Happy Feet 2 Official Poster

In this second installment of the Happy Feet franchise, Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood) has own child this time around, and just like his younger self, his son Erik (Elizabeth Daily, who voiced the young Mumble in the first film) has problems of his own, too. In the first Happy Feet, Mumble was the outcast who couldn’t sing like everyone else. In Happy Feet 2, Mumble’s son Erik is the outcast who doesn’t have, well, happy feet. Being different is the primary theme of the film. We see that through Erik who lacks the gusto to get out in front of everybody and dance. We hear it also with all the different voices and accents from the film’s (too) many characters. Some animals have American accents (Brad Pitt and Matt Damon as krill), some have African-American accents (rapper Common), while others sound British and Spanish (Sofia Vergara of TV’s Modern Family). Despite these differences, there are (again, too) many similarities with the original that makes this sequel more DVD-worthy than big screen ready.

Erik leaves the clan because he can’t fit in just like his father in the first movie. Erik goes off with Ramon (Robin Williams) on another journey of discovery. Also, food is yet again another problem for the colony. Of course, humans are also present in this sequel but they play less of a role than in the original.

If singing penguins thought tap dancing penguins was odd in the first film, in this sequel they find it outrageous when they discover that some penguins can actually fly! This new found penguin ability comes in quite handy when the Emperor Penguin clan becomes trapped between huge sheets of ice. It takes a massive effort of Adele penguins (smaller than the Emperor penguins), huge walruses, and tiny krill shrimp to rescue them all.

The saving grace of this film is in the visuals. The 3D effects blend well with the beautiful Antarctic landscapes. There is almost an extreme eye for detail in the animation, and the swooping cameras provide visually stunning shifts in scale and perspective. Combined with (forgetful) music, dancing, and the many lively characters, Happy Feet 2 should entertain family audiences. For those looking for a true sequel that builds upon the first to create something new, wait for the DVD on this one. Happy Feet 2 falls short of that high note that makes it all memorable.

Poster image courtesy of Happy Feet 2.

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