2006, Warner Brothers
Animated
Rating: PG
Approx. 108 mins.
THE STORY:
Memphis (Hugh Jackman) and Norma Jean (Nicole Kidman) find each other and fall in love the way all emperor penguins do: they hear each other's heart-songs and know they have found The One. In time comes an egg and Norma Jean heads off with the other wives to hunt for fish, leaving Memphis to guard the egg. In an Elvis-inspired moment of distraction, he lets the egg roll away into the snow.
Memphis is relieved when the egg hatches, but concerned when his baby starts to hop and dance in a very non-penguin way. Even worse, Mumble (Elijah Harper) cannot sing, presumably making it impossible for him to find his mate. Norma Jean loves and accepts her son, but Memphis deals with the colony's rejection of Mumble by blaming himself and by buying into the penguin elders' reactionary xenophobia.
Eventually, Mumble is forced to leave the colony and his true love, Gloria (Brittany Murphy). He stumbles upon another colony and is befriended by an easy-going group of 'amigos' led by Ramon (Robin Williams). The band sets off to find the 'aliens' (i.e. humans) responsible for over-fishing and depleting the penguins' food supply. Mumble is caught and sent to a zoo where he is in danger of losing his mind until his dancing turns out to be his salvation. In the end, his tapping gets the attention of the 'aliens,' they see the effects of their over-fishing and the penguin colony is saved.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
Memphis is relieved when the egg hatches, but concerned when his baby starts to hop and dance in a very non-penguin way. Even worse, Mumble (Elijah Harper) cannot sing, presumably making it impossible for him to find his mate. Norma Jean loves and accepts her son, but Memphis deals with the colony's rejection of Mumble by blaming himself and by buying into the penguin elders' reactionary xenophobia.
Eventually, Mumble is forced to leave the colony and his true love, Gloria (Brittany Murphy). He stumbles upon another colony and is befriended by an easy-going group of 'amigos' led by Ramon (Robin Williams). The band sets off to find the 'aliens' (i.e. humans) responsible for over-fishing and depleting the penguins' food supply. Mumble is caught and sent to a zoo where he is in danger of losing his mind until his dancing turns out to be his salvation. In the end, his tapping gets the attention of the 'aliens,' they see the effects of their over-fishing and the penguin colony is saved.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- stupid
VIOLENCE:
- no violence, but some lightly scary/ threatening scenes
- the contradictions of zoos
- the dangers of over-fishing
- difference does not have to be threatening
- yourself is the best thing you can be
THE UPSHOT:
The animation and music are engaging, and Robin Williams brings humour in his dual roles (the penguins Ramon and Lovelace). There is nothing really bad about the film, but I can't help wishing it was better. The film lacks focus and seems to go from story to story to story, making it feel far longer than its 108 minutes. It deals with some big, worthwhile themes-- e.g. bullying, over-fishing, animals in captivity, xenophobia, and accepting one's differences-- but spreads itself so thin that it never really makes any big statements about any of them.
That said, the 4 year-old in the room was completely entertained, and the story provided a starting point for a few big discussions.
Check out the extras for a scene featuring Steve Irwin that didn't make the movie's final cut. A fitting tribute.
3/5
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