Happy Feet Two Review

I won't lie - I wasn't a huge fan of the original Happy Feet. I just couldn't get into it. But, I'm an open-minded person so when asked to see the sequel, off I went.
So did it convert me?

Not quite. But it is an improvement.

The story of Happy Feet Two is weak. The main plot is that an iceberg has trapped the entire Emperor-Penguin population in a relatively small area, with the exception of Mumble (Elijah Wood), his son Erik and Erik's two friends Boadicia and Atticus. Good names.
Unfortunately, this isn't a very exciting plot. I know this film is aimed at people a lot younger than me, but I think that even kids would get bored of the story quite quickly. Especially if you were to see it in 2D.

Fortunately, I saw it in 3D and so the film managed to keep my attention. Honestly, the 3D here is quite well done. It's not always in your face, but there are some cool moments that impressed me.

These are some of the most annoying penguins you will ever meet

Another thing that really didn't help the story was the fact that the main character's Mumble, Erik, Boadicia, and Atticus are all a bit boring - and verge on annoying for the entire movie. And to be honest, the supporting character's don't do much to change this.
The eccentric Ramon (voiced by Robin Williams), has some funny lines but doesn't bring much to the movie overall. Meanwhile other character's like The Mighty Sven (Hank Azaria) have been done before. In fact, this whole movie feels like it's been done before:

Happy Feet 1 + Ice Age + Chicken Run = Happy Feet Two.

It just doesn't feel fresh or original.

Thankfully, the film is saved by two krill. Seriously. Brad Pitt and Matt Damon steal the show as Will and Bill the krill. They've got some of the funniest lines in the movie and are the only two character's that seem original or interesting. Unfortunately, they don't have much of a role in the actual plot. But watching two krill try and become deadly predators is pretty hilarious.

The animation is good enough, but it's nothing special. Like I said before, this film is one to see in 3D, just because you will get bored otherwise.
The voice acting is great. Each actor has put a lot of effort into their roles, but it's hard to appreciate that when there are so few memorable character's. Plus, some of the penguins have some horribly stereotypical lines - seriously, its almost offensive.

But, what Happy Feet is all about is the songs/dancing. It's right there in the title. And they're good enough but at the end of the day watching animated penguins sing and dance got boring in the first film, and so now it really has worn out its welcome.

In the end, Happy Feet Two is very average. The story is weak, the character's are forgettable, and the gimmick of the whole movie - watching penguins sing and dance - gets very dull. On the plus side, there are some funny lines - mostly from Will and Bill the krill - and the 3D is a nice addition.

Posted in: Movie Reviews, Movies