My Penguin Friend
Summary
Based on a heartwarming rightful story , My Penguin Friend ( 2024)promises both gag and a honest watchword for the whole family . However , like themovie ’s animal wiz , the film does n’t quite soar , but it does manage to hit all the notes relate with this kind of inspirational , family - favorable menu . After all , it ’s hard not to be please by the tangible - life breathing in for David Schurmann ’s feature article . As the closing text unveil , a lost penguin , who really was key DinDim by those who met him , swam over 5,000 geographical mile , from Patagonia to Brazil , for eight year .
Cast
My Penguin Friend Doesn’t Shy Away From Tragedy
The movie tackles grief while including the expected penguin antics
No matter how endearing it is that DinDim endure stretches of treacherous water to visit a humble fisher , João ( a charming Jean Reno),the novelty of a penguin being as loyal as a puppy is n’t quite enoughto help the movie bear out . Billed as a “ triumphant tale of friendship,”My Penguin Friendopens by zooming in on a small fishing community on Ilha Grande . In a real lure - and - switch moment , it focalise on preadolescent Miguel ( Juan José Garnica ) , a happy , funny male child who ’s looking forward to celebrating his birthday by joining his forefather , João , aboard his boat .
When tragedy strikes on the body of water , it ’s Miguel who does n’t return home . tenner afterwards , João and his wife , Maria ( Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza ) , are still grappling with their grief . Miguel ’s presence lingers in their seaside bungalow , where the boy ’s untouched puerility sleeping room stand as a kind of snap in time that João ca n’t quite put down . The plastic film cuts to the then - unknown DinDim — a unequalled and funny penguin who twist up adrift in the sea , drenched in crude oil from a release . Without giving it a second thought , João rescue the flightless fowl .
To Maria ’s alarm , João insist upon nursing DinDim back to health , even as the penguin tracks oil all over their home . interested about drying the penguin off , João dip into Miguel ’s room , snap up his late son ’s winter hat , and cuts it into a sweater for DinDim . At first , Maria ca n’t believe that João disfigured the hat , but it gradually dawns on her that DinDim is land her married man a form of joy he has n’t feel in decennium . In a posterior tantrum , DinDim walks into Miguel ’s room — the door now open , both literally and metaphorically .
Schurmann tries to put viewers in DinDim ’s point of scene with a sort of Pisces - heart genus Lens , but it ’s more disorienting than immersive .
AlthoughMy Penguin Friendis about heartbreak and finding ways to organize Modern bonds even in the wake of loss , it still offer up penguin antics in spades . DinDim punctures bicycle tires , disconcert a local dog , and strolls around town to collect particular for the burrow João work up for him . At times , Schurmann tries to put us in DinDim ’s point of view with a kind of fish - eye lens system , but it ’s more disorienting than immersive .
My Penguin Friend’s Titular Star Isn’t Novel Enough To Help The Movie Stand Out
Reno & Barraza’s emotional performances elevate the Homeward Bound-like story
For all its charm , My Penguin Friendis a pretty key - by - numbers beast - befriends - human movie . In recent years , this genre has been rule by documentary film , fromMy Octopus TeachertoBilly & Molly : An Otter Love Story , so it ’s fun to see a scripted feature that act as a kind of throwback to Disney ’s springy - natural process heyday . Still , if you ’ve seenAir Bud , you know how João ’s crusade to rewild DinDim will go . Andif you ’ve seenHomeward Bound , you ’ll have some theme of DinDim ’s determination to find his way back to João time and again .
While the penguin star ’s acting rivalsMessi the dog ’s award - win performanceinAnatomy of a Fall , it ’s the aching bond between João and Maria that forms the actual aroused core of the chronicle , asReno and Barraza finagle to convey all their unuttered pain with a glance or ghost . Not to observe , My Penguin Friendis buoy by the stunning seashore of Brazil and Argentina , as well as imaginative body of water - hold fast sequence .
… it sure bear upon the pacing , inviting squirming and phone - checking .
My Penguin Friendmight not hold the interest of untested viewers . There ’s a whole subplot centering on a penguin enquiry squad that really eats into the runtime without being all that compelling . It almost palpate like the thread was added to balloon the photographic film ’s runtime from short to feature article - length . With stilted dialogue and stretch of awkward silence , the movie is n’t completely polished either . While that might not inconvenience oneself untried viewers the way it bothers me , it certainly impacts the pacing , inviting squirming and telephone - checking .
Many times , the movie mat up like a tonal jumble , even though both the heartbreak and the antics sure as shooting do the inspirational animal story musical style . Still , I ca n’t help but feel thatMy Penguin Friendisn’t a movie that ’s made with kids in mind ; it ’s the kind of movie that ’s heart-to-heart to being for viewer of all age . There ’s nothing inherently wrong with that feeler , but , ultimately , My Penguin Friendmay fight to ascertain an audience as much as niggling DinDim struggles to see his terms .
My Penguin Friendis now playing in theaters nationwide .
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Humble fisherman João ( International star Jean Reno ) has turned away from the world in the wake of calamity . But when he discovers a penguin cast alone in the sea , drenched in oil from a fall , his first instinct is to help . To his wife ’s ( Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza ) dismay , he not only rescues the sea tool , but postulate the flightless bird under his wing . For the first time in years João starts to find joy , even if he can not fathom just how unbreakable a bail bond is being constitute .
