The Penguin Lessons

A distraught and antisocial teacher works his way down South America to Argentina. While the country is experiencing civil unrest, he takes an opportunity to go out and have fun. What was supposed to be a getaway ends up with him forced to keep a penguin. Little did he know that this penguin would change not only his life but the lives of everyone around him.

This movie adaptation of a memoir is inspired by actual events. The story is simple: Some friends come into our lives for just a season but leave a lasting impact. The movie has emotion, drama, comedy, and a penguin. Despite having a penguin, there is language and topics unsuitable for children. The one-hour and fifty-minute run time waddles by quickly. It is an entertaining watch for families with older children.

My wife loves penguins. Any time there is a movie about penguins, I try to watch it with her. The fact that I ended up loving this particular movie so much was somewhat unexpected. So many things worked well. The balance of comedy and drama. The performances. The story arc. Definitely a "I laughed and I cried" sort of movie. And a quiet film overall. But I laughed harder than I thought I would, many times. Steve Coogan was perfectly cast as a cynical middle aged burned out teacher. The movie is really about him and less the penguin. It effectively does everything it means to do and I would happily see it again soon!

There's an old expression in show business that advises entertainers not to work with children or animals because they'll upstage them every time. But, while that's often true, it's not always the case, as seen in the latest feature offering from director Peter Cattaneo. This charming comedy-drama tells the fact-based story of English teacher Tom Michell (Steve Coogan), who somewhat begrudgingly takes an instructor's job at St. George's College, a prestigious boarding school in Buenos Aires, just before the 1976 Argentine revolution. The cynical, curmudgeonly teacher has moved around a lot, and he's not particularly thrilled at this latest stop, as becomes apparent in his classroom demeanor and overarching attitude. Not long after his arrival, when a military coup d'etat hits that overthrows the government, he decides to get out of town until the dust settles. He embarks on an impromptu vacation to a Uruguayan resort town, where he meets a beautiful, flirtatious woman, Carina (Mica Breque), in a nightclub. That encounter subsequently leads to a late night walk along the beach, but, while on this stroll, they find a penguin that's barely alive and covered in oil, a victim of a recent spill. To impress his would-be one-nighter, Tom and Carina take the bird back to his hotel to clean it up. What Tom doesn't realize, however, is that the penguin, who would subsequently come to be named Juan Salvador, has made its unwitting rescuer its friend for life, despite his repeated efforts to return it to the wild. It's a prospect the professor doesn't especially relish, but, upon returning to Argentina with penguin in tow, man and bird become the unlikeliest of friends, under prevailing conditions both at the school and in the country at large that prove threatening (but unexpectedly beneficial) to both. At first glance, one might think this sounds like a cutesy, schmaltzy, manipulative tale a la Disney, but far from it. The picture tells a sincerely engaging story of personal growth and the emergence of personal courage, brought about by the influence of an improbable feathered mentor in a tense social and political environment that has both Tom and virtually the entire Argentine population on edge. It's also a tale the defies the timeless cautionary adage about casting decisions involving both man and beast, with Juan Salvador being just as much a member of the ensemble as his human counterparts. Admittedly, the film has a little trouble finding its footing in the opening act, but, once it does, it's a delightful and touching release that's moving without being drenched in saccharin. "The Penguin Lessons" is also one of those movies that needs to be seen to be believed, as the trailer truly doesn't do it justice. Indeed, this is one of those heartfelt, uplifting stories that the world needs more of at a time when we could all use a little inspiration to help see us through the tough times.

"I used to be young and idealistic," says Tom, a new teacher in 1976 at a boarding school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, "but I soon came to understand that reality is different." Blunt, hedonistic, and unsentimental, Tom is unmoved by any tales or facts of woe. He makes excuses for his shortcomings and inaction. Nevertheless, when penguins coated in industrial oil wash up on a beach and fascists seize power in a coup, Tom is in for a deep awakening despite himself.

Steve Coogan (Tom) and Jonathan Pryce star in this true story of wit, warmth, counterintuitive discoveries, humor, drama, and cute penguin antics. There is real depth to the dialogue, characters, story arc, and acting. The Penguin Lessons was filmed in Spain with an Argentine cast. Many of the actors lived through the recent dictatorship in Argentina and they add authenticity to the story. At the world premiere screening of the film at the Toronto International Film Festival I was deeply moved in the understanding that merely one person, or penguin, can make a big difference in the world in the face of such evil and tragedy.

Rise like lions after slumber In unvanquishable number Shake your chains to earth like dew Which in sleep had fallen on you Ye are many, they are few.

, - Shelley.

The talented Steve Coogan has created comedy gold with Alan Partridge that's a given and sends himself up as a person in the ever excellent The Trip, he plays true life characters that resonate with drama and incident-Tony Wilson,Martin Sixsmith, Paul Raymond and very creepy as Jimmy Saville. He takes chances and isn't afraid to go deep into the darkness. His Saville portrait was loathsome and sickening.

I have to admit he isn't very good at physical comedy here. He looks uneasy, like the penguin is upstaging him,taking the laughs.

I get his character is hiding a heavy emotional burden but I couldn't feel his character warmed to the penguin or his new lease of teaching his students using the cuteness of the bird.

On his arrival to the school he's nervous (granted) , a little off with other staff members, a little uneasy with a Finnish staff member then the next scene he's drinking and dancing in a nightclub with a young lady. His character felt a little artificial in the writing.

We felt hangdog looking Paul Giamatti may have been a better choice. Someone who can go both physically and visual comedy just as good. Although he's played a teacher a few times that he'll be typecast.

Nonetheless, this is a sweet film that looks good and has its heart on its sleeve. The scene where Coogan tells the penguin of his past grief is expertly acted. Coogan can do emotional depth very well.

Laura enjoyed it and the Penguin is lovely.