This movie is cute and an Environmentalist commercial for PETA.  However, ignoring those obvious themes, it is a story about a father and his ability to deal with the decisions he has made, and the effect those decisions had on the man his boy as to become.

Maybe it’s because I watched this movie with my dad-eyes on and I saw the fears that old penguin had as he watched his boy life with the results of his inability to take care of his responsibilities at the appointed time.  Maybe I am reading to far into this children’s movie, but living with the sins of the father is a universally understandable feeling; we are all living with the burden of our parents choices on our shoulders.

How is it penguins (a bird hat can’t even fly) have the dadhood figured out more than we do? They understand the importance of male-bonding with the newborn (egg) and the dad’s role as a protector of that baby.  The huddle to endure the endless night is a great parallel to the onslaught fathers endure from society.  Dads need one another for strength and encouragement to endure, and sometimes they need to be surrounded and protected until they can endure the cold.

Initially, this movie was a bit weird t me, but it has OBVIOUS dad-issues in it that sometimes are worth exploring.

Thoughts?

-JB