Film Review: Happy Feet Two

Happy Feet Two. Rated G (very mild sense of threat). 103 minutes. Directed by George Miller. Screenplay by George Miller, Gary Eck, Warren Coleman and Paul Livingston.

When Happy Feet (2006) won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2007, it came as no surprise to anyone who had seen it. The story of Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood) the little tap-dancing, misfit penguin was a captivating visual and musical treat. Without his ‘heartsong’ (the unique song that penguins sing to attract a mate), Mumble’s adult life within the penguin colony would be one of loneliness and despair. This simple and effective storyline powered an immensely engaging film about difference – even managing to incorporate a powerful environmental theme without turning audiences off. And the final scene of Happy Feet is the birth of Mumble and Gloria’s (voiced by the late Brittany Murphy) baby Erik – who is the undisputed the star of Happy Feet Two.

Voiced by Ava Acres, Erik is the epitome of cute – and while Erik’s travails are similar but less compelling than Mumble’s were in the first movie, they are the sequel’s pulse. Matt Damon and Brad Pitt voice the Laurel and Hardy-esque pair of Krill – Bill and Will – while Robin Williams returns as the scene-stealing Ramon and Alecia Beth Moore (better known as Pink) takes over the role of Gloria in fine voice, with her “Bridge of Light” the absolute musical highlight.

When an ecological calamity isolates the emperor penguin colony from their food source and leaves their baby penguins exposed to the feared seabird predators (the skuas) – the plot to free them becomes protracted and, ultimately, tired and tiring. The sequences involving Bill and Will (while stunning in 3D) serve primarily as distractions from the main game, and with only a couple of exceptions, the film deliberately steers well away from involving drama. The story of Sven (Hank Azaria) – which takes up a good third of the film – feels desperately over-worked, while the subplot involving Bryan the Elephant Seal (Richard Carter) and his children is beautifully done.

Ultimately, Happy Feet Two still dazzles with its singular visual finesse, even if the overall result is one of a heavy-handed, unevenness that makes it a shadow of its predecessor and a good deal less memorable.

This review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.

Film Review: Dolphin Tale and Festive Season Previews

The 2011 cinematic year winds up with the excellent Dolphin Tale and a collection of eagerly-anticipated festive season releases.



Dolphin Tale (PG)
Only the hardest of hearts will not melt at some stage during this beautifully-made film about a boy’s love for an injured dolphin. Nathan Gamble (The Dark Knight, Marley & Me) is exceptional as Sawyer Nelson – a shy boy whose life is literally turned upside down when he helps rescue a dolphin that has been washed ashore, tangled up in a crab trap.

Based on a true story – and starring ‘Winter’ the actual dolphin hero of the story (pictured above with Mr Gamble) – Dolphin Tale packs a big, emotional punch. Gamble receives excellent support from Harry Connick Jr, Ashley Judd, Cozi Zuehlsdorff and Morgan Freeman, while Austin Stowell (as Sawyer’s cousin Kyle) carries off the weighty subplot about an injured soldier returning from the war with a fine performance of understated sincerity.

It is impossible to deny the impact that Winter had, and continues to have, on people who have their own particular physical challenges to conquer – and actor-turned-director Charles Martin Smith, quite understandably, focuses entirely on the strength of the performances and is handsomely rewarded for his faith. It’s equally impossible to recall a film that could honestly be described as perfect family entertainment – and while Karen Janszen and Noam Dromi’s screenplay occasionally comes perilously close to drowning in earnest sentimentality, it is young Mr Gamble’s outstanding performance and an absolutely determined little dolphin that, combined, take us somewhere very special indeed.

Puss in Boots (PG)
Second only to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, Puss in Boots has proven itself to be an undisputed winner at the box office, and is entirely worthy of its success. A solid screenplay and exceptional 3D animation, combined with the voices of Antonio Banderas (Puss), Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws) and Zach Galifianakis (Humpty Dumpty), has ensured that this Shrek spinoff is enjoying a life of its own. Like Dolphin Tale, Puss in Boots delivers a richly layered story in the grand tradition of storytelling for children, with more than enough subtle innuendo to keep the adults equally as entertained.

Happy Feet Two (PG)
More 3D mayhem – this time with an endearing cast of penguins – is promised when George Miller’s sequel to his Academy Award-winning Happy Feet (2006) is released on Boxing Day. Elijah Wood (best-known as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of The Rings trilogy) returns as the voice of Mumble, and is joined by Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon – to name just a few of the Hollywood A-listers whose voices will no doubt help bring Mr Miller’s gloriously imagined penguin colony to life again.

War Horse (M)
If there is a director who can be relied on to bring a big picture epic to the screen in all its magnificence these days, then that director would be Steven Spielberg. Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is the story of young Albert Narracott’s (Jeremy Irvine) horse Joey who serves in the army during World War I. The novel was also adapted for the stage (enjoying hugely successful runs in London and New York), with a production due to open in Melbourne in 2012. While it’s impossible to judge a film on the strength of its promotional trailer, there can be no denying that War Horse looks as though it will be every bit as involving as the pre-release anticipation would suggest.

We Bought a Zoo (PG)
In case you hadn’t noticed, the big theme of the festive season release schedule is animals – and We Bought a Zoo is about as animal-centric as you could possibly get. Based on a true story, the film stars Matt Damon as the recently-widowed Benjamin Mee who buys a derelict zoo (and all its animals) and moves in with his two young children Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) and Dylan (Colin Ford) to resurrect it. Directed by Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous), the film also stars Scarlett Johansson as zookeeper (and love interest) Kelly Foster.

The Adventures of Tintin (PG)
When Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson (The Lord of The Rings, King Kong) are at the top of their game, you can be guaranteed of something special – and this 3D adventure has all the hallmarks of being a hugely popular choice for the holidays. Based on the comic books created by Belgian artist Hergé, The Adventures of Tintin uses state-of-the-art performance capture technology to record the actors’ movements before they are rendered into digitally animated characters. The technology has come a long way since The Polar Express (2004), and Jamie Bell (best known as Billy Elliot) plays the young journalist Tintin. And yes, there’s an animal involved – Tintin’s trusty dog Snowy.

This review and festive season previews were commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.