104 minutes of penguins – what an extended version of David Attenborough’s Frozen Planet you say? No, 104 mins of rapping, dancing and wooly jumper wearing penguins. Uhhh I hear you utter under your breath, it must be…tap tap tap Happy Feet Two!! 
Yes, just in time for the Christmas season comes another Warner Bros animation featuring furry penguins, big and small, Aussie Elephant Seals and wait for it…. Brad Pitt and Matt Damon as two shrimps! I’m not sure its the stuff that dreams are made of, but it certainly will be a family Christmas film enjoyed over the next month if not necessarily beyond.
So in this adventure Mumble’s son, Erik, is struggling to realize his talents in the Emperor Penguin world. Meanwhile, Mumble and his family and friends discover a new threat their home – one that will take everyone working together to save them. With messages about the state our 
world is in at the moment and the effect it has on the animals that inhabit it, this film makes for an enjoyable musical ride.
With an all star cast including Robin Williams and Pink taking on the late Brittany Murphy’s role as Gloria this film packs a punch with some great one liners and maybe just a pinch too much singing (oh yes I’m sorry I went there!). Although you end up scratching your head as to why Bill and Will the Krill (Pitt and Damon) are actually featured in the film, they never the less provide some fantastic comic moments – my favourite line is when Will states that he has to “Go eat something with a face!” (Watch it, you’ll see), its also nice to know that these two Hollywood A-Listers feature quite heavily in the film instead of adding just one or two lines.
Unfortunately however, as I come to write this blog post, I am slightly struggling to 
fully recall the film, which can only mean that as enjoyable as it was, it was also pretty forgettable. Having just seen Tin Tin a couple of nights ago, the animation here just lacked for me in parts, proving that Spielberg, although different in style, has really set the bar high in this area and I am converted.
But these are all tiny niggles, and realistically as immature as I am at times, I’m certainly not really the target audience. But for those who do fall into the correct category, you will enjoy singing and toe tapping your way and the film itself may well be ever so slightly forgettable but hopefully the messages you take away from it wont be.
Happy Feet Two is out on general release on the 2nd December.
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