#REVIEW: “THE PENGUIN LESSONS”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

The Penguin Lessons is a cute, quirky British Buddy Comedy.

Based on the Autobiography by Tom Michell, this Adaptation tells the story of an unlikely friendship that completely changed Tom’s outlook on life. Tom (Steve Coogan) arrives in Argentina in 1976, amidst a turbulent time in Argentinian history. The Englishman teaches at an all-boys school but lacks care for the position and pupils. That’s until he takes a spontaneous trip to Uruguay, where he saves the life of a penguin who was the victim of an oil spill. From then on, the penguin won’t leave Tom alone. He has no choice but to bring him back to his Argentinian home. Although Tom is reluctant to keep the penguin (now named Juan Salvador), he soon realizes that Juan Salvador has created a positive change in him and everyone he meets.

From the beginning, it’s clear Tom is cold and bitter. He doesn’t care if the unruly students in his English class listen to him or bully another student. And he has no interest in making friends with anyone he works with. He’s coasting his way through life and South America. Cattaneo makes it clear that Tom is the fish out of water. But all that changes when he saves Juan Salvador.

From the moment Juan Salvador enters the Film, a warm feeling follows. Even though Tom states he doesn’t want the penguin, it’s clear a warmth has ignited within him. There’s a hilarious scene where Tom is on the phone with a zoo keeper, he threatens to kill the penguin if they don’t take him. But then he looks at Juan Salvador and shakes his head indicating he is lying. It’s these cute moments between the two that leap off the screen.

The Penguin Lessons is loaded with dry British humour one has come to associate with Coogan, an expert in the field. So when moments arise, such as threatening to kill the penguin, they are hilarious and not cruel.

The Film is set during the cataclysmic period in Argentina. This is shown in many ways. When Tom arrives, a bomb explodes a few miles away from the school. Sofía (Alfonsina Carrocio), a 19-year-old woman who works at the school, is taken by the military for being vocal against the dictatorship. This intimate Buddy Comedy shines a light on this moment in history.

Some may want more attention spent on the political moment. However, the Filmmakers’ focus is primarily on the positive lessons an animal can teach every human it encounters.

Mongrel Media release THE PENGUIN LESSONS on Friday, March 28, 2025.