Happy Feet Two

Eric D. Snider started his review by saying, ““Happy Feet Two” is such a messy, giddy collage of undisciplined storytelling and half-developed subplots that I’m amazed I enjoyed it as much as I did. Like its predecessor, also directed and co-written by George Miller (“Babe: Pig in the City,” the “Mad Max” series), the sequel gets by largely on goofy energy and good-naturedness, not quote-unquote “strong writing” or “clear ideas.””

As you remember from the first movie, the emperor penguins of Antarctica used to express themselves mainly through singing, and despised dancing, until one of them, a penguin named Mumble, reprised by Elijah Wood, taught them the power of dancing. The sequel continues with Mumble now happily married to Gloria, now voiced by Alecia Moore aka Pink (taking over for Brittany Murphy, who sadly passed away), and the entire colony happily singing and dancing all throughout the day. Now, as predicted, because it’s a sequel and history has to repeat, Mumble and Gloria’s shy little penguin, Erik, voiced by Ava Acres, doesn’t dance. He feels like an outsider because of it. Snider said, “It’s a classic reverse “Billy Elliot” scenario.”

Meanwhile, in the part of Antarctica where the penguins are Latinos, the hilarious Ramon (Robin Williams) is trying to flirt with Carmen (Sofia Vergara, using her regular speaking voice). Also, a new penguin named Sven, voiced by Hank Azaria, is introduced. He has a Scandinavian accent and can fly. Yes, a penguin who can fly. Snider said, “He looks suspiciously like a puffin, not a penguin, but maybe that’s a spoiler? Anyway, Ramon is jealous of the attention received by the glad-handing, Harold Hill-like Sven.”

Meanwhile, in the ocean are two tiny krill named Will (Brad Pitt) and Bill (Matt Damon). Will wants to leave the giant krill colony and move up the food chain – really live a little. Snider said, “He and Bill flit in and out of the rest of the film, occasionally intersecting with whatever the main plot happens to be at the moment, and sometimes seeming like they’re in their own movie altogether.”

Meanwhile, a shifting ice formation has trapped all the emperor penguins in a giant valley, preventing them from going to sea and find food. (Climate change is apparently the cause, but that point isn’t really told.) It’s up to the group of penguins who weren’t home when it happened to help them get out and fine a new place for their colony.

That’s a lot for one movie. (Snider said, “I didn’t even mention the flashbacks to Sven’s encounter with humans, or the intimidating elephant seal that harasses Mumble.) The trapped penguins are the real story; everything else is included for funsies, and to give the characters from the last movie something to do.” We can tell that “Happy Feet Two,” released in 2011, is not one of those sequels that was rushed into production because someone had a really good idea for a story.

That being said, it’s continuously funny, sometimes wildly fun, with smooth and exciting animation. It has the right messages about helping one another and the value of every creature. The musical numbers, mainly existing pop songs but some written for the film, are made even better than before by including choreography. Snider ended his review by saying, “One of the original songs is, I kid you not, an operatic aria — characteristic of the film’s likably weird, try-everything-and-see-what-sticks mentality. It won’t be the best cartoon of the year; thanks to “Rango,” it won’t even be the most eccentric. But it’ll do, penguin. It’ll do.”

I wanted to see this sequel in the theaters since we saw the first one in theaters and loved it. However, I missed that chance and had to see it as a rental from the library. I loved this film since the first one was a lot of fun. If you saw the first “Happy Feet” and loved it, see the sequel, which is currently streaming on HBO Max. You will love this one too, as the characters are good, the song numbers are all familiar, and you will love the message of the film. George Miller, even though it is strange that he would take on a children’s film, did a good job in educating viewers that the penguins need help with the polar ice caps melting and we need to save the environment since they can only survive in cold environments. Check it out, see it with your children, and hopefully this will teach everyone a good lesson.

Thank you for joining in on “Animated Environmental Move Month.” I hope everyone enjoyed it and…wait a minute. Next month is October. You know what that means! HALLOWEEN MONTH!!! Stay tuned because I have some exciting reviews planned for everyone.