April 3, 2024

Now, never mind that penguins and polar bears live at opposite ends of the world, that's not important in this watchable animated teamwork film. Some nasty circus owners with their own rather menacing looking ice-breaker arrive in the Antarctic and capture three penguins and a polar bear cub. They proceed to go down a storm in their new big-top home until the animal welfare inspector makes a surprise visit and that offers our kidnapped critters a… read the rest.

Now, never mind that penguins and polar bears live at opposite ends of the world, that's not important in this watchable animated teamwork film. Some nasty circus owners with their own rather menacing looking ice-breaker arrive in the Antarctic and capture three penguins and a polar bear cub. They proceed to go down a storm in their new big-top home until the animal welfare inspector makes a surprise visit and that offers our kidnapped critters a chance to escape. Meantime, "Toto" the personable rooster and his family are sadly preparing to see his ageing mother finally fly the mortal coup. The fleeing visitors encounter the birds and the latter promise to help them return to their chilly climes - without really thinking of just how difficult that might prove to be! What now ensues are some quite well animated, if a little repetitive, escapades that establish some friendships and show us just what can be achieved when everyone works together. Some of the dialogue is quite funny - the chicken being the "penguin with hepatitis" and the standard of characterisation no different in quality from many of the recent Pixar enterprises. It's entirely predictable and at ninety minutes is easily twenty minutes too long, but still - it is harmless family fun and you might want to wear a scarf.

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