Steve Coogan nails a juicy role here in the true story of an English teacher in 70s Argentina who reluctantly p-p-picked up a penguin. Full Monty director Peter Cattaneo deftly conveys the contrast between a country in turmoil (the military junta is busily disposing of protesters from the streets) and the gated tedium of life in a boarding school for the privileged sons of the upper classes, a “safe space” so long as you don’t rock the boat. Cynical English teacher Tom Michell rescues the penguin from an oil slicked beach while vacationing in Uruguay, but finds his new friend is stickier than he looks. It’s an appealing mixture of pathos and comedy, and a timely parable of resistance.
It emerges as an engaging delight from start to finish… The Penguin Lessons also proves unexpectedly moving, its emotional manipulations fully forgivable.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
Peter Cattaneo
Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Alfonsina Carrocio, Bjorn Gustafsson, David Herrero
USA
2024
In English and Spanish with English subtitles