The Penguin Lessons: Film Review
I love penguins and I’m very easily pleased by watching them on screen so it’s probably no surprise that I adored The Penguin Lessons.
The film, which is based on a true story, stars Steve Coogan as Tom Michell, a cynical British teacher who joins a boys boarding school in Argentina run by Headmaster Buckle (Jonathan Pryce) in the 1970s. One day, he discovers a lone penguin in an oil slick on the beach and rescues it. He intends to return it to the ocean but the penguin refuses to leave his side. Michell eventually gives up trying to ditch it and takes the flightless bird – named Juan Salvador – back to the school.
The Penguin Lessons tells a heartwarming, uplifting and surprisingly moving story. There are so many fun moments – Juan Salvador going to class, pooping everywhere, listening to everyone’s problems – and I came away really wanting a pet penguin. This is this cutesy stuff that will draw in audiences, even though there’s a much more serious story going on in the background.
The film is set during the military dictatorship, when people who opposed the regime were frequently disappeared. It felt like writer Jeff Pope – who adapted Michell’s memoir – didn’t quite know what tone to strike between the light-hearted and comedic penguin story and the serious political backdrop. Pope chooses to focus on the penguin storyline and keep the dictatorship on the periphery for most of the film, until Michell becomes personally involved. However, the situation is still glossed over as much as possible so it doesn’t distract from the charming penguin story.
The Penguin Lessons reminded me a lot of 2013’s Philomena, which also starred Coogan and was written by Pope, as there are lots of funny moments despite a heavy topic. Coogan once again does brilliantly playing both the drama and comedy and charting Michell’s evolution from a cold-hearted, selfish man to one who starts to care about others, thanks to Juan Salvador.
Although the penguin plot and backdrop feel tonally at odds with each other, there are so many adorable moments with our feathered friend that I was easily won over.
In cinemas now
Rating: 4 out of 5.
