"Happy Feet" is Full of Heart Song and Dance

I love to take my grandson to the movies. This weekend, we ventured out to see the newest computer animated film, "Happy Feet." To tell you the truth, I wasn't at all sure I was up for this particular movie. It looked cute enough, but I honestly didn't think it would be able to hold my attention. Boy, was I wrong.

At first, the story appears to be a simple one about the difficulty encountered in the world when you are different. In this case, the world we are talking about is that of the Emperor Penguins of Antarctica. It begins just as the females are preparing to go out to bring back fish for the clan. In the penguin world it is the male of the species that stays home and cares for the eggs as they hatch. Norma Jean - - voiced by Nicole Kidman - - cautions her mate, Memphis - - played by Hugh Jackman - - to take very good care of their little one while she is gone. In typical male fashion, however, Memphis manages to drop the egg. Because of this, he is convinced it is his fault when it finally hatches but the newborn cannot sing like his peers. All he can muster is an ear splitting squawk. Instead, Mumbles - - voiced by Elijah Wood - - wants to dance; tap dance to be exact. This makes him different from all the other penguins. Try as he might, Mumbles nevers seems to fit in. Additionally, he realizes that if he cannot find his heart song, he won't be able to find his soul mate. He believes that is may be Gloria - - voiced by Brittany Murphy, the clan's best singer. But she is not at all sure about Mumble's hippty-hop nature. Eventually, the tradition-bound elders of the clan ostracize Mumbles and he is forced to leave home, his parents, and Gloria behind.