I liked the music (Brittany Murphy sings well) and the first 2/3rds of the film seemed like it had promise with its early message of "pursuing your own way" and the importance of individuality. As long as the movie stuck to penguins I liked it.

However, then humans came into the plot and the "message people" added their bit. I left the theater unhappy I had spent anything on helping to reward that effort.

George Miller has made many good films in the past. Lorenzo's Oil and the Mad Max movies especially come to mind. However, I didn't like Happy Feet.