"Happy Feet Two," the sequel to the 2006 Oscar-winning smash about a tap-dancing Emperor penguin, has just come out on DVD and Blu-ray (and even in 3D Blu-ray), and we at IML have watched it...well, let's say quite a few times. Why do we like it so much, you ask? Well, there's the awesome music, animation, and story, of course, but we think it's mainly because it has so many positive messages...messages that just happen to click with a lot of the things we talk about all the time here at It's My Life. Like these:

Don't give up on yourself. In "Happy Feet," we followed the story of a misfit penguin named Mumble, as he searched for his "heart song" and tried to save his flock from a mysterious fish shortage. This new movie gives us Mumble's son Erik, an awkward little guy who's mocked by many of the penguins in Emperor Land because he can't seem to sing or dance. Erik joins up with his two best pals and strikes out for someplace where he can find his true calling. There are missteps, and there are moments of doubt and fear, but Erik never truly gives up until he finds what he's after.

You don't have to follow the herd. Or, to put it more accurately, you don't have to follow the swarm. Will and Bill (voiced to hilarious effect by Brad Pitt and Matt Damon) are two krill (those tiny, shrimp-like creatures) who have lived their whole lives as part of a vast red cloud made up of "krillions" of their cousins, destined to be some larger creature's lunch. But when Will suddenly decides he's an individual and starts swimming in the opposite direction, the two embark on a funny and fascinating adventure that leads them to understand that they don't have to live like everyone else, and that every person's actions and decisions, no matter how tiny, can have a huge impact on the greater world. Also, Will tries to eat a leopard seal 10,000 times his size, which is pretty hilarious.

Bullies can change. In this story, the bully is Bryan the Beach Master, an elephant seal who's accustomed to getting what he wants by throwing his weight around (and we mean it literally -- this guy is HUGE). Stubborn and set in his ways, Bryan must eventually face the fact that his way of life isn't doing himself, or anyone else, any good, and that he might have to alter his thinking and his behavior so that things can get better.

Honesty is better than popularity. One of the great new characters in this movie is Sven, the "flying penguin" with the Swedish accent. Penguins cannot fly, of course, which is why Sven, a newcomer to Antarctica, blows everyone's mind by taking to the air on his little wings. This amazing ability turns Sven into the ultimate popular kid, with all the girls wanting to date him and all the guys wanting to be him...but he's hiding a secret: it's all based on a lie. Sven is, in fact, pretending to be something he's not, and in the end he must admit the truth about who he is, to himself and everyone else.

When in doubt, just dance! The world of "Happy Feet Two" is one where dancing and singing is a great way to express yourself, and even provides a solution or two. We'd like to live in that world...oh wait. We already do! (Some people just can't see it.)

The Blu-ray version of this release also comes with a great package of extras. For fans of Animal Planet and Discovery Channel type shows, there's a documentary about Antarctica that's every bit as entertaining as the animated feature. For the artists and aspiring animators, there's a way-cool feature that teaches viewers how to draw a penguin. And for you music lovers, there's a great making-of with singer Alecia Moore, a.k.a. Pink, who talks about acting as the voice of Gloria the penguin, and about writing a new song for the movie.

"Happy Feet Two" is rated PG for "some rude humor and mild peril." IML suggests you ask a parent or guardian before watching, but chances are, this is something everyone in the house will enjoy.

We'll leave you with one of our favorite scenes: