Happy Feet

                                                           

                                                            Happy Feet

The film I decided to review on is Happy Feet. The film originated in November of 2006. The first time I watched the video I didn’t think anything of their being stereotypes or racism throughout the movie, but having to do a report on stereotypes and racism, I paid a lot more attention to the film, and noticed that the opening song “kiss” by Price, was not very child appropriate. Another thing that caught my attention in the film was when Mumble was born, and his feet were dancing all over the place and said his feet are happy also, his dad didn’t want to accept him for dancing. His dad said “it’s just not penguin”. The way I interpreted that was a stereotype, of being gay. He wasn’t accepted for who he was as an individual, and was supposed to be like all the other penguins, by having the ability to sing. His parents were embarrassed by him, and wished he could sing like all the other penguins. Another part of the movie that caught my attention was Loveless saying to the girl penguins “don’t be a snooty booty” when one of the girl penguins said “not tonight”.  I thought that interpretation was taken as don’t be such a prude, just do it for me, which can be a stereotype toward men, because all guys are pigs, and all they want is sex.

            When children are watching this film they might be absorbing to take in bad habits from the penguin Loveless, because he is always thinking he is the best, and should be worshiped and when penguins do not do has he says he says “go forth and multiply” which is another way of saying go away and do something else. Children can take that in and think it is ok to boss other people around.  In the end of the film it can show kids that being different is okay, because everyone danced with Mumble. It shows that kids should stick to what they believe in because Mumble never gave up dancing, and all the other penguins sang, and never danced. I never watched this film as a child because it did not come out until 2006, but the year it came out, I did watch it. I never thought anything of the movie having anything fowl until now, and know that children are watching this.

According to commonsense.com, Christians were attacked throughout this film, from portraying the penguin "elders" as condemning religious leaders who quoted bible verses and a "televangelist"-like leader who blasphemed Scripture, speaking of "Going forth and multiplying", then taking several female penguins out of sight to "have pleasure" on his couch, asking, "who will be first?". Mumble, the main character, decides to find out who the "aliens" are and ask them to stop taking the penguins' food supply, fish. The "aliens", who are clearly defined as human beings, are portrayed as evil, uncaring, scary, palliative and destructive. As Mumble crests a hill looking for signs of "alien" life, the first structure that is shown is a church. Sexual innuendo is all over this movie, as male penguins frequently try to "get laid" and sing offensive secular songs that I don't let my children listen to, such as, Salt 'n Peppa's "Let's talk about sex baby" as well as Prince's "Kiss" and others. Mumble's parents are basically Marilyn Monroe and Elvis personified, and very "sexual" in their speaking and body movements. Mumble's penguin friends are very sexual when speaking about getting female penguins, at times thrusting their pelvises when speaking about how "hot" and desirable they are.

Comparing what commonsense.com and I had both said, there is a lot of agreement in the video that was discussed. I think it’s not very age appropriate for children who are under 12. However, the younger kids (ages 2-5) may not even understand how to interpret the movie other than it being a childrens movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjhvWf7OeEE