George Miller, who helmed the original film, directed Happy Feet 2, but you`ll be hard-pressed to find similarities between the two movies besides what else! dancing penguins. Most noticeably, the sharp, clean plot of the first film has been obliterated. What is left in place is a series of disparate and random subplots, all of which never add on one another to form some sort of cohesive whole. There are intermittent song-and-dance sequences, which are obviously the key ingredient of the film`s ingratiating vibe, but unless you`re one who likes to see pop songs get intentionally slaughtered (the writers and director think it charming to see and hear penguins singing badly), these hold little charm as well. I`m not even going to begin talking about the plot because there is barely one at all.
Worse still, with its plot already in shambles, Miller even tries to tackle themes of global warming, and alas! there is little new that he adds to this oft-discussed theme. It becomes clear the theme of global warming in this film is merely the screenwriter`s tool to contrive of more random and insignificant subplots.
The little spark in the film lies in its voice talent. The voice talent in the film is simply wonderful. Elijah Wood reprises his role as Mumble here, and this time Brad Pitt and Matt Damon join the fray as a pair of krill. Their scenes have no direct connection to the main plot (or rather, the approximation of a plot), but the two have a great comic chemistry and they share some of the funniest scenes in the movie. Their scenes were some of the movie`s most visually captivating ones as well. The film could have done with more of them.
Yet, in the end, there is not enough in Happy Feet 2 to keep us dancing.
With a bare bones plot and bad dancing to bad covers of pop hits, Happy Feet 2`s charm wanes quickly.
Rating: 2/5 Raymond Tan