The Penguin Lessons: Movie Review

Cast: Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Alfonsina Carrocio

Director: Peter Cattaneo

Based on a true story and memoir by Tom Michell, The Full Monty director Peter Cattaneo's The Penguin Lessons is about as sentimental and crowd-pleasing as they come - but as to how much that will gel with you or grate depends largely on your tolerance for gentle storytelling and gradual reveals.

Coogan underplays the role of Michell, who's come to 1976 Argentina to teach at an exclusive all-boys school. Getting out of the taxi, his shoes are sprayed with paint flicked by a caretaker painting over anti-government graffiti. Making a joke with the school head master (played with prissiness by Jonathan Pryce), it's clear which side of the ledger Michell's on - and collision is inevitable.

But before the movie heads into the familiar, there's a detour where Michelle heads to Uruguay and in a misguided attempt to woo a woman, he rescues a penguin from an oil slick. When his paramour abandons him, saddling with him with his paraffin-infused featered friend, Michell has no choice but to take it back to the school - and use it as a tool to engage his disinterested class.

Part Dead Poets Society, part animal cuteness, this all-gentle film is not without its charms.

Scenes of revolution barely enter proceedings, bubbling away as they do in the background; this is not a film concerned with the politics of the time, merely shadowy governmental figures who snatch naysayers from the streets, while wearing trenchcoats and sunglasses. 

But Cattaneo's less interested in harsher edges, adopting a softer approach to proceedings and ensuring a more broad approach that pulls in audiences, rather than alienate them.

Coogan's affable enough - even though there are traces of Alan Partridge sayings creepings through in some of the dialogue - but he's not quite strong enough to make us care in the way that a stronger-written character would be. Equally Pryce's headmaster seems like he's on a collision course with Michell, but even that falters out into the inevitable, with tension being replaced by a ticking off.

The Penguin Lessons is family-friendly enough fare, but a lack of bite given the film's background feels slightly like a betrayal. However, if you're after an unchallenging night out that has a warmth that's hard to ignore, this low key charmer could be exactly what you're searching for.