Mon ami le petit manchot

I love My Penguin Friend! By the time this charming and heartfelt true story was over, I wanted my own cute and curious penguin pal.

The story revolves around Joao (Jean Reno), an old fisherman who has been lonely most of his life. That is, until he meets Din Dim the penguin. Drenched in oil, the frail penguin is taken care of by Joao till he regains his strength. While caring for Din Dim, Joao begins to feel an emotion he hasn't felt in a long time - happy. When Din Dim leaves unexpectedly one morning, Joao is certain he will never see Din Dim again. However, unknown to Joao, a bond has been formed that not even the widest ocean can break, and it is only a matter of time before the little one returns.

The thing that stands out to me the most in this movie is the penguin, Din Dim. I'm not sure if an actual trained penguin was used in this film or very sharp CGI. I'm guessing he's real. Din Dim is very excited while exploring Joao's house, even though Joao's wife, Ma (Adriana Barraza) doesn't approve. He rummages through toilet paper, scarfs down fish, and makes a burrow out of old trinkets he finds. He is quite humorous and cute at the same time. I also really like the credits at the beginning; it has a cool painted compass design, with lots of details. The plot is a bit hard to follow at first, and I didn't understand it fully till later in the film. But, the chemistry between Joao, Maria, and Din Dim is spot on. Joao cares for the penguin deeply; Maria only tolerates having a wild animal in her home. And, Din Dim causes loads of chaos, making it lots of fun for everybody. The background music, composed by Fernando Velázquez, really brings everything together with music that highlights what an emotional story this is.

The film's message is about the loyalty that comes from caring for an animal. Joao cares for Din Dim, and the little penguin becomes a companion to Joao, making both of them very happy. After a while, even Maria starts to play with Din Dim.

I give My Penguin Friend 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. My Penguin Friend releases in theaters on August 16 2024. Go check it out! By Braedyn M., KIDS FIRST!

My Penguin Friend was truly a fantastic film. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it really touched my heart. I loved this story of friendship and how you can grow from tragedy. The fact that it was based on a true story made it that much more inspiring. The penguin, Dindim is so precious and made this film so special. Something about the bond between a man and a wild animal really captivates you as well as an entire community coming together to support their friendship. There is so much kindness in this film which is so refreshing. Beware this film will pull at your heartstrings but My Penguin Friend is truly a must see film!!

Our local theater does "Mystery Movies" on Monday where all the tell you is the run time and rating before the movies starts, so we had no expectations. When it started, I saw that this was going to be a PG animal flick, so I started out bummed. I was pleasantly surprised. Based on the true story of a man who befriends a penguin, but the real story is more about how a man overcomes grief and re-engages with his life and community. How a village can actively support one another. There are quite a few laughs and silly moments as you would expect from a movie with a penguin as a main character, but pull that back, and it really is a redemption and growth story about a simple couple in a fishing village. There are a few darker themes, especially around human hubris and callousness, this will go over younger viewers' heads, all in all, a really heartwarming film that I recommend to take the whole family to see. My biggest criticism is that the dialog was a bit weak and they tried a bit too hard with some of the underwater shots. They tried something they hoped would look cool, but it was more disorienting than anything else.

If this movie had a bigger marketing push, I don't doubt that it would be a hit as big as Life of Pi or We Bought a Zoo.

The cinematography was beautiful, every scene full of life and detail. There's a lot of heart and pain on the screen, but it's very much a story of love and acceptance. Often, accepting the hard parts of life, like grief.

The movie spans many years, so there's a depth to the feelings of each of the characters that develops beautifully on screen, and even though there is plenty unsaid, the movie clearly trusts the audience to gather the details for themselves.

All said, I would love a penguin friend myself.

My Penguin Friend is an extraordinary film that beautifully portrays the heartwarming relationship between a man and a penguin. The movie excels with its breathtaking visuals and a deeply moving narrative that explores themes of love, kindness, and the profound connections we share with animals. The storytelling is engaging and heartfelt, making it a visual treat and an emotional journey. This film stands out as one of the most memorable and impactful movies I've ever seen, blending uniqueness with emotional depth into an unforgettable cinematic experience that resonates deeply with viewers. Truly beautiful.