THE PENGUIN LESSONS -- A Charming Tale of Teaching and Penguins

Review by Jonathan Berk

The Penguin Lessons is a new film that, despite being set in the past, feels somehow extremely current. I found this movie to be a pleasant surprise for a multitude of reasons, namely because of Jeff Pope's incredible script, Steve Coogan's astounding performance ( which combines drama and comedy), and Peter Cattaneo's solid direction. Of course, the cute penguin and the fact that the story is inspired by true events help to make it quite compelling. This feels like one of those quiet films that may not work for everyone…but if it does, it’ll leave you gob smacked. 
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Inspired by a true story, Tom (Coogan) moves to Argentina in 1976 to work as an English teacher at a private school. He is very content living life on the sidelines, doing just enough to stay afloat. However, Tom discovers he lives in a divided nation, and teaches a class of unteachable students. It’s not until he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach against his better judgment that his life starts to change.

Fans of Coogan will not be too surprised at his ability to nail this role. Tom exudes a dry sarcasm mixed with cynicism from the moment he first arrives in Argentina. He keeps most people at a distance, seemingly interested in nothing more than just skating by. An early scene shows him taking a nap on a bench when he is supposed to be coaching rugby. He overhears a conversation between the local fishmonger and Sofia (Alfonsina Carrocio), a school custodian, about the change in government. Sofia inquires whether her conversation disturbed his nap, but he pretends he heard nothing. It’s a keen insight into Tom's psychology. 

He is very much interested in people, and clearly has ideas about the way things should be — or at least the way things could be.  However, he opts for the passive role in life. The way the story plays out in Pope’s script forces Tom to have to make some tough choices. Coogan not only can bring levity to many of the scenes but is capable of effectively delivering the emotionally powerful ones. He can maintain the facade of his outward persona while his eyes betray the true emotional turmoil boiling underneath. It’s a powerful performance inside a captivating story.​

The supporting cast is also deserving of praise. Jonathan Pryce plays the school’s headmaster, who is a tough nut to crack — but eventually, he warms up as well. Björn Gustafsson plays a Finnish co-worker who is desperate for a friend and a shoulder to cry on, with no sense of personal space. Carrocio is great as Sofia, and her grandmother is played by Vivian El Jaber, who has incredible moments with Coogan. Several of the students give solid performances, with David Herrero being the standout. Despite all the solid performances from the human cast, there is a clear co-star that is undeniable…the penguin. 

Technically, it was a couple of different penguins, but every moment that there is a penguin on screen is just wonderful. Coogan is able to bounce off the bird as if it were Rob Brydon during any of the moments from The Trip franchise. That’s not a shot at Brydon as much as it is a credit to both Coogan and the penguins. There is so much chemistry with this pair that it makes the movie a pure joy to watch. However, the penguin gets moments with other characters — and they all work. 

An unexpected element of this story is one that parallels with the Oscar-winning I’m Still Here, as the new government is making people disappear. It’s a plot point that greatly impacts Tom and his fear of getting involved. The fear of government retribution also creeps into the classroom, and what he is allowed to teach. The students at the school are mostly spoiled kids of wealthy Argentinians with various connections to the new regime. The idea of doing nothing while so many others' lives are being impacted is a major source of conflict for Tom and one that many may relate to right now. 

There is no denying that movies about teaching usually connect with me. Tom doesn’t start as a teacher that I would support. However, as the film went on, I found Tom to be a kindred spirit. The connection to the unexpected pet only felt all the more relevant for me, having just lost a dog of over 15 years and then immediately gaining a new puppy. I say all this to make sure it’s clear that this film felt like it was made for me at this specific moment. Your mileage may vary. 

Despite my predisposition to connect with this film, I still think it is quite exceptional. Pope’s scripts for Stan and Ollie and The Lost King worked for me as well. Coogan is usually a reason to give a film a chance if he has more than a few scenes. There is much at work to make The Penguin Lessons a standout; and yes, the penguin is also a metaphor. 

The Penguin Lessons will be in theaters on March 28. 

Rating: 5/5

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