The Penguin Lessons

The Penguin Lessons is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated PG-13. Common Sense says 13+.

Tom, a stand-offish itinerant English teacher (Steve Coogan), starts a new job at a school in Argentina amidst a fascist military takeover. After rescuing a wild penguin, the bird (named Juan Salvador) follows him home. Will a helping hand (flipper?) be enough to get Tom to face his troubles?

OBLIGATORY DAD JOKE:

What do you call two penguins that look alike?

(answer at bottom)

STORY: C

A simple tale, simply told.

The film is woven with the thematic threads of Dead Poets Society; this year’s timely, tension drenched I’m Still Here; and the Oscar-winning documentary The Octopus Teacher. While certainly inspirational, this movie doesn’t touch your heart the way those others do. 

This humble film believes so strongly in the power of its story that it doesn’t feel compelled to wow us with any fancy storytelling flourishes. Your mileage may vary on the effectiveness of that choice. For me, I believe the narrative’s lack of energy diminishes its impact. 

PEOPLE:   C-

Almost everyone in this movie gets out-emoted by a penguin.

Coogan’s Tom is a stiff, reserved Brit with a past he’d rather not dwell upon. He keeps people at a distance, and to the film’s detriment, that includes the audience. 

Vivian El Jaber’s performance as the school’s housekeeper soars above the rest of the cast. Her pain, her grief, and her love of life makes her the only one on screen I could see as a real person, and not an actor. 

FILM NERD STUFF:   B-

Smart sound design shows us how to watch the film.

There’s a scene where Tom waits in line at immigration after a brief trip to Uruguay. An upcoming sound (one that most of us will see coming a mile away) is the key to the scene. How does the film make sure we catch that sound?

First, listen closely and you’ll notice the volume dip. Like a power forward boxing out under the hoop, lowering the background noise clears the way for the audience to catch the key sound. 

Secondly, any important sounds are kept at normal volume and augmented, drawing our attention to them. For example, the thump of the officer stamping Tom’s passport subtly echoes like bells in a church tower. That sends us a signal to listen (not watch) closely to what happens next.  

ONE BIG LESSON:   A-

Empathy is the engine of humanity.

There’s a scene near the end where Tom imagines what it must have been like for the penguin to leave the sea and start a new life at the school. It doesn’t take long to see he’s really talking about his own experience.

Pets walk by our side, experiencing life along with us. Their silence allows us to invent - to write - the “story” of what’s going on in their heads. That story often winds up mirroring our own. Tom’s ability to see himself in Juan Salvador is what leads to his growth as a person.  (Animals’ silence also ironically makes them fantastic conversational partners, an idea used to delightful ends in the film). 

While not often silent these days, movies allow us the same experience: to imagine walking in someone else’s shoes, to know their lives better, and in turn, to know our own selves better. 

FINAL COMMENTS:

I think how much you like this movie will greatly depend on the reason you go to the movies. 

If you’re there to be inspired by storytelling and the magic of movies, you may be a bit let down as you waddle out of the theater.

But if you’re there to hear a story you hadn’t heard before - a very worthwhile story that’s both interesting and definitely inspiring - then your two hours will be time well spent. 

FINAL GRADE:   C+

OBLIGATORY DAD JOKE ANSWER:

PEN-TWINS!