BEFORE: This is another film that was cut from my World Tour last year - I didn't feel the need to represent Antarctica (pet peeve of mine: people who miss the first "C" and pronounce it "Antartica"). I was virtually going AROUND the world, not once around with a detour down to the bottom. Let's give it up for penguins, who somehow survive down at the ass end of the planet, in extreme cold conditions, and never complain about it. At least, I never hear them.
The spotlight this weekend falls on Hank Azaria, who voiced Carlos the Chick last night in "Hop", and appears here as a new addition to the "Happy Feet" cast of characters.
THE PLOT: Mumble's son, Erik, is struggling to realize his talents in the Emperor Penguin world. Meanwhile, the penguins discover a new threat their home -- one that will take everyone working together to save them.
FOLLOW-UP TO: "Surf's Up" (Movie #6), "Rio" (Movie #1,293)
AFTER: I'm not calling this a follow-up to "Happy Feet", which it obviously is, because I watched that film in 2008, before beginning this project.
There are three plotlines running through this one, but somehow they all work together well, and they don't interrupt each other. Converging them together at the end felt a little forced, but what else can you do? There's the young penguin trying to find his voice, or dance step or whatever, there's the plight of the penguin clan trapped in a cavern, and there's the side-plot of two krill who want to break off from the swarm and evolve.
There's a nice progression from the first film, in which all the penguins sang (how else are they going to tell each other apart?) but one wanted to dance. Dancing apparently caught on, because in the opening number here, they all sing AND dance. Except for the little one who apparently can't do either. This leads him to seek out guidance from a strange new penguin with a rare ability, which makes him a superstar in the community.
It's almost like a cult that's built up around Sven, the new bird. I'm surprised they didn't go for the cheap pun and call it "Fly-entology". Maybe they just didn't think of it. God knows they used every single pun possible based on the word "krill".
There's an implication of climate change here, with the penguin's territory affected by the movement of a giant ice shelf, but addressing the subject directly might have ruffled a few conservative feathers. If they make a third film, they should probably confront this issue head on if they can. They cover that ground in the "Ice Age" films, but those take place eons ago.
The music was fine, I have to approve of the restraint in using the song "Papa Oom Mow Mow" and not the similar but more annoying song "Bird is the Word". Also in the use of Queen's "Under Pressure" while resisting the temptation to mix in "Ice Ice Baby". It would have made logical sense, but would have cheapened it.
Also starring the voices of Elijah Wood (last seen in "Internal Affairs"), Pink, Robin Williams (last seen in "The Final Cut"), Brad Pitt (last seen in "Moneyball"), Matt Damon (last seen in "All the Pretty Horses"), Hugo Weaving (last seen in "Captain America: The First Avenger"), Sofia Vergara, Common, Anthony LaPaglia (last seen in "August in New York"), John Goodman (last heard in "Paranorman").
RATING: 6 out of 10 roast chickens
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