Happy Feet Two

Happy Feet Two is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Stan, and in the UK on HBO Max Amazon Channel and Now TV Cinema, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Elijah Wood — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Happy Feet Two is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Happy Feet Two land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Mumble the penguin has a problem: his son Erik, who is reluctant to dance, encounters the Mighty Sven — a penguin who can fly! Things get worse for Mumble when the world is shaken by powerful forces, causing him to bring together the penguin nations and their allies to set things right. Elijah Wood and Robin Williams lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It hit screens in 2011. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Happy Feet Two holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Happy Feet Two respects your intelligence. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Elijah Wood is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.