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It seems that penguins are the current favourite animal of choice with the cinemagoing public, going by the successes of last year's documentary March of the Penguins and now this latest CGI 'toon, which kept Casino Royale off the top spot in the US. It's actually quite original for a talking animal movie, partly because it involves penguins frequently breaking into well-known (and rather out of place) pop songs. The first few minutes could be a documentary, with the almost photo-real visuals and voiceover narration. After that it becomes more of a predictable CGI film, relying a lot on its cuteness to keep the audience interested. For about an hour there is little plot, with the film just resorting to odd musical numbers and some well-made but ultimately superfluous action scenes. Some of the characters are appealing, like the two voiced by Robin Williams, but they aren't funny enough to cover up the lack of a story. Then, finally, the film is given a sense of purpose with the characters going on a quest across the snow-covered landscape. This section is enjoyable and interesting, but the tale then takes a rather unforeseen turn into darker territory which doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the film, becoming something of an environmental message film. The final part of the film seems to drag out interminably, with the film eventually coming to an implausible, and to me unsatisfying, conclusion. The film has some merit, principally in the visuals (which I'm sure look astounding in IMAX 3D), and also its message is a worthwhile one to tell. I just wish it was told in a more effective and compelling way.
The summary
Happy Feet didn't work for me. It looks great and has good stretches, but it didn't sustain my interest for the whole (overlong) running time.
