Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Happy Feet Two

also known as “Happy Feet 2,” “Happy Feet 2: el pingüino,” “Happy Feet 2: El pingüino,” “Happy Feet 2: Mumble danseaza din nou,” “Happy Feet 2: O Pinguim,” See more »
MPA Rating: PG-Rating (MPA) for some rude humor and mild peril.

Reviewed by: Brian C. Johnson
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Average
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Kids Family
Genre: Animation Adventure Comedy Kids Family Musical 3D
Length: 1 hr. 40 min.
Year of Release: 2011
USA Release: November 18, 2011 (wide—3,600+ theaters)
DVD: March 13, 2012
Copyright, Warner Bros. Picturesclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures
Relevant Issues
Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures

Penguin coloring page

About birds and other animals of the Bible

dancing and songs in the Bible

Homosexual message

GAY—What’s wrong with being gay? Answer
Homosexual behavior versus the Bible: Are people born gay? Does homosexuality harm anyone? Is it anyone’s business? Are homosexual and heterosexual relationships equally valid?

What does the Bible say about same sex marriages? Answer

Evolutionary message
Creation SuperLibrary.com
Top choice for accurate, in-depth information on Creation/Evolution. The SuperLibrary is provided by a top team of experts from various respected creationist organizations who answer your questions on a wide variety of topics. Multilingual.

For Kids

click for Kid Explorers
Adventures in the rainforest! Learn about the Creator of the universe by exploring His marvelous creation. Fun for the whole family with games, activities, stories, answers to children’s questions, color pages, and more! One of the Web’s first and most popular Christian Web sites for children. Nonprofit, evangelical, nondenominational.

Featuring Elijah WoodMumble (voice)
Robin WilliamsRamon/Lovelace (voice)
Hank AzariaThe Mighty Sven (voice)
Pink … Gloria (singing voice)
Brad PittWill the Krill (voice)
Matt DamonBill the Krill (voice)
Sofía Vergara (Sofia Vergara) … Carmen (voice)
Common (voice)
Hugo WeavingNoah (voice)
See all »
Director George Miller
Producer Kennedy Miller Mitchell
Dr D Studios
Village Roadshow Pictures
George Miller … producer
Distributor Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures. Trademark logo.Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company

“Every step counts.”

For too long, movie-goers have mistakenly believed that movies are primarily about entertainment; most people enter the theater and turn their brains off so they can “escape” the pressures of real life and enter the fantasy world of imagination. And that, my friends, is just where Hollywood gets us! When the brain is disengaged for a little bit of entertainment, we become ready receptacles for whatever message they want to dole out. So few us actually THINK about what we view, but if “Happy Feet Two” is any indication, viewers need to actively engage and turn the brains on.

In the original, Mumble, the young penguin, faces the ire of his entire village of emperor penguins. All of the other penguins love to sing, but not Mumble, he is a dancer. When he was kicked out of Emperor Land, Mumble set out on a journey to prove the importance of being true to yourself. In the sequel, a new generation of penguins is born, and this film follows Mumble’s son, Erik, who is struggling to find his special talent—it doesn’t seem to be singing or dancing. Erik and his friends take a long walk, but become trapped by an iceberg. Will Mumble be able to find his boy and save the day?

Let’s just be honest here—this film is full of teachable moments, but should Hollywood be doing the teaching? Don’t let the graphics and the animations lull you into thinking how “cute” this movie is! There is clearly an agenda—overt sexuality is rampant throughout the film (do the young female penguins need such sexy movements as they sing?). The songs appear to back up this agenda; for example, the penguins sing a version of “Sexy Back” made famous by Justin Timberlake. There is also a presentation of the controversial topic of homosexuality. as one male shrimp appears to be interested in building a life partnership with another male. While the interested male is rebuffed, he continually makes references to becoming roommates and adopting other krill together. This storyline is oddly reminiscent of the real-life story of the two male penguins in the Toronto Zoo who seem to have an affinity for one another, or the children’s book “And Tango Makes Three” which prompted much debate in elementary schools a couple of years ago.

In addition to the questionable presentations of sexuality in this “children’s film,” there also is an underlying current of promotion of evolutionary principles. This is coupled with some rather risqué comedy, including repeated toilet humor and an interesting use of substitute cuss words.

To be fair, “Happy Feet Two” does have some positive appeal, especially the message of the value of self-worth, which was continued from the first installment. Mumble, who fought against discrimination and exclusion in the original, certainly knows how to mentor his young son towards accepting himself and his own uniqueness in a world filled with pressures toward conformity.

Regrettably, our educational systems tend not to emphasize critical thinking skills until high school and college, and still few recognize the necessity of giving students the skills to analyze the media surrounding them. Movies, after all, are just “harmless” entertainment, right? If the hairs on the back of your neck stood up as you read this, then you already answered that question.

In the end, parents, you may want to watch this one yourself before you take the kiddos to watch it.

Violence: Mild / Profanity: Minor / Sex/Nudity: None

Review of the prequel to this movie: Happy Feet (2006)

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—I actually liked this movie. There were homosexual overtones in the krill characters, but only from Bill. And the fact that Will said “no hanky panky” implied his lack of interest in that kind of relationship. They are asexual looking creatures anyway, when you think about it. The krill jokes were terrific: “One in a krillion”, “Good-bye krill world”…

The best parts of the movie were the music, the choreography, the overall look and outstanding direction by George Miller. Some of the dialog was good in the way they worked in popular phrases. The elephant seal sequence worked well. Gloria’s support of Mumble being a good father is also an additional plus. How many kids have trouble with self acceptance because of being different from their peers in one way or another? So Eric runs away to find his way. Many movies have this theme. When Mumble finds Eric, he tells him, “When things go wrong, running away is not the answer.” Good advice.

The scene of the boatmen cooking and eating chicken was kind of odd, like it was wrong. That’s the problem when the animals are heroes of a movie and can think on a human level. But if they are promoting evolution, then they are making what animals evolve into appear bad. And I think it’s kind of funny, because evolution is as likely as animals talking and dancing and even having the knowledge to evolve. So they fit together. But the Truth is “Man has dominion over the animals” (Gen. 1:26).

While this movie comes off with some non-Christian ideals, it’s not bad, and it has a few good lessons. “Obey your father” and you can tell your wayward child to “believe in yourself because God (not Sven) believes in you.” Anyone with half a mind knows “if you will it, it will be yours” is ludicrous. Yet Jesus said, “With God anything is possible.” So with that, Sven’s philosophy is a bit like misguided faith. He was a liar, anyway, because he finally confessed he was a bird.

The central theme of the Happy Feet movies is self acceptance and accepting those who are different, and I think those are good lessons. This movie is a great teaching tool for parents. Rent it and watch it with your children, and tell them why it’s fiction. Then tell them God’s Truth.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Jeff, age 55 (USA)
Positive—I thought this movie was pretty fantastic. It was cute and was made for children, but they have some adult entertainment thrown in. They sing older songs, you’ll even be “Rick-Rolled” in the film. Overall, I thought it was rather adorable. But for those complaining about teaching kids to “WILL IT” and “It’ll just HAPPEN”… what do you think prayer is? In the end of the movie the message was that instead of just wishing for things to come true, you should get up and do something about it. It ultimately saved their friends. There was also a lot of talk about not giving the penguins false hope.

It might be for older children, but me niece and my nephew (7 and 5) seemed to love it! My niece sang along the whole time. I also approved of the religious message they were sending throughout the movie.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Jenna Willow, age 20 (USA)
Neutral
Neutral—I agree with the reviewers comments after seeing the movie. I usually check this site before I go to a movie, but this time I didn’t. I noticed the overt homosexual message right away. Hollywood seems to want to indoctrinate our kids into thinking this is “cute” or “funny”. The evolution message also was a concern.

But another concern that the reviewer didn’t mention was the message that Erik was taught that if he wanted something, and it was his “will,” then he would get it. We, of course, know that anything we want and ask for needs to be in God’s will.

I wouldn’t recommend taking your children to see this movie, and if you do you should have conversations about the biblical errors this movie promotes.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Anna, age 57 (USA)
Negative
Negative—…the parts that I scrutinized were: 1. the Evolution message, but more than that— 2. the NEW AGE MESSAGE of “empty your mind”, then whatever you wish for—just WILL IT TO HAPPEN… and it *WILL* happen!! Yes folks, this was ACTUALLY TAUGHT in this movie!!

And then to top that was 3. the Homosexual agenda… of 2 shrimp: Bill and Will, and how they talk of having a family *together* or at least adopting together… and then when one decides he doesn’t want to—he claims he can get “another partner”. YIKES!!! Folks, even my ultra conservative friend *denied* that’s what they meant—but I HEARD IT WITH MY OWN EARS!!!…

Fortunately (I guess… at best) the music and hap-hap-happy theme of toe-tapping music DROWN OUT these parts—and children with influential ears will likely not even catch it—doubtful most adults will even catch it. Goes to show, once again, we cannot trust Hollywood!! I only pray the Lord does not hold this against our account—for taking very innocent and young relatives to have seen this movie today.

BTW, in addition to all these anti-God references, the movie was flat out a DUD!!!… My DH even whispered to me 1/3 of the way through” it that he just flat was not “getting it”. The plot is pretty lifeless. Mainly though… for those who choose to PLEASE GOD with what movies we choose to let into our eyes… minds… souls… I’d greatly recommend skipping this one!! Wish we would have!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3
R J, age 52 (USA)
Negative—The shrimp are gay and one believes that there is no purpose to life. The penguins become trapped one attempts to harm himself screaming “someone call 911, I think I want to die, I think I’m going to kill myself”. The small penguin Erick and another bird like penguin believe that they are able to will things themselves… if they will it… it will happen. Raised as a Christian and raising my children up as Christians we believe God the Father wills everything, and may His will be done. Just a strange movie all around.

I will definitely check this Web page before I ever think about taking my children to the movies again. My spouse accompanied us to the theater and was ready to leave during the middle of the movie. Not something I wanted my children to see. Wasted our families time and our families money.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
L. Forbes, age 30 (USA)
Negative—Happy Feet was amazing, but this was far from stellar. Take all the dialogue away, and you have a neat movie. But the overt homosexual themes of Will and Bill, the global warming propaganda, the evolutionary doctrine, and the push of New Age philosophy just destroyed this film. Most, if not all, of it was unnecessary, more so there really is no need for female penguins to be sexy or dance provocatively; absolutely need for it.

I’m glad my son is 3 and all this flew over his head, but for older kids with an ability to comprehend, this will raise more questions than you may be willing to answer at the time. Really disappointed with this installment because of the aforementioned stuff and the fact that it was utterly lifeless.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5
Matt, age 27 (USA)
Comments from young people
Neutral—I saw this movie a few days ago. It was good but, it had a few unnecessary stuff in it like Will the Krill Said “No Hanky Panky” I was like, why did they put that in there? Although it was pretty funny and sad.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Ali, age 14 (USA)
Positive—The film was good… I thought the story was somewhat confusing and mixed up… I did notice the slight homosexuality stuff with Bill the Krill… but it was only slight, so that’s good… and I did notice a slight comment on Evolution, but I think some will miss it… maybe… overall, it’s a good film…
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 5
Andre, age 15 (Canada)

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