Happy Feet Two: "The Only Way To Find Out, Is To Try It. Come On Son. Let's Shake This World"

Director: George Miller
Writer:    Gary Eck
               Warren Coleman
               Paul Livingston
Starring: Elijah Wood
               Robin Williams
               Hank Azaria
               Alicia 'P!nk' Moore
               Brad Pitt
               Matt Damon
               Sofia Vergara
               Hugo Weaving
               Richard Carter
               Ava Acres
               Meibh Campbell
               Lil P-Nut
               E.G Daily
Rating:   ***

Release date: 02/12/11  

Five years after the first film, the penguins are bringing fluffy back, but with too many stories the heart is gone, and it has lost the spark that made the first so successful.   

Mumbles and Gloria (Wood & Moore) are grown up and have settled down and made a family of their own. Their son Erik (Acres) is exactly how Mumbles was when he was a baby, but with one big difference, Erik is scared to dance. Despite the support of his parents he feels like too much of an outcast, so he runs away from his family friends. He and his friends, Boadicia and Atticus (Campbell & P-Nut), follow Ramon (Williams) back to his home Adelie Island in hopes of being accepted for their individuality. When they arrive Ramon discovers that Adelie Island has a new ruler, The Mighty Sven (Azaria), whom Lovelace (Williams) and the rest of the island have grown to love and respect. He is the only flying penguin, and for Erik, this is amazing and he soon grows to idolise him.

Mumbles soon realises the children have gone so follows the kids tracks and finds them at the island. After a dispute, they all return, but when they finally get back they realise that an Iceburg has trapped their colony, so with the help of the Adelie Islanders, some Krill and an Elephant Seal, they work together to free their friends and family, and finish with a dance.

The original cast slip back into their old characters with ease, and Williams is just as funny as ever with his two different characters. P!nk does her best, but fails to capture that sweet, innocent charm that the late Brittany Murphy brought to the role. Now although she tries her best, it added a bit of sadness to the film for me, which unfortunately was unavoidable. The new characters add a new level of freshness and fun to the film, but with each of their new and differing stories comes a whole host of confusion. These characters include Bill and Will (Damon & Pitt), the krill searching for a better life, Sven the puffin posing as a flying penguin, Carmen (Vergara) the seductive, Penguin love interest for Ramon, and Bryan (Carter) a bitter and protective Elephant Seal. Each character brings an added level, and has their own interesting personality, but unfortunately it confuses the film, and drags it down slightly.

The film is funny, sweet and will have you tapping your toes, but due to the confusing, intertwining plot lines, children are bound to get confused, and the heart is sucked out of the film. The voice work is done well, and there are many funny moments that will have you chuckling. Go in to the cinema on Friday with an open mind, because it is entertaining and kids will love it, just don't expect to get as invested as you would've done with the previous film, and don't expect your kids to follow every story.

Happy Feet Two - Trailer