Computer-animated message movie about the pressure of conformity and (separate message) the plunder of nature, more specifically about a species of pop-song-singing penguins, into whose midst is born a "different," an aberrant, tap-dancing penguin (try, if you can, to put the pudgy trudging birds of March of the Penguins out of your mind), and about a runtier breed of Latino penguins, some menacing seabirds, a scary seal, a couple of humongous orcas, and a race of "aliens" who are not computer-animated at all. The interface with these aliens near the end is moderately mind-blowing, if only from a mixed-media standpoint, but the alleged alienness of the human race would carry more rhetorical clout if the penguins hadn't all along been borrowing so freely from its popular culture. (The natural state holds no accommodation for vintage rock-and-roll.) And you cannot feel entirely happy about a happy ending in which it's suggested that humans might show more respect for their fellow creatures on the planet if only the fellows would learn some nifty dance steps. Although the direction by live-action man George Miller has some nice touches and clever angles, the action, approximately 60mph faster than the action in his Mad Max movies, is approximately 65mph too fast. With the voices of Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Anthony LaPaglia. (2006) — Duncan Shepherd
This movie is not currently in theaters.