Happy Feet: Who let the Penguins out?

Hail Happy Feet – a feel good, family–friendly animated musical that will have the young and young at heart stomping out a rhythm even as they reluctantly leave the theater at the end of the movie.

Visually, Happy Feet is every bit as good as any of the Pixar films. It may not be as substantial in terms of story as a Finding Nemo or Toy Story, but they make up for it with some dazzling artwork, contemporary pop music and a cute
factor that cannot be ignored. It doesn't get much cuter than dancing penguins.

For an emperor penguin, life's a song… or at least to have a life worth living, a penguin must find his "heartsong."

Unfortunately for young Mumble (voice by Elijah Wood), his singing voice leaves much to be desired (earplugs especially come to mind.) Mumble feels his heart's music through his feet and tap tap taps his way to express joy. But as his father (voice by Hugh Jackman) says, "That just isn't penguin."

As Mumble grows older and mating season draws near, his hopes for attracting a female lie someway between slim and none. Gloria (voice by Britany Murphy) may be willing to overlook Mumble's vocal deficiencies, but the elders of the
flock cannot.

Besides there are bigger fish to fry. The food supply is mysteriously vanishing. The elders blame Mumble and his strange "happy feet." Mumble suspects aliens may be disrupting the food chain and, with his new Latino penguin friends led by the outrageously expressive Ramon (voice by Robin Williams), he sets out to investigate.

The film is a visual marvel. Computer animation continues to grow by leaps and bounds (or should that be by bytes and pixels?) Happy Feet has to be considered as another benchmark in this continually advancing field. The detailed artwork, sense of motion, communication of mood and tone, combine to form a dazzling display of technical mastery.

The vocal talent contributes to the high level of artistic expertise, with standout performances by Robin Williams, Britney Murphy and Elijah Wood. Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman also do fine work as Mumble's parents.

Where the film loses a bit of prestige is in the storyline
itself. While the setting stays on the ice with the penguins, the filmmakers can do no wrong. It is when we leave the arctic tundra for a bit of human influence that the spell is broken and the film disappoints. But it is a momentary lapse and the film ends on a high musical note that may allow some to forgive the non–penguin–like interruption.

Mumble is chastised and labeled as being "different." What the flock learns to appreciate is that our differences can lead us to a greater united strength. Individually we are limited to our own developed skills and abilities. In a group, we can rely upon the varied skills and abilities of the others who are with us. In a group setting, no one is insignificant. All can have their part to play and, at times, those with the least impressive skills can be the very ones who can perform what no one else can do.

But instead, there is [absolute] necessity for the parts of the body that are considered the more weak. And those [parts] of the body which we consider rather ignoble are [the very parts] which we invest with additional honor and our unseemly parts and those unsuitable for exposure are treated with seemliness (modesty and decorum), which our more presentable parts do no require. But God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body. I Corinthians 12:22–24