People love animals, and the charms and cuteness of animals have acted as the driving force behind heartfelt and wholesome stories for decades. The Penguin Lessons follows in the footsteps of movies like Beethoven, with a curmudgeonly middle-aged man who reluctantly takes in a pet, only to form a bond with the animal that changes his outlook on life. It all feels very reminiscent of a pseudo-serious 90s tear-jerker, the kind of film that once felt like a slam-dunk, but feels tired and redundant by today’s standards. There’s nothing particularly new or fresh to see here, but Steve Coogan’s overflowing charisma, coupled with the undeniable adorableness of his flippered costar, do their best to combat the predominantly weary approach by director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty).
The Penguin Lessons: the story
Michell (Steve Coogan) is a British man working in Argentina as an English teacher at a prestigious boarding school in 1976. With a class of disinterested and disrespectful students, he finds himself lacking drive and motivation. Set during Argentina’s “Dirty War,” the nation is divided. There is violence in the streets as rebel forces face off against an oppressive government. Amidst all of the chaos, Michell finds himself the unwitting owner of a wild penguin after saving the bird from an oil-slicked beach while trying to impress a woman. The penguin immediately forms an emotional attachment to his rescuer, and their unlikely bond has a ripple effect on the lives of Michell and his students.
Drama and comedy have always worked well together. A slight comedic leaning can help to alleviate the heaviness of a drama and make for an easier and more engaging viewing experience. But the key is balance, and finding that balance is something that director Peter Cattaneo struggles with. Coogan (Joker: Folie à Deux) is well-equipped for the role, with his dry wit and deadpan delivery being a strong fit for the material; however, he feels unprepared (or disinterested) in accessing the emotional depth required for the more serious elements of the story.
Set against violent acts of state terrorism that are estimated to have taken the lives of 30,000 people, The Penguin Lessons brushes over the turmoil, never taking a moment to explain what’s going on for viewers who may be unfamiliar. Instead, we’re given glimpses of violence through the sound of a distant explosion or derogatory graffiti directed at an oppressive dictatorship.
The central storyline, and the reasoning for the film’s title, follows Michell’s use of the penguin as a teaching aid to gain the focus of his unruly students. Following a promise that he’ll allow the children to feed fish to his penguin if they give an honest effort in class, the once disrespectful students instantly become perfect pupils. It’s a trope that the story falls into repeatedly. Everybody who comes in contact with the penguin seemingly becomes a better person instantaneously, simply by being in its presence.
There’s an innocence to the penguin that is understandably inspiring, and the novelty of having one as a pet is interesting (at least for a little while). But the relationships between the human characters and the penguin are never explored in any meaningful way, and the reasoning for the animal’s impact on their lives is never understood.
A wholesome story about an unlikely friendship
The Penguin Lessons is at its best when Steve Coogan and the penguin share the screen. Their dynamic, although clichéd and underdeveloped, is compelling. Watching the penguin waddle across a living room while Coogan glares at the bird with a mask of disdain and a hint of admiration is what I wanted from the movie. Unfortunately, we aren’t given enough of those moments, and the scenes that fill in the rest of the 110-minute runtime feel like stuffy filler.
Coogan is a seasoned pro, and without his presence the movie likely wouldn’t work at all. The story is just too thin, and the handling of real-life events feels mismanaged. As it stands, it’s a crowd-pleasing movie for the right crowd. Every year we see a plethora of inspiring true stories hit cinemas, and every year those stories find their audience. It’s a movie with no surprises. It delivers with minimal effort what you’d expect from this type of movie. If that’s all you want, you’ll likely enjoy your time.
The Penguin Lessons releases to theaters on March 28th, 2025. Are you going to see it this weekend? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus!
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