- Film Review
- Reviewed By Sloan Freer
-
4 out of 5
George Miller, the director and co-writer of Babe, does for penguins what he did for pigs in this fabulous Oscar-winning family adventure. Playing like "March of the Penguins: the Musical", it combines jaw-dropping computer animation with contemporary and classic tunes to bring to life a simple but eloquent story of an outcast emperor penguin's struggle for acceptance. Moral and ecological messages abound as avian cutie Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood) hatches without the ability to sing - a terrible misfortune in an Antarctic community where penguin couples find their mate through song. What he can do however is tap dance brilliantly, leading to social rejection that prompts him to embark on an exciting quest to prove his worth. Every element of this heart-warming tale is delightful, from the astonishing visuals and imaginative Busby Berkeley-style song-and-dance numbers to the relentlessly paced (and occasionally scary) action sequences. The voice talent is also seriously classy, with Robin Williams (in dual roles) a highlight in a cast that also includes Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman as Mumble's parents.
Plot Summary
Musical animated adventure featuring the voices of Nicole Kidman, Elijah Wood and Robin Williams. In the freezing Antarctic, Emperor penguins find their soul mate through their own unique "heart song". Unfortunately for young bird Mumble, he can't sing a note, but he can tap dance brilliantly. Social rejection soon follows, leading his "happy feet" to be blamed for a colony-threatening fish famine. Determined to prove his worth, Mumble heads off on a perilous journey to discover the truth about what has happened to the fish stocks.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Mumble
- Elijah Wood
- Ramón/Lovelace
- Robin Williams
- Gloria
- Brittany Murphy
- Memphis
- Hugh Jackman
- Norma Jean
- Nicole Kidman
- Noah the Elder
- Hugo Weaving
- Alpha Skua
- Anthony LaPaglia
- Mrs Astrakhan
- Miriam Margolyes
- Nestor
- Carlos Alazraqui
- Kev
- Steve Irwin
Crew
- Director
- George Miller (2)
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