ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

2006 Must have set a record for the number of animated features that reached our screens. Quantity hasn’t always been matched by quality but the highly original musical ‘Happy Feet’ should set toes tapping throughout the Festive season.

An ugly duckling story with a soundtrack of pop music classics, this is cute, clever and hard to resist. It also carries a strong message about global warming and human greed that should endear it to anyone who has been watching ‘Planet Earth’.

Set in Antarctica, the film unfolds in a colony of Emperor Penguins where everyone has a heart song that becomes their signature tune.

When Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood) is born he can only produce a sound like nails being scratched on a blackboard. He can dance with all the charm of Fred Astaire and the energy of Gene Kelly, but that merely makes him more of an oddball outsider.

His mother, Norma Jean (Nicole Kidman), is very protective of him, but his father, Memphis (Hugh Jackman), is merely embarrassed.

Struggling to make his way in the world, Mumble also becomes curious about the dwindling supply of fish in the Antarctic waters, and that’s when an adventure begins that involves close encounters with mambo-loving penguin Ramon (Robin Williams) and a touch of romance with Gloria (Brittany Murphy).

‘Happy Feet’ tries to cover too much ground, but it is so full of high spirits, good intentions and infectious production numbers that you are willing to forgive its flaws. It is the perfect family film for a Christmas outing.

Nationwide release

Director: George Miller
Stars: Voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, E J Daily, Hugo Weaving, Brittany Murphy
Screenwriters: Warren Coleman, John Collee, George Miller, Judy Morris
Certificate: U
Running time: 98 mins
Country: US
Year: 2006

© Allan Hunter, 2006