Happy Feet is not all that it's tapped up to be. The film tells the story of Mumble (Elijah Wood), a penguin with an affinity for dancing. His only issue? Penguins are supposed to sing, not dance. As a result, the other penguins shun Mumble because they don't understand how he could lack the ability to sing. The ostracism is heightened because of his musically talented parents, Norma Jean (Nicole Kidman) and Memphis (Hugh Jackman). The rest of the film follows Mumble through his journey to find his "heart song."
Happy Feet is a good movie to watch with a younger brother or sister. Unfortunately, the director's attempt to tackle more grown-up issues (such as environmentalism and religious fanaticism) fails. As a result, the movie loses all direction toward the end, leaving behind the lighthearted tone found in the beginning of the film.
Despite these missteps, Robin Williams shines as both Ram¢n, a quirky friend of Mumble, and Lovelace, a self-proclaimed guru. In the typical Robin Williams form, he brings comic relief with his outrageous comments and over-the-top antics. While Feet is entertaining and will clearly appeal to children, it is definitely not Shrek. Happy Feet is a cute movie that will elicit a few laughs, but it's better to watch on DVD.
