Manny The Movie Guy /

In 2006, Happy Feet became a critical and commercial success culminating with an Academy Award win for Best Animated Feature. In 2011, the franchise continues to tap dance its way into our hearts with a brand new sequel that stays true to the spirit of the original.

Happy Feet Two starts with a rollicking production number featuring the penguins of Emperor Land singing and dancing to the tune of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation among others. Within the film’s first five minutes, you will notice that the production design is much better, the animation is sharper, and the dance routines are far better choreographed.

Mumble, once again voiced by Elijah Wood, is now a father and is having a hard time connecting with his son Erik (voiced by Ava Acres). If Mumble was vocally challenged as a little penguin, Erik is allergic to movin’ and groovin’. When forced by his dad to take a trip to the light fantastic, Eric encounters an accident and becomes the laughing stock.

The father-and-son dynamics between Mumble and Erik are explored with utmost sincerity by director/writer/producer George Miller. The guy who gave us the first Happy Feet is a wonderful storyteller whose wide-ranging credits include the action packed Mad Max series and the endearing talking animals franchise Babe.

If the original Happy Feet was about dancing, the sequel is more about flying. After being humiliated in Emperor Land, Erik runs away with his toddler pals Bo (Meibh Campbell) and Atticus (Benjamin Lil P-Nut Flores, Jr.). The three tag along with Ramon (the always funny Robin Williams) to visit Adelie Land where they meet its new star, Sven (the wonderful Hank Azaria), the mysterious penguin who can fly.

Just like in the first film, Williams voices two distinct characters. The first one is the talkative Adelie penguin, Ramon, and the second is the guru Rockhopper Penguin, Lovelace. Alecia Moore aka Pink takes over the role that Brittany Murphy once embodied, the character of Gloria, Mumble’s golden-throated wife. Pink wrote an original song called Bridge of Light that touches upon one of the great themes of the movie.

What I like best about the Happy Feet movies are the messages organic to the narrative of the series. Some messages are obvious, some are subliminal, but all are important to enjoying the story. The biggest theme of the sequel involves the smallest characters, the two tiny krill, Will (Brad Pitt) and Bill (Matt Damon).

Pitt and Damon seemed to be having genuine fun voicing their tiny underwater characters who are embarking on their own adventures. Will knows he is not just one of the krillions so he takes his sidekick Bill to prove his theory.

From the environmental oil spill to global warming to civil rights, Happy Feet Two touches upon themes relevant to our society but never once has the film been preachy. As soon as the tone starts moving to a somber direction, comedy ensues delivered by either Sven’s hilarious antics, or Ramon’s funny quest to find love. Sofia Vergara of ABC’s Modern Family voices Carmen, the apple of Ramon’s eye.

I enjoyed Happy Feet Two tremendously! It promises to bring out your happy and it certainly brought out mine. This is the best animated film I’ve seen so far this year. The animation is drawn with eye-popping qualities from the cuddly penguins to the shrimp-like krill, from the majestic Aurora Borealis to the magnificent jellyfish.

Happy Feet Two is an endearing, funny, and heartwarming film that manages to be thought-provoking and teaches many a great lessons. But in the end, it’s all about dancing, and you will walk out of the theaters with your feet loose and definitely happy.