By: debbie lynn elias
In the immortal words of Gene Kelly, “GOTTA DANCE!” And this holiday season nothing will make you want to click up your heels and tap your own happy feet more than director George Miller’s HAPPY FEET. The man from Down Under that brought us Mel in “Mad Max”, helped the beloved piglet Babe roam about the Big City and gave the three sexiest witches in Eastwick (or anywhere else for that matter) the most devilish of all devils – Jack (need I expound on who?), now gives us a peek at life way down under, down in Antarctica, courtesy of Mumbles – the most adorable little Emperor Penguin to hit the big screen since, well, “March of the Penguins.” This time though, the penguins are marching in step to the toe tapping of Savion Glover compliments of the FX magicians at Rhythm & Hues, Animal Logic and Giant Killer Robots, and state-of-the-cart motion capture technique from Giant Studios, Inc.
Mumbles is every mother’s (and film studio’s) dream. Sweet, cuddly, adorable. He is simply irresistible. But Mumbles has a small problem. He can’t sing. Nope. Not a lick. Not a note. Now I know my nephew Eddie has asked me what penguins do all day with nothing but ice and snow around, but I never had the answer. Well, now I do. Penguins sing. Yep. They sing. Everything from Prince to Grandmaster Flash. Breaking out in Moulin-rouge like melodies at the drop of an ice crystal, they sing. Like Native American Indians, penguins sing what they call their “heart song” – a unique and special sound or spirit that both identifies individuals and unites the group. But, Mumbles can’t sing. Mumbles has another talent. Mumbles can dance! While all his penguin pals are singing their hearts out, Mumbles gets what he calls “Happy Feet.” His toes start a tappin’, his butt starts a wigglin’ and he just goes crazy dancing up a storm. Move over Fred Astaire!
But, be you a kid, an adult or even a penguin – to be different can be a problem. And of course, the gossipy old biddies and elders in the flock with nothing better to do, have always blamed Mumbles’ dad, Memphis. (Seems that Memphis dropped the egg when he was supposed to be protecting it from those catabatic climactic conditions.) Teased and laughed at by the other penguins, even feared because he is “different”, it’s not long before Mumbles is kicked out of the flock. Despite his mother’s love and support, Mumbles feels lost and all alone and why wouldn’t he. Between the taunting of the other penguins and his own father saying he “just ain’t penguin”, Mumbles feels like a misfit. With no one to play with, Mumbles decides to turn his attention elsewhere and soon creates his own adventure.
Overhearing conversations among the adults, Mumbles learns the fish supply has been rapidly decreasing. And in true kid fashion, asks the age old question, “Why?” The only answers he gets are “I don’t know” or blame is placed on the “newcomers” who are moving into the area or even worse, the fault lies with Mumbles because he can’t sing. According to certain elders, they will all die from starvation because of Mumbles. Not satisfied with blame nor lack of response, Mumbles decides to strike out on his own and find out what’s happened to the fish. Embarking on his own investigative journey, Mumbles travels take him all around the world, running afoul with seals and making new friends like Ramon and a pretty little penguin named Lovelace who wears a shiny 6-pack ring around her neck as a necklace, and even taking him into the scary, yet exciting world of human habitation.
This is not “just an animated movie.” HAPPY FEET is epic, enlightening and entertaining with production values to rival that of “Star Wars.” Written by actor-turned-scribe Warren Coleman, veteran screenwriters John Collee and Judy Morris (who gave us “Babe: Pig in the City”), and director George Miller, this is a vibrant beautiful blend of joy, heroism and celebration iced with some palatable eco-socio-political commentary. But above all, this is a story about, love, friendship, individuality, acceptance and that dare to be different and boldly go where no penguin has gone before. Designed and directed to kids but addressing issues confronting adults, the story and its subplots play out as the sum of the parts, not individual parts. Cohesive and well thought, nothing is fragmented. Daring in its voice and message, the result is a universally appealing tale. Each character is well crafted with impeccable attention to personality traits. And of course, this is only enhanced by the voicing from some rather talented stars.
Elijah Wood assumes the role of Mumbles. With a bold shyness, Wood is solid with his spin on Mumbles. Nicole Kidman, on the other hand, adds a softness and soothing lull to Norma Jean, Mumbles’ mother. With never a waver in affection for her child who is different, you can hear a mother’s love and pride in her voice. Fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman who is Hollywood’s Man of the Moment thanks to “Flushed Away” and “The Fountain” gives voice of Memphis. And that brings us to Robin Williams. Taking on the daunting task of voicing three characters (only 3? That’s less than he does in 5 minutes with Leno or Letterman!), Williams is a blast. Be it as super-cool, super-star, super-suave Ramon which reminds me of Bruno on “Dancing With the Stars” or the sultry hippie-esque Lovelace or buffoonish Cletus, he will have you in stitches and laughing so hard your own feet will tapping the theater floor as you anxiously wait to run to the restroom for laughter relief. Clearly, the comedic hilarity was reserved for Robin.
And with a touch that will bring tears to your eyes, the late Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter himself, voices an elephant seal that Mumbles meets in his journey. More apt dialogue there could not be, as true to Irwin and his passion, in one sequence the elephant seal warns Mumbles of future dangers with the “annihilator aliens.”
But the real star of this film is Savion Glover. Dancer extraordinaire, he provides the moves for those tiny tappin’ Happy Feet. Rigged up to motion sensors, Glover’s dancing moves were captured on computer via motion-capture and then compliments of state of the art CGI, transferred to Mumbles. But let’s go one step further, add another 50 or so dancers all performing Glover’s moves in sync. Let’s capture all of them on computer. And then, let’s go even further and through the magic of the movies, transfer the moves to 20,000 penguins dancing on ice in Antarctica! Talk about happy feet!!!! The effect is mind-boggling, sheer, pure, unadulterated JOY! And this is the most advanced and intricate use of motion-capture photography in a film to date.
Technically the film is masterful. The CGI is beyond belief. George Miller has really outdone himself. With fantastical adventures to stir the hearts and minds of any exploring child or adult and multiple complex choreographies would rival that of one of my heroes, Busby Berkeley, Miller keeps the camera moving, creating panavistic wide screen wonders. Motion editor Maggie Langley’s work is exemplary as is that from what has to be the largest visual effects team in the history of film (especially since the total credits number over 1000). Production Designer Mark Sexton brings his vast experience as a storyboard artist from films like “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones” and “Babe: Pig in the City” and steps in as first time production designer with unparalleled success. Obvious care was taken with the editing here so as not to compromise on the visuals or the story and keep the energy flowing. Resorting to extended shots as opposed to what we typically perceive animation to be – short and choppy – Miller and his team achieve an elegant silken feel, as if gliding on ice. This is cinematic art at its finest.
And I would be remiss to not mention the exemplary pitch perfect work of composer John Powell. Eclectic almost to a fault, song is an integral part of this film, and he puts a fresh spin on some old classics, balancing them with the new.
A surefire Oscar contender, come on and join the fun! All singing! All dancing! All penguins! Come ‘on and get happy! Get happy with HAPPY FEET! Now, THIS is the happiest place on Earth to be come November 17!
Ramon/Lovelace/Cletus: Robin Williams
Mumbles: Elijah Wood
Norma Jean: Nicole Kidman
Memphis: Hugh Jackman
Directed by George Miller. Written by Warren Coleman, John Colle, George Miller and Judy Morris. A Warner Bros. Release. Rated Pg (98 min)
