--- title: "Happy Feet: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/happy-feet/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/happy-feet" critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Happy Feet (2006): what the critics said Critics' score 74 from 10 reviews: 6 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like Happy Feet, and none dismiss it. The praise gathers around the look of the thing: the computer-animated Antarctic, which several reviews find convincing enough to carry weight, and the tap-dancing set pieces, which nearly every critic picks out. The camerawork draws particular notice, with Variety singling out Miller’s elegant camera movement and expansive sense of space. A good number also credit the film with more ambition than the average children’s cartoon, reading its outsider penguin as a story about identity, scapegoating and the environment. The reservations are about tone and message rather than craft. Empire finds the late shift into darker material disconcerting, and Digital Spy thinks the environmental argument grows heavy-handed and the ending lets the film down. Variety calls the story conventional and some song choices tiresome; The Guardian says it starts poorly before improving. The spread runs from the warm to the merely satisfied, roughly 60 to 90, with no outright hostility. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 November 2007. The critic finds that the film’s ambitious spiritual story works while still entertaining younger viewers. He especially praises the musical choreography and the richly textured Antarctic landscapes. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/happy-feet-158629/) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2006. McCarthy praises the film as an unusually accomplished, visually striking animated musical, while noting its conventional story and occasionally tiresome song choices. He singles out its direction, especially the elegant camera movement and expansive sense of space, for praise. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/happy-feet-1200512080/) ## Radio Times — Sloan Freer Rating 4/5. The review praises the film as a fabulous family adventure, blending a simple story with striking animation and music. It especially singles out the jaw-dropping computer animation and the mix of contemporary and classic tunes. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-tzkx7y/happy-feet/) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 3/4. 14 November 2006. Gonzalez finds the film politically resonant and creatively ambitious despite some conspicuous missteps. He particularly praises Miller’s use of Mumble’s difference to explore identity, scapegoating, and political change. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/happy-feet/) ## The Guardian — Rob Mackie Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2007. Mackie says the film starts poorly but improves into an entertaining, ambitious children’s cartoon. He praises the dancing-penguin set pieces and the energetic virtual Antarctic camerawork. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/mar/23/dvdreviews.family) ## Screen Daily — Steven Rosen Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2006. The review's verdict cannot be determined from the accessible page. Its specific praise or criticism is also unavailable in the paywall shell. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/happy-feet/4029581.article) ## Time Out Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2006. The available description presents the film as a blend of discocentric vocal mash-ups and darker, surreal sensibilities. The review’s verdict and specific praise or complaints are unavailable in the accessible text. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/happy-feet-1) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 December 2006. The review says the film just about succeeds, though its shift to darker subject matter may unsettle older viewers. It praises the foot-tapping songs and colourful animation while noting the tonal change is disconcerting. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/happy-feet-review/) ## Eye for Film — Chris Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2006. The critic finds the film an entertaining, ethically responsible family film that works for children and adults. They praise its addictive tap-dancing and realistic Antarctic visuals, which lend weight to its environmental message. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/happy-feet-film-review-by-chris) ## Digital Spy — Daniel Saney Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2006. The critic finds it an entertaining, superior film for children and adults, though the ending weakens it. The animation and Antarctic visuals stand out, while the environmental message becomes heavy-handed. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a40430/happy-feet/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/happy-feet.md