As a fan of penguins, ever since watching the likes of 'Pingu' as a child, and documentaries (especially those from David Attenborough), missing 'Adventures of the Penguin King' was not an option.
Essentially, 'Adventures of the Penguin King' is the US version of David Attenborough's 'The Penguin King' from 2012, another reason for seeing it. While that is one of the weaker Attenborough 3D endeavours and a lesser project from him, 'The Penguin King' was still decent and is superior to 'Adventures of the Penguin King'. The main thing that makes 'Adventures of the Penguin King' inferior is the narration. The script itself is repetitive, clichéd and rambling, but it's Tim Allen's delivery of it that fares worse, it talks down to the viewer and the humorous approach is jarringly juvenile, an approach that is a very ill fit.
What didn't quite work in 'The Penguin King' is still present here too. The 3D itself is good-looking and sharp, the penguins and the rest of the animals being cute and majestic, but it never properly enhances the experience and 'The Penguin King' would have worked just as well without it (also saw the 2D version and that fared better). Again it does tread familiar ground and doesn't really say anything new.
There is also some content that was clearly included with a younger audience in mind and sadly it not only doesn't fit with the rest of the programme but it also adds nothing and distracts, making older audiences question its maturity.
On the other hand, 'Adventures of the Penguin King' is beautifully filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting more with the penguins) way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery is spectacular.
Music score fits very well, never overly grandiose while never being inappropriate while also being a beautiful score in its own right.
Despite treading familiar ground, the information is still educational and informative to especially younger audiences, while there is some delicate pathos, a lot of charming cuteness and even moments of intensity. The story is very stitched together and has some forced and unneeded moments, but it is also very heart-warming and sweet. The penguins do look great, and are more than just 3D creations. They have personality and soul and one roots for them.
On the whole, worthwhile but the narration in particular stops it from being better. 6/10 Bethany Cox
