A polar bear and a trio of lively lemmings* are the main selling points of Lionsgate’s latest animated feature.

    The title character, voiced by Rob Schneider, is a polar bear so sweet that he can’t bring himself to eat seals, although he tries hard to chase one down in the opening scene. Norm’s special gift is the ability to “speak human,” which comes increasingly into play with the arrival of bear-loving tourists and, more dangerously, a bad billionaire real-estate developer, ironically* named Mr. Greene (Ken Jeong), who plans to build luxury condos* in the frozen landscape.

    Alarmed when he finds out about the plan by the arrival of Mr. Greene’s marketing director, Vera (Heather Graham), to shoot a TV commercial*, Norm decides that he has to take action.

    Encouraged by his wise seagull mentor* Socrates (Bill Nighy), he stows away* with three lemmings on a ship to Manhattan to prevent his homeland from being despoiled*.

    Once there, Norm finds himself a minor celebrity, with New Yorkers thinking he’s an actor in a polar bear suit. He even performs his trademark dance, the “Arctic Shake,” to audiences in Times Square.

    The film doesn’t exactly score points for originality*, whether it’s the frequent musical numbers, the indestructible lemmings who remind of Minions or the kid-pleasing bathroom humor, here evidenced by such moments as when the lemmings relieve themselves over a fish tank. There’s also an effort to embrace such weighty themes as global warming and conservation.

    Neither its animation nor voice performances (Colm Meaney and comedian Gabriel Iglesias also lend their talents) are particularly memorable, but “Norm of the North,” especially in its early section set in the Arctic, has its appealing moments. And if the film does well, those adorable lemmings are going to make for some hot-selling plush toys*. (SD-Agencies)