Review: 'Happy Feet Two' Delivers Plenty Of Smiles

By Michael Lopez

It's hard to believe that it's been five years since the original Happy Feet hit theaters. A smash hit (and an Oscar winner), we expected a sequel to be rushed out rather quickly. But ultimately it seems like the filmmakers made the right decision taking their time with Happy Feet Two. It's well crafted, polished, and beautifully animated.

Thankfully Warner Bros. has brought back the entire team from the original Feet. Writer/director George Miller knows his penguin characters well and made sure to highlight their comic strengths even more for this lively sequel. But what makes Feet Two even more of a success are the new pinguinos he's added to the mix.

Outside of the lovable Mumble, Lovelace, and Ramon (voiced hilariously by Robin Williams), this newest adventure introduces us to The Mighty Sven, a flying bird with a great accent and a curious back story. There's also Erik the baby penguin, who's so adorable, he's literally become the poster child for the movie. But perhaps our favorite Feet newbies are Will and Bill, two hilariously entertaining prawns.

As the story begins, we're reintroduced to Mumble and his lady love Gloria. Now happy parents to little Erik, they've still got all of the great dance moves you remember. But Erik craves for a life outside the pack and soon ventures away from his penguin buddies.

It becomes Mumble's job to rescue his young son and, along the way, they both get caught up in several hair-raising adventures. They also encounter an arctic earthquake, which traps the entire penguin herd on a fallen glacier.

And, as with any good kids' movie, it's teamwork that ultimately gets the penguins free. Though the plot may seem simple, Miller interjects it with tons of exciting animating sequences (making great use of 3D). He also throws in the Will and Bill subplot, which is quite engaging on its own. Though some have criticized Feet Two for being a little lengthy, we enjoyed every minute of it and give it two big flippers up!

Bottom line: There is a lot to love about Happy Feet Two. Whether it’s the celebrity voice cast (Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Sofia Vergara all have great lines), the amazing 3D effects, or just the heartwarming story about friendship and family, it's got elements that can warm even the coldest hearts. Plus, there are some great penguin dance numbers that rival anything you’ll see J.R. Martinez do!

Are you a fan of the Happy Feet movies? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 3D, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Brad Pitt, George Miller, Happy Feet, Happy Feet Two, MAtt Damon, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Robin Williams, sofia vergara