it - just let yourself go with the flow and rhythm of the music - and it's guaranteed to be a great 'feet' of fun!
Cinema Online, 23 September 2008