Review of Happy Feet (2006) by Ano. — 12 Dec 2006

While Happy Feet is visually impressive it has too many flaws, and ends up only average, in my opinion. First, it's too long for a kids movie. My 3 yr. old liked it but was antsey with about 30 minutes left.

The story is just too convoluted, and keeps going when it should've ended. Brittany Murphy can't sing very well, so I question her being cast as the female penguin whose talent everyone oohs & aaahs over (maybe she wants to start a recording career, and WB cast her to promote her?).

And I have to say that casting Robin Williams to voice 2 characters as obvious racial stereotypes was misguided at best, cynical and crass at worst. What, they couldn't find any black or hispanic actors that needed work? The movie does have some good to it, however.

There are scenes with real emotional resonance (where Mumbles is kicked out of the graduation day celebration and watches & sways from afar; the scene in the zoo) but ultimately they are few and far between.

A simpler "be yourself" message without the quest for world salvation would have been sufficient, but regardless 30 minutes could have easily been trimmed from this without much loss. OK but not great, and I agree with others that a couple of scenes are extremely scary for younger viewers.