Review of Happy Feet Two.
Mumble the tap-dancing penguin is back, this time with clumsy son. Review of Happy Feet Two.
Tiny tot moviegoers too young to remember co-writer/co-director George Miller's animated musical Happy Feet from five years ago will hug fuzzy, child Emperor penguin Erik (Ava Acres) with glee and act like they're meeting his concerned father Mumble (Elijah Wood) for the first time while watching its sequel Happy Feet Two.
Children are forgiving of mediocre movies but those of us who remember laughing, singing and toe tapping throughout Mumble's first Happy Feet adventure will leave the sequel wondering what happened to all the fun.
Exceptional movie franchises get better with each installment but Happy Feet Two falls onto the pile of disappointing movie sequels that lack the spark of the new and offer nothing exceptional in its place beyond some snappy 3D visual effects.
Elijah Wood, currently starring in the FX comedy series Wilfred, returns as the voice of Mumble. Emperor Penguins find their soul mates through singing but Mumble continues to inspire his wife Gloria (Alecia Moore AKA Pink) and their Emperor penguin community that you can also find love via dance.
During a rousing opening dance number that samples Rhythm Nation and Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) among other popular songs, Mumble discovers that his son Eric lacks rhythm as the clumsiest penguin in Antarctica. Mumble sets out to teach Eric that it's fine to be different and everyone has a talent until a mountainous breakaway chunk of the ice pack threatens their community of penguins.
Miller remains best known as the director of the Mad Max movies starring Mel Gibson and is currently prepping a new Mad Max installment with Tom Hardy playing the lead. Arguably, Miller's best work is family storytelling thanks to his work on the classic movies Babe and Babe: Pig in the City as well as Happy Feet.
Miller understands the magic of family movies that dazzle children and adults equally via heartfelt characters, universal themes and well- placed laughter.
Working with an extensive creative team of animators, choreographers, including Savion Glover, co-writers, co-directors and voice talent including co-director and co-writer Gary Eck, a veteran comic; Miller leans on the laughs a little too heavy and loses some of the soulfulness from the first Happy Feet.
Welcome characters returning from the first movie include Noah the Elder (Hugo Weaving), leader of the Emperor penguins, Miss Viola (Magda Szubanski) and the scavenger Skua birds (Anthony LaPaglia and Danny Mann).
Robin Williams grabs hold of the spotlight in two hilarious, returning roles, Ramon, the lovesick Adelie penguin and Lovelace, the Rockhopper Penguin wearing a crazy rainbow sweater.
Newcomers to the Happy Feet family include an elephant seal named Bryan (Richard Carter), a sexy female penguin named Carmen (Sofia Vergara), the Mighty Sven (Hank Azaria), a funny-looking penguin who can fly and two tiny krill, Bill (Matt Damon) and his buddy Will (Brad Pitt).
Matt Damon and Brad Pitt enjoy a lot of the spotlight as the adventurous krill but Richard Carter delivers the film's best scenes as he stubborn elephant seal who crosses paths with Mumble and his son and learns a valuable lesson.
Just like the first Happy Feet, a rousing dance number brings Mumble's latest adventure to a close and neatly ties together the film's father/ son themes and reminders about the importance of addressing global warming.
It's all a little redundant but enjoyable enough to consider Miller returning to Emperor Penguin land one more time for a shot at making a sequel that truly shines.
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Cast: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Alecia Moore (Pink), Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Sofia Vergara, Common, Hugo Weaving, Richard Carter, Magda Szubanski, Anthony LaPaglia
Screenwriter: George Miller, Gary Eck, Warren Coleman, Paul Livingston
Director: George Miller, Gary Eck
Cinematographer: David Peers
Editor: Billy Fox
Producers: Village Roadshow Pictures, Kennedy Miller Mitchell Productions, Dr. D Studios Running Time: 100 minutes
Rating: Rated PG
Release Date: Nov. 18, 2011