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| Movie Review: Happy Feet Alternate Title: The Emperor Has No Fish
Story: This animated penguin
film is a delight. There's lots of great action, visuals, charming characters,
adorable penguin chicks and requisite villains, the leopard seal, skua
and killer whale. My problem with the film is that it goes along
at a respectable pace and storyline when suddenly the last third of
the film changes course and a message is jammed down our throats. Our
little Emperor penguin is different. What does he do when he discovers
he moves to a different beat? His specialness involves dancing, not
singing. He is ostracized by the elders and driven from the troop. He
is suddenly blamed for the shortage of fish. Huh? The writer's message
about over fishing is introduced out of the blue. Not that there is
anything wrong with this important message, but I think it should have
been woven through the text from frame one. There is also nary a mention
of global warming. Oh well ...despite that it was lots of fun and I
am sure director George Miller (who brought us Babe)
and crew had a blast making this charming film. Acting: The voices of Robin Williams, Hugh
Jackman, Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy and
Hugo Weaving are all more than fine.
Predilection: I like penguins. You can go to the photo
door of web site and see some of my pictures from our trip last year
to Antarctica.
http://www.judithwolfe.com/ANTARCTICA1.html
http://www.judithwolfe.com/ANTARCTICA2.html
Critters: Penguins, skuas, leopard seals and killer
whales.
Soundtrack: A charming blend of happy tunes.
Visual Art: I am not a bug fan of animation but this
film worked well.
Theater Audience: Three other people and me.
Weather: It is cold in Antarctica.
Sappy Factor: 3
Squirm Scale: It is squirmy to watch the killer whales
toy with the penguins in their food chase.
Drift Factor: I did look at my watch after 45 minutes.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Is there a special category for animation
now?
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine.
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 7
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