‘The Penguin Lessons’ – Review
Steve Coogan swaps out his usual smirk for a heartfelt slice of humanity in The Penguin Lessons, a charming and surprisingly emotional crowd-pleaser that delivers big on warmth, wit, and penguins.
An Englishman experiences personal and political changes after adopting a penguin during a turbulent time in Argentina’s history.
Adapted from the beloved memoir by Tom Michell, The Penguin Lessons tells the true story of Mitchell, a rather sour-faced, closed-off Englishman who rescues a stranded penguin off the coast of Uruguay in the 1970s and smuggles it into the elite Argentine boarding school where he teaches. It’s an oddball setup that sounds almost too sweet for its own good, but under the sure-footed direction of Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty), this affectionate tale soars with soul and sincerity.
Coogan plays Tom Michell with just the right balance of dry British irony and reserved idealism. He’s a man out of place in the rigid aristocracy of 1970s South America, with polo and privilege ruling the roost, and where the growing threat of coup and dictatorship wiegh ever increasingly around him. But it’s his bond with his rescued penguin companion, named Juan Salvador, that powers the film’s emotional engine and which sets him on a journey of self-love and resiliance. Coogan’s chemistry with the feathered co-star is also unexpectedly endearing, and yes, before you ask; the penguin does steal the show!
This is feel-good cinema with a sharp beak. Cattaneo keeps things brisk and breezy, avoiding the syrupy pitfalls of typical animal-companion fare. There’s a refreshing lack of sentimentality here; instead, we get a funny, odd, and sneakily profound film. The screenplay, adapted by Jeff Pope (Philomena), leans into the unexpected beats of the story, and through it, Cattaneo is able to tell a much more profound and intriguing story of life and the choices that we make. Beneath the general chuckles of watching an English man interact with the penguin is a deep, dramatic meditation on connection, compassion, and finding one’s place in the world.
But it’s the emotional undercurrent that catches you off guard. The film doesn’t shy away from the political unrest of the time, weaving it into the background to give the story weight without overwhelming it. Juan Salvador becomes more than just a rescued bird; he’s a symbol of hope, rebellion, and quiet resilience. And damn if that little tuxedoed rascal doesn’t make you feel something.
The Penguin Lessons is the kind of film that sneaks up on you. You walk in expecting a quirky animal tale, and you walk out misty-eyed and with your heart fluttering. Heartfelt but never hokey, funny but never farcical, this is a story that earns every beat of emotion.
Image: MadMan Films
