Get your family's feet tapping to a really cool adventure with Mumble and friends in Happy Feet, Winner of the 2007 Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.
Rating: PG for some mild peril and rude humour
Starring: Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving
Running Time: 108 minutes
Age group: All ages
Directed by George Miller and Warren Coleman, Happy Feet is an award-winning animated movie that is a cool treat for the entire family. The story delves into the lives of singing emperor penguins of Antarctica. What makes these penguins stand apart is their soul song. Each penguin is supposed to have his own unique soul song and the penguins sing this song to keep warm, mate, and cope with the harsh winters.
Brief Synopsis
The protagonist of the story, a penguin called Mumble, (voiced by Elijah Wood from The Lord of the Rings) is an outcast because he does not have a soul song and is unable to sing however hard he may try. However, he has an unusual talent of being able to tap dance instead. The all-star cast that has lent voices for Happy Feet include Robin Williams (Patch Adams), Brittany Murphy, Hugo Weaving (The Matrix), Hugh Jackman (The Prestige), and Nicole Kidman (The Interpreter).
Review
Born to Norma Jean and Memphis, Mumble is a penguin that has a hard early childhood. As Mumble grows up, his inability to sing pushes him further away from the rest of his friends and the love of his life. He has trouble in school and fails to graduate along with his peers. However, with his inquisitive nature and determination, Mumble is not afraid to question the world around him.
Mumble is frowned upon by the elder emperor penguins, who with their traditional outlook, consider Mumble a heretic. They blame Mumble for the loss of fish that the colony faces. Ostracised and fed up, Mumble decides to unearth the true reason for the colony's plight and sets out with a bunch of his true friends, a bunch of Latino Adelie penguins to find answers. Mumble finds that the world outside his colony is full of challenges and unforeseen dangers.
Family Values
The story has great family values portraying a kid who dares to be different and how he copes with his parents and society at large. It is a heart-warming story of how new friendships can be forged even during the most desolate of circumstances. The film shows how one should embrace his own uniqueness and not shy away from it. The movie also manages to smoothly blend societal and environmental concerns into the plot. Parents who like music will enjoy the musical performances by the Penguins and marvel at Mumble's moves.
Winner of the 2007 Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the year, Happy Feet is a movie that parents will definitely enjoy watching with their kids.
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