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Parents' Guide to

Happy Feet Two

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Penguin sequel has fun musical numbers, a few mild scares.

Movie PG 2011 100 minutes
Happy Feet Two Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 13 parent reviews

STRIDER9
STRIDER9 Adult
April 7, 2013
age 5+

cute

Its a really cute adventure.
doctora
doctora Parent of 6-year-old
January 11, 2023
age 5+

Better than the original in spots, surprisingly solid ending

This film was average to eh as it trudged along and I was half paying attention. Then the songs go from pop music redos to Broadway musical style and the film begins to take a turn. Although I am not a huge fan of the genre the film does an excellent job of making me care about the plight of the penguins, the elephant seals and the melting glaciers. By the end the film whips you up into a well layered musical ending number frenzy with just enough time for you to cheer along with the characters, even the krill, who for the most part seemed like the weak links until you apparently need them.
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this follow-up to 2006's Happy Feet, Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood) and Gloria (now Pink, since Brittany Murphy died in 2009) are the parents to penguin chick Eric (Ava Acres), who can neither find his "happy" dancing feet nor his singing voice -- a rite of passage for all penguins. After Ramon (Robin Williams) decides to leave the Emperor penguins and return to Adelie land, Eric and two young friends follow, so Mumble must go retrieve the young 'uns. Meanwhile, a melting iceberg hits the Emperor penguins' natural habitat and traps them in a snowy valley they can't climb out of -- leaving Mumble the only adult to brainstorm a rescue. Mumble enlists the Adelies -- who have a mysterious flying penguin visitor named Sven (Hank Azaria) -- to come catch fish for the stranded Emperors. And just when it seems like all might be lost, help could come in a very unexpected form.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (13 ):
Kids say (22 ):

Animation wise, HAPPY FEET TWO is a stunning achievement. The underwater sequences and the iceberg disaster are particularly impressive, but all of the animation is top notch. Director George Miller has also mastered the art of the elaborately choreographed animated musical number: The sequel seems to feature even more show-stopper performances (usually led by Pink) that the original, each of which was planned by a team of famous choreographers, including tap dancer Savion Glover (who's responsible for all of Mumble's moves thanks to motion-capture technology).

Story wise, however, the movie is a bit cluttered with extra characters. Although it's a hoot to hear Brad Pitt and Matt Damon voice Will and Bill the krills -- who are separated from their swarm and wind up having existential crises about their purpose in the world -- there are just too many secondary characters detracting from the central storyline between Mumble and Eric. In particular, the flirtatious banter between Ramon and Carmen (Sofia Vergara) is forced and forgettable, and the audience doesn't have a chance to fully connect with Eric's young pals. Overall, the musical numbers and the 3-D animation are fantastic, but the actual story isn't as cohesive as the original's coming-of-age tale.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's messages about independence and environmental awareness. How do Will the Krill and little Eric struggle with the same sort of issues? How do they each achieve their goal of uniqueness?

  • Why do some people think that everyone should conform and "fit in"? Has there ever been a time when you didn't feel like you fit in? How did that make you feel?

  • How does the sequel compare to the original? What are some similarities between Mumble's journey and Eric's? Which movie do you prefer?

Movie Details

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