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A heartwarming tale of friendship between a lost penguin and a lonely fisherman touches on themes of the transformational power of friendship and love and what it takes to move on. Jean Reno shines in his role as a curmudgeonly fisherman who finds new purpose through his bond with the penguin. A delightful, emotional journey, My Penguin Friend may be too slow and saccharine for some people, but is an uplifting animal movie for the whole family.

Themes of compassion, courage, universal love, and rare friendships are sewn into the creative fabric of My Penguin Friend. Think of it as a bird out of water tale: An adorable, lost penguin finds himself far away from home only to bond with a humble fisherman named Joao (Jean Reno of Ronin and Mission: Impossible). The two hit it off, but both must move on with their lives. In doing so, they may lose each other.

The movie tackles grief with expected penguin antics. Emotional performances elevate the Homeward Bound-like story. Unnecessary subplot impacts pacing and viewer engagement.

Based on a heartwarming true story, My Penguin Friend (2024) promises both laughs and a good cry for the whole family. However, like the movie's animal star, the film doesnt quite soar, but it does manage to hit all the notes associated with this kind of inspirational, family-friendly fare. After all, its hard not to be delighted by the real-life inspiration for David Schurmanns feature. As the closing text reveals, a lost penguin, who really was named DinDim by those who met him, swam over 5,000 miles, from Patagonia to Brazil, for eight years.

My Penguin Friend (2024)

Director David SchurmannRelease Date August 16, 2024Writers Kristen Lazarian, Paulina LagudiCast Alexia Moyano, Nicols Francella, Roco Hernndez, Adriana Barraza, Jean RenoRating PGRuntime 97 MinutesGenres Family, Drama My Penguin Friend Doesn't Shy Away From Tragedy...

It’s been a few decades since last we saw Jean Reno playing a withdrawn curmudgeon protecting a pint-sized charge in “The Professional.” Now, with director David Schurmann’s “My Penguin Friend,” it’s a welcome return to a winning formula.

In the Brazilian filmmaker’s tender-hearted, all-ages adventure, Reno plays a grief-stricken father who gains a small, sweet companion after rescuing him from polluted waters. Inspired by the unshakeable bond between a real-life Brazilian fisherman and a Magellanic penguin thrown off his migration route, the French actor reveals new colors as a performer, shading the picture’s playful and poignant overtones with sensitivity and subtlety, making this a must-see for those who love uplifting stories about redemption, perseverance and empathy.

Reno plays João, whose journey began long before his penguin pal’s arrival, when his cozy, beachside home in Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, was filled with love, music and laughter.

Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, and Kevin Hart are among legendary actor Jean Reno's most famous and memorable costars. The My Penguin Friend actor starred alongside Tom Cruise in the very first Mission: Impossible (1996) movie, playing Franz Krieger. He was a stellar scene partner with Tom Hanks, too, in The Da Vinci Code, and turned heads as an American mercenary in the 1998 thriller Ronin, opposite Robert De Niro. More recently, Reno generated buzz working with Kevin Hart on the successful Die Hart series and films.

But theres one costar that may have warmed Renos heart the most: a penguin. Make that 10 penguins, each of whom took turns starring as the lead in Renos heartwarming new film, My Penguin Friend, directed by David Schurmann (The Little Secret). Reno says his bond with one Penguin, called Maui, truly grew during the production.

With some scenes, I had to take...

A sweeping family adventure, My Penguin Friend is a triumphant tale of friendship between a lonely father and the little lost penguin DinDim who recharges his spirit and heals his family with an unshakable, ocean-crossing loyalty.

Starring Jean Reno and Adriana Barraza, check out the sweet trailer now.

Humble fisherman João (Jean Reno) has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help. To his wife’s (Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza) dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing. For the first time in years João starts to feel joy, even if he cannot fathom just how unbreakable a bond is being formed. When the penguin suddenly disappears back into the immense wilds of the ocean, João believes...

Exclusive: Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. distribution rights from City Hill Arts to the family adventure, The Penguin & The Fisherman, inspired by the incredible true story and viral sensation of João Perei de Souza (Jeno Reno) and a lost penguin who, after being rescued from an oil spill, transforms the life and soul of a heartbroken fisherman. Also starring Babel‘s Adriana Barraza, the film is set for a late summer/early fall wide release.

Lionsgate is aboard for Home Entertainment, with Fortitude International handling foreign sales.

When The Penguin & The Fisherman begins, De Souza has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help. To the dismay of his wife (Barraza) dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing.

Exclusive: Biotech entrepreneur Jonathan Lim’s recently launched production and financing entity City Hill Arts has unveiled the first still from The Penguin & The Fisherman — one of its first feature projects, starring 3x César Award nominee Jean Reno (Léon: The Professional), which has now wrapped production.

The film currently in post in Madrid is based on an incredible true story which went viral in 2016 — that of the lost and injured penguin, Din Dim, who finds love and family in another lost and wounded soul, João (Reno).

Related Story ‘Coup!’: Peter Sarsgaard Satire Wraps Production, Film Constellation Shares First Look — EFM Related Story Biotech Entrepreneur Jonathan Lim Launches City Hill Arts; Unveils Slate Of Projects With Stampede Ventures & More Related Story Jean Reno Joins 'Stranger Things' Star Noah Schnapp And Anjelica Huston In 'Waiting For Anya'

João is a Brazilian fisherman, guilt-ridden from a horrible tragedy which occurred as a young man,...

“Trust,” a new romantic drama starring Victoria Justice and Matthew Daddario, has sold key distribution rights to Vertical Entertainment.

The boutique distributor will roll out the film in North America, the U.K. and Ireland, Variety has learned. The release is set for March 12, in select theaters and via paid video on demand. Josh Spector negotiated the deal for Vertical, with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.

Set in the glamorous art worlds of Paris and New York, Justice plays a gallery owner married to a newscaster, played by Daddario. When two seductive strangers enter their lives, the couple is faced with temptation, jealousy and a mystery that upends their lives. The Exchange is handling international sales on the project, directed by Brian DeCubellis.

“On behalf of my fellow producers, we are so excited to partner with Vertical Entertainment to bring our film ‘Trust’ to screens in North America and UK/Ie.