Michael's Movie Grade: B+
A surprisingly really good movie.
The Penguin Lessons is in some ways two movies in one. There is the movie about a grumpy cynical man who becomes a better person after befriending a cute animal (in this case a penguin). There is also the film about the political turmoil in Argentina in 1976. What makes this film work is how well these two different types of stories are integrated together. Some of the ways this is done are pretty subtle. In many ways the penguin moves the other side of the story along making both parts feel completely connected. The penguin also helps imitate the change in the main character, which has a great effect on the political side of the story. These two different sides of the story also work very well on their own. The penguin story is sweet, charming, touching and even quite funny (I laughed watching this more than I expected to). What this movie has to say politically (about how good people should not stay silent when injustice is going on around them) is nothing revolutionary, but it is import and well told. Another key ingredient as to why this movie works is of course Steve Coogan's performance. He is an actor, who never fails to give a great performance, and he is perfect here, going from comedy to drama seemingly effortlessly. He also gives the character a certain likability and charm, even in the early scenes where he is a bit of a jerk.
This movie does have a few flaws though. Even at less than two hours, it still feels longer than it needs to be and some of the early scenes can drag a little bit. The supporting characters are also quite bland and underdeveloped.
All in all, despite some flaws, this is an excellent film.
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