We went to see it - after the blizzard of '06 and I thought I'd write out my opinion. After all - this is what blogging's all about, isn't it? Besides – after my Year in Review that was all about us – I thought I’d try my hand at reviewing something else. I’m certain I won’t quit my day job.

The story of "Mumble HappyFeet" opens with the introduction of Mumble’s parents: "Memphis" – voiced by Hugh Jackson and "Norma Jean" - voiced by Nicole Kidman. Both do superb impersonations of their characters which are, essentially, Elvis and Marilyn Monroe.

Now that I think about it, I could make this the shortest review in history and by telling you that "Happy Feet" is "Footloose" for the arctic set.

No. Really.

 Don't believe me?

Pictoral proof:

Then (1984)

 Now (2006)

Similarity #1 -- Mumble and Ren both just have to dance. Mumble was born that way – and maybe Ren was, too – but he moves into his town with the need to dance.

Then

Now:

This is when Mumble is younger. But both our heroes had to find their own spots to practice. To get away from the frowning glares of those in their own worlds.

 Similarity #2:

In their respective towns and communities: No Dancing.

Period.

That leads me to Similarity #3

The bad guys. For without the bad guys, there would be dancing and the movies would be really, really short.

Rev. Shaw watching over his daughter

Noah, the elder, watching over the penguin school.

Noah, the Elder, is followed around by a few of the faithful. Later in the movie, he calls them "Brethren". They would be considered the frozen chosen. (Pun both intended and not) They are the tattle-tales. They spout the doctrine put down long ago and kept by Noah the elder. They follow him around, gather around him and murmur and judge others. And the focus of their disapproval is upon Mumble.

Pretty much, "We’ve always done it like this." (Singing)

I’d have to watch Footloose again to make sure – but everyone, except the teenagers, follow Rev. Shaw’s doctrines of "No Dancing". The big difference: In Footloose, dancing is a sin. (That’s not Biblical, by the way) In Happy feet – if you don’t sing, you’re freak and a worthless penguin. But, by golly, don’t you dance because we’ve never done that.

Similarity #4 – The love interests

Ren & Ariel

Gloria and Mumble

The girls like their fellow – but the fellas are outcasts. At one point in Happy Feet, you kind of wonder what kind of friend Gloria really is when Mumble tries to sing along to her song (She’s singing Queen’s "Somebody to Love") and she stops him. Granted, he sounds like he’s choking a cat, but she could have been nicer.

Further pictoral similarities between "HappyFeet" and "Footloose". Pictures do not lie.

See?

"Happy Feet" = "Footloose"

Over all, "Happy Feet" is not a bad movie.  I have hesitations about it being good for small children. The movie is just deep! There are several topics put throughout the movie that make it hard for children to understand and sit through.

Let me see if I can remember them all.

Topic #1 – The Emperor penguins have to sing to find a mate. It’s taught at the penguin elementary school that they have to find their heart song, in order to attract a mate, in order to make "the egg". The kids all try to hear their heart song. Mumble hears a beat – and is chastised for it because it’s not a real song.

Topic #2 – Mumble being an outcast because he can’t sing. When Norma Jean returns from fishing, she’s going to meet her son for the first time. Memphis tells Mumble NOT to dance when he meets his mom. Because Mumble can’t help but dance when he’s happy. Memphis is rather ashamed of his son and Mumble’s differences. Instead of standing up for Mumble, he treats him the same as everyone else. They have a reunion at the end of the movie, when Memphis actually tries to dance with his son, but it’s at the end of the movie.

 Topic #3 – The heart songs that are sung, under the context of point #1 above, makes all the songs really quite suggestive. It might be a good way to introduce "the talk" to your kids, or maybe even dating.  When we meet Norma Jean & Memphis - she's on the hunt for a mate. They sing a song from the well reknown artist - "Prince".    What's that?     Yes, I said Prince.           My friend "Emma'sMom" had to point it out to me. (He was not on my listening list when I was a teen.) I did think it funny when Memphis sang "Heartbreak Hotel" - Did I mention that Hugh Jackman did a phenomenal job as Memphis?

Topic #4 – Mumble discovers aliens are destroying the fishing. He chases after them. He chases after the fishing boats. (This might be a good time to talk about over-fishing and conservation) He ends up in the zoo. This is a sad part of the movie. My 6 year old son said – "Mom, I don’t like this part." He never says that about a movie. That’s his sister’s line (usually accompanied by tears).

The comic relief is Robin Williams – and it’s welcome relief in this movie. He does a fantastic job as "Ramone" and his gang of "Amigos". They immediately take a liking to Mumble – and LOVE his dancing! They tell him he’s got charisma (and lots of it!) and they welcome him with open arms.

Mumble, Ramone and the Amigos - very welcome comic relief.

Mumble finds out that these penguins don’t sing – they gather rocks. Whoever gathers the most rocks – wins! This is rather a relief to Mumble, who can't sing, to find penguins who don't sing.

Enter, "The Guru" aka "Lovelace" – also voiced by Robin Williams.

In order to ask "The guru" a question, you have to bring him a rock. One rock per question. Mumble asks him questions without really getting an answer – and Lovelace gets upset and tells everyone to leave. He disappears behind his rock pile with some girl penguins.

Personally, if I were a girl penguin, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere with this guy. But I’m not, and he does have the most pebbles. It's not exactly left to wonder what they're doing behind that pile of rocks. It's one of those things that if your child understands what they're doing behind that rock pile - it's not the fault of the movie.

The plastic can holder around his neck plays a part later in the story. But here, (in the above picture) he’s claiming it gives him the ability to channel voices. Later, it chokes him. I’m sure there can be some commentary made here about illegal gains choking us…but my review is unfunny enough now.

Really, the movie isn’t bad. I rather liked it. If I were to grade it I’d give it a B- or a C+. It’s just a DEEP movie that kids just won’t get. I laughed at some of the songs (Penguins singing to Queen is just funny) and the characters (Ramone and the Amigos are well written and voiced). There's even a cameo by the late Steve Irwin, as an elephant seal, who gives a wandering group of penguins advice and warning.

My shining moment came when, after watching Mumble dance and thinking it looked liked the footwork of Savion Glover, I discovered that it was the footwork of Savion Glover.

The dancing sequences are great!

This is a melancholy movie – so watch with that in mind. After the hit of "Cars" - one of my favorite movies - this movie doesn't have the action that many youngsters are looking for. The story might seem slow to them. It ends very happily – and amusingly with the penguins meeting the humans.

But getting there could seem long in coming.

I know "Footloose" has a final dance scene but I can’t find the picture. Just imagine it, because  I’m sure it looked much like the picture above - with less snow and more humans.

Editor's Note: Because you asked so nicely - and I forgot to include the information - pictures can be found through these Yahoo! Links: Footloose Production photos and Happy Feet Production Photos. There's more similarities in the pictures - like the court room scene - but you can see those for yourself. Bleach free blessings!