Columbia Pictures presents PG rated 85 minute film directed by Ash Brannon and Chris Buck. Characters voiced by Shia LaBeouf (Cody Maverick), Jeff Bridges (Big Z/Geek), Zooey Deschanel (Lani Aliikai), Jon Heder (Chicken Joe), James Woods (Reggie Belafonte), Diedrich Bader (Tank Evans), Mario Cantone (Mikey Abromowitz), Kelly Slater (Kelly), Rob Machado (Rob), Sal Masekela (SPEN Announcer), Brian Posehn (Glen Maverick), Dana Belben (Edna Maverick) and Reed Buck (Arnold).
Cody, a rockhopper penguin, dreams of one day leaving his small cold ice home in Shiverpool, Antarctica, which he shares with his mother, Edna and brother, Glen, to one day follow in the swells of his mentor Big Z. Ever since he was hatched he had one goal which was to become one of the worlds best surfers. Tired of the same old routines in Shiverpool he went out in the waters on his ice board in search of the ideal surfer waves. Even though Cody lost his father to a killer orca he wanted to make his family proud and enter the Big Z Memorial Surf Off, named after his mentor who was thought killed in the bone yard swell during a race.
We all have dreams and ambitions and one day Cody's came true. Mikey a talent scout for the surf off whaled his way into Cody's life searching for the next big talent to take on Tank Shredder, an emperor penguin, the largest of all penguins who happens to be the nine time champ of the race. With a lack of waves in the Antarctica Cody was not able to show his stuff but his determination helped him make his way to tropical Pen Gu Island to compete in the competition. He meets a new friend and fellow competitor Chicken Joe. Yes, a chicken, feathers down the funniest character in the film voiced brilliantly by Jon Heder. The film also follows the typical romantic genre of boy meets girl, in this case rockhopper penguin Cody meets gentoo penguin Lani, the island lifeguard.
When Cody steps on a disgusted sea urchin breaking its quills in several places along with one entering his webbed foot, Lani takes him to see her uncle, Geek, a king penguin. Geek, ends up helping Cody with his health and surfing technique and Cody ends up forging a friendship with his mentor. Geek gets Cody ready both mentally and physically for the big surf off in hopes of defeating the egotistical bully, Tank and ending his winning streak. It comes down to a final three in the race but only one can be a winner. Overall, sometimes friendships are a bigger and better prize than the actual win itself.
Even though during this particular screening half of the movie throughout was blurred for some unknown reason I still enjoyed this family action comedy. Some of the humor is addressed towards the adults in the theatre but most of the film appeals to a younger audience. Penguins seem to be a hot topic these days and even though they are overtaking the big screen this film is worth the family excursion.
The animation was exquisitely mixed in with an appropriate score all fitting into an enjoyable discovery-like story line filled with comical penguin characters of all ages and species but the true break out laughs come from the chicken himself who creates the perfect side kick character to Cody. I especially liked the way the directors made the film seem a bit like a reality series when they mixed in the SPEN camera crew in the story line interviewing family and friends and following the main characters on their quests both professionally and personally. Success should be fun and every time you mix it in to the water it is sure to create the ultimate swell of which this film should enjoy the perfect ride. So break out your swim wear and hop a wave to the nearest theatre for a short but enjoyable film for all ages.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.