Last year, the French documentary March of the Penguins (Marche de l'empereur, La) about the lives and survival of a large colony of emperor penguins during one-full cycle of Antartica’s ruthless season captured our hearts. I listed it as 2005's fifth best family film.
This year, I'm giving the honor to the animated motion picture Happy Feet, a story about young penguin named Mumble Happy Feet who is cast out of his colony because he dances. As a young penguin, he learned he couldn't sing, which every penguin considered the heart song. The "heart song" not only was the vehicle that draws couples together to mate, but it is the method of how the penguins distinguish themselves one from the other. This is especially valuable when the female penguins return to the herd after they have been away for the winter, their call is how their mates find them and re-join with them. The "heart song" is also the vocal signature that helps newly-born penguins know their parents.
In a year full of entertaining animated films such as the classic Cars, and Ice Age 2, Monster House, Open Season, Hoodwinked, and Over the Hedge, Happy Feet, from DreamWorks, rises above them all. From a clever and environmentally-friendly script, beautiful animation, and musical numbers and dancing that literally get you dancing in your seats, Happy Feet shines and inspires. It not only gets my nod for best animated film of the year but the best of family fare as well.
Commonality. Inclusiveness. And a primary message that our differences shouldn’t cause fear, division, or give us the right to demean, oppress, hate, and abuse. That's what lies behind this film with heart. And that, my friend, is timeless.
Highlight: The musical-like feel of Happy Feet is electrifying, combining soulful renditions of "Kiss," "Heartbreak Hotel," and the disco classic "Boogie Wonderland," into exceptional interludes between the action sequences.
Here is a list of my favorite family films of the year. (Reviews for these films forthcoming, when and if I get some time to write them.)
1. Happy Feet
2. Cars
3. Pirates of the Caribbean 2
4. Akeela and the Bee
5. Monster House
6. Flushed Away
7. Eight Below
8. Hoodwinked
9. Over the Hedge
10. Nanny McPhee
Note of regret: As of this writing, I have not yet seen "The Pursuit of Happyness" or "Charlotte's Web", but from everything I have heard about thier uplifting themes and pro-family message, I know I would have thrown them in my top ten films for family.
Honorable Mentions
Alex Rider (Stormbreaker), Nacho Libre, Night at the Museum, and Invincible.
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