Penguin Lessons
3 stars (out of 4)
Director: Peter Cattaneo (“The Full Monty”)
Starring: Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Björn Gustafsson and Alfonsina Carrocio
Rated: PG-13 for strong language, some sexual references and thematic elements
Available: In theaters beginning March 28
Director Peter Cattaneo’s cinematic adaptation of the Tom Michell memoir, The Penguin Lessons, is a fluffy-yet-fun meditation on the power of relationships … human and otherwise.
Based on Michell’s actual experiences while teaching English at an Argentinian boarding school in the 1970s, the picture begins by establishing him as a naïve and troubled man. Michell (played deliciously by Steve Coogan) enters Argentina apparently unaware of the nation’s significant political turmoil. He is introduced to his job by the sound of a distant explosion and an armed guard mistaking him for a political dissident. Once he extracts himself from the dicey situation, Michell is informed by the school headmaster (Jonathan Pryce) that the nation is on the verge of a military coup.
Michell is concerned, but the headmaster assures him that the school steers clear of politics because its students come from some of the nation’s most affluent families. The rocky beginning would have derailed some, but Michell is packing a good deal of self-loathing, so he plans to ride out the job, doing as little as possible with a difficult group of students. Alas, a weekend trip to Uruguay changes everything.
Hoping to impress a local woman, he rescues a penguin from an oil slick. Michell doesn’t get the girl, but the freshly cleaned penguin refuses to leave his side when they return to the beach, so he reluctantly brings the bird to his school, despite the fact that teachers are not allowed pets.
At first, Michell keeps the penguin secret, but it isn’t long before others in the community discover its presence. These include a friend and fellow teacher (Björn Gustafsson), the school caretaker (Vivian El Jaber), and her daughter Sofia (Alfonsina Carrocio). They all love the penguin, and – grudgingly – Michell finds himself doing the same, naming it Juan Salvador.
As the characters and animal bond, director Peter Cattaneo skillfully weaves the political turmoil of Argentina into the plot, which boils over when a key figure is unfairly arrested by the militarized government. The film then dances between politics, Michell’s efforts in the classroom, and his increasingly close relationship with Juan Salvador. As one might expect given the film’s title, the penguin’s loyalty and love slowly transforms Michell’s outlook on life.
Coogan is particularly good playing grumpy-but-lovable oafs, and he is wonderful throughout. The strong supporting cast doesn’t get nearly as much time as Coogan, and it’s disappointing to see Pryce so painfully underutilized. But The Penguin Lessons isn’t the headmaster’s story, so the artistic choice makes sense.
This is a charming film that feels at home next to The Full Monty, which remains Cattaneo’s best-known work. I don’t expect ThePenguin Lessons to supplant that effort, but its sweet, simple nature should make it a favorite for those who appreciate understated dramedies that pack an uplifting message.
Considering how straightforward the picture is, the 110-minute run is excessive, and there are sequences that Cattaneo could have cut in favor of better establishing the film’s background characters. Still, the strengths outweigh the flaws, and The Penguin Lessons reminds us that kindness and love can be found even in dark places, a message that’s always worth embracing.
Author Bio:
Forrest Hartman is Highbrow Magazine’s chief film critic.
For Highbrow Magazine