George Miller's jubilant, eccentric film makes its CGI penguins vibrant, expressive, even cosmic
Happy Feet (2006)
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Reviews Counted:154
Fresh:114
Rotten:40
Average Rating:6.9/10
Consensus: Visually dazzling, with a thoughtful storyline and catchy musical numbers, Happy Feet marks a successful animated debut from the makers of Babe.
Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for some mild peril and rude humor
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Genre: Childrens
Theatrical Release:2006
Box Office: $197,865,227
Synopsis: In the great nation of Emperor Penguins, deep in Antarctica, you're nobody unless you can sing-which is unfortunate for Mumble (ELIJAH WOOD), who is the worst singer in the world. He is born... In the great nation of Emperor Penguins, deep in Antarctica, you're nobody unless you can sing-which is unfortunate for Mumble (ELIJAH WOOD), who is the worst singer in the world. He is born dancing to his own tune...tap dancing. Though Mumble's mom, Norma Jean (NICOLE KIDMAN), thinks this little habit is cute, his dad, Memphis (HUGH JACKMAN), says "it just ain't penguin." Besides, they both know that without a Heartsong, Mumble may never find true love. As fate would have it, his one friend, Gloria (BRITTANY MURPHY), happens to be the best singer around. Mumble and Gloria have a connection from the moment they hatch, but she struggles with his strange "hippity-hoppity" ways. Mumble is just too different-especially for Noah the Elder (HUGO WEAVING), the stern leader of Emperor Land, who ultimately casts him out of the community. Away from home for the first time, Mumble meets a posse of decidedly un-Emperor-like penguins-the Adelie Amigos. Led by Ramon (ROBIN WILLIAMS), the Adelies instantly embrace Mumble's cool dance moves and invite him to party with them. In Adelie Land, Mumble seeks the counsel of Lovelace the Guru (also voiced by ROBIN WILLIAMS), a crazy-feathered Rockhopper penguin who will answer any of life's questions for the price of a pebble. Together with Lovelace and the Amigos, Mumble sets out across vast landscapes and, after some epic encounters, proves that by being true to yourself, you can make all the difference in the world. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy Miller production, in association with Animal Logic Film. A George Miller film, "Happy Feet" features the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving and Anthony LaPaglia. The film also features the tap dancing of Savion Glover. "Happy Feet" is directed by George Miller, who also co-wrote the screenplay with John Collee, Judy Morris and Warren Coleman. The film is produced by Doug Mitchell, George Miller and Bill Miller, with Zareh Nalbandian, Graham Burke, Dana Goldberg, and Bruce Berman executive producing. The music is composed by John Powell, and the soundtrack also includes songs performed by Prince, Yolanda Adams, Fantasia Barrino, Gia Farrell, Chrissie Hynde, Patti LaBelle, k.d. lang, Jason Mraz, and Pink. "Happy Feet" will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. --© Warner Bros. [More]
Starring: Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman
Starring: Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Brittany Murphy, Hugo Weaving, Anthony LaPaglia, Miriam Margolyes, Alyssa Shafer, Steve Irwin
Director: George Miller
Director: George Miller
Screenwriter: Warren Coleman, George Miller, Judy Morris
Producer: Bill Miller, Doug Mitchell
Composer: John Powell
Studio: Warner Bros.
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Reviews for Happy Feet
The perfect film for audiences who found fault with March of the Penguins because it was too emotionally taxing and you couldn't dance to it.
Puts heart and soul back into the good old computer animated, talking animals family film.
Unfortunately, once the eye candy is firmly established, there's a story here that drags and drags. Then it takes a bit of a leap before it drags some more.
You should see Happy Feet -- not only because it's stupendous, but also because it features the best dancing you'll see on the screen this year.
It's almost impossible to hate. It's not impossible to get a little bored, but that's another tune.
...no doubt the movie will entertain and enlighten children. Children of all ages may be another matter.
If this isn't the last word in animated penguin movies, it's certainly the penguin-ultimate.
"Happy Feet" clinches the current trend of animated message films that speak for the plight of animals and the ecology.
Awkward but graceful, derivative but daring, Happy Feet is, indeed, a flightless bird in the best and worst sense.
Feels like the story was written around the concept of a penguin who cannot sing, only dance. When the story is not king, generally the big picture suffers, and Happy Feet reaffirms that adage.
Offers a sucrose-enriched upgrade to the documentary March of the Penguins.
despite... shortcomings, "Happy Feet" brings a lot of energy and creativity to a genre that increasingly relies on slapstick and over-stimulation.
I had wanted to like HAPPY FEET more -- I went in expecting a more lighthearted piece. While Miller is to be commended for adding layers to the story, I do feel it went on way too long and that its points were hammered home. And I'm well aware I will be
The movie’s flat-footed nature means it’s unlikely to put a spring in the step of anyone over the age of 10.
Director George 'Babe' Miller has pulled off a coup with this one; he’s raised the benchmark to a whole new level, both visually and conceptually. Bravo.
Thank God those penguins can dance just like humans, eh? It means they deserve to live!
Latest News for Happy Feet
August 24, 2009:
Robin Williams Talks Happy Feet 2 ![]()
Robin Williams has confirmed that George Miller's "Happy Feet 2" is officially a go -- and discussed which characters he'll play when voice recording begins in January. More...
May 07, 2009:
Warners Plots Harold and Kumar, Happy Feet Sequels ![]()
Warner Bros. has announced a pair of very different features in development: "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" and the tentatively titled "Happy Feet 2 in 3-D." More...
November 17, 2008:
George Miller Has More Happy Feet ![]()
Thanks in part to an Australian tax incentive program, director George Miller has a fancy new digital production facility -- and "Happy Feet 2" is at the top of its to-do list. More...
August 14, 2008:
George Miller Catches Sequel Fever; in Pre-Production on JLA? ![]()
The gang at /Film has been doing some digging, and although it's all just speculation at this point, signs are pointing to George Miller being in various stages of production on... More...
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