Great movie to make you smile

Directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) and written by Jeff Pope (Philomena) The Penguin Lessons from Sony Pictures Classics is a charming escapist film based on a true story that will definitely keep you happy. A penguin is the star. OK, that’s the end of this review. You already like it, I know. Yes, a real Penguin. Not a CGI penguin. A really tuxedo wearing penguin. 

The Penguin Lessons stars the Steve Coogan set in the 1970’s when 24 year old Brit Tom Michell was teaching at a high end boys school in Argentina. One day he finds a penguin on an oil-soaked beach after many penguins had died. He brought the penguin back to his apartment and life ensues. Students at his school are not easy to teach. Think Dead Poet’s Society type of students. From that day onward – his life is changed. He does not like penguins, the penguin is not HIS penguin, yet he can’t ditch the penguin. He wants to take the penguin to the zoo but he realizes he takes much better care and the zoom is rundown. He gave the penguin a name – Juan – but Juan also has a middle and last name – Juan Salvador Gaviota. A real penguin. OK, I still have you. How can we not love a real penguin as its star. Argentina back that was in a mess, a military coup ousted the government and was ruling with terror. It was time when 30 thousand people disappeared. Based on Michell’s book, the highlight of the dark times was across the publication – it was a dark time for that country but in this film – finding a penguin changed things. Yes an odd juxtaposition of dark times and death of so many combined with light penguin levity but the movie works.  Bottom line of this film – rescue a penguin and life will get better.

The penguin is so darn cute – you will really like this movie and smile a lot – as you can’t not like the waddling main character no matter how hard you try as did his savior. · Post