It doesn't help that the film went through several rewrites before they settled on what we got, and going by the concept art and animatics available, the original story would have had proper morals, an enjoyable plot, and the father would've been gruff but caring instead of the jerk he is in the final product.

“Cartoon chicken dancing to “Don’t go breaking my heart” is meanspirited”
Interesting strawman, I’ll consider it.