Classic Reviews (2026)

Happy Feet (2006)

Directed by: George Miller

Written by: George Miller, John Collee, Judy Morris and Warren Coleman

Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, Anthony LaPaglia, Magda Szubanski and Steve Irwin

Music by: John Powell

Rated: U

All emperor penguins in Antarctica are expected to win their mates over with a “love song”. Mumble (Elijah Wood), the chick of the best singing penguins in Emperor Land, Memphis (Hugh Jackman) and Norma Jean (Nicole Kidman), however, has a horrible singing voice, but can instead tap-dance his way to happiness. After being thrown out of his colony when the bigoted Elder, Noah (Hugo Weaving), blames him for the fish disappearing, Mumble and his Adele penguin companions, led by the suave Ramón (Robin Williams), must journey across the snowy wastelands to find the reason of the lack of food..

Notable throughout the animation community as one of the few animated films in 2006 that was actually better than average throughout that terrible year for animation, Happy Feet may not have aged well in terms of predictably and originality, but the outstanding animation and huge musical set-pieces make this penguin tale worth re-releasing in IMAX 3D (even if Over the Hedge and Flushed Away also deserved the nomination.)

While the jukebox musical format can get really annoying, especially with some really awkward innuendos (that infamous gif of Mumble and Gloria’s “positions” on the ice says it all), the realism in the animation is absolutely stunning on the big screen. However, Miller could have made each penguin look a bit different as nearly every emperor penguin apart from Mumble and the bigoted Noah, looks too identical, especially the love-interest, Gloria (Brittany Murphy) and Mumble’s mother, Norma Jean, looking like two identical twins. 

Overall, there is not much else to say about George Miller’s first foray into animation. Happy Feet may feel like a overblown extended music video at times, but it’s clear that his iconic style of directing and cinematography did manage to make this film stand out in such a weak year, despite it’s predictability and the questionable voice-acting.

Rating: 3.5/5