“Mr. Popper’s Penguins” is a family comedy film about a successful Manhattan real estate developer who is on the upscale side of his career when he receives an unusual gift from his recently deceased father – a live penguin, soon joined by five others. His insistence on keeping the penguins in his posh Park Ave. apartment helps with his relationship with his two children and ex-wife, but takes a toll on his career. Lots of hilarity and drama, mostly predictable, proceeds from here, well-managed by director Mark Waters (“Freaky Friday” 2003).
Jim Carrey brings his usual style of comedy to the lead role, dominated by his patented brand of over-acting. Carla Gugino helps to save the film from oblivion with her talent and calm persona as Carrey’s former wife, helped out by co-stars Madeline Carroll and Maxwell Perry Cotton as the two children, and Angela Lansbury, Clark Gregg, Philip Baker Hall, Jeffrey Tambor, Ophelia Lovibond, Desmin Borges, Dominic Chianese, Betsy Aidem, David Krumholtz, James Tupper, and Frank Welker as the voices of the penguins.
This unlikely and unusual and yet somehow watchable comedy “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” was successful in theatrical release for Dune Entertainment, Davis Entertainment, and 20th Century Fox. The screenplay was written by Sean Anders, John Morris, Jared Stern, adapted from the 1938 children’s book of the same name by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2011)
cinema
My Review
“Mr. Popper’s Penguins” is a family comedy film about a successful Manhattan real estate developer who is on the upscale side of his career when he receives an unusual gift from his recently deceased father – a live penguin, soon joined by five others. His insistence on keeping the penguins in his posh Park Ave. apartment helps with his relationship with his two children and ex-wife, but takes a toll on his career. Lots of hilarity and drama, mostly predictable, proceeds from here, well-managed by director Mark Waters (“Freaky Friday” 2003).
Jim Carrey brings his usual style of comedy to the lead role, dominated by his patented brand of over-acting. Carla Gugino helps to save the film from oblivion with her talent and calm persona as Carrey’s former wife, helped out by co-stars Madeline Carroll and Maxwell Perry Cotton as the two children, and Angela Lansbury, Clark Gregg, Philip Baker Hall, Jeffrey Tambor, Ophelia Lovibond, Desmin Borges, Dominic Chianese, Betsy Aidem, David Krumholtz, James Tupper, and Frank Welker as the voices of the penguins.
This unlikely and unusual and yet somehow watchable comedy “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” was successful in theatrical release for Dune Entertainment, Davis Entertainment, and 20th Century Fox. The screenplay was written by Sean Anders, John Morris, Jared Stern, adapted from the 1938 children’s book of the same name by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater.