Movie Review ~ My Penguin Friend

Face it: Hollywood has a thing for Penguins.  Past titles like 2011’s Mr. Popper’s Penguins and the Oscar-winning breakout hit March of the Penguins in 2005 set the ball rolling for another Oscar-winner, Happy Feet, in 2006 and its sequel.  In the past few years, we’ve had Netflix’s Penguin Bloom, finding Naomi Watts as an injured woman brought back from the brink by an injured Magpie.  At the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival, Steve Coogan is starring in The Penguin Lessons, featuring another cute flightless bird winning the hearts of everyone it encounters.  And let’s not forget The Penguin, the upcoming series spun-off from 2022’s The Batman streaming on Max featuring Colin Farrell as Gotham’s most feared aquatic nemesis.

As the film industry continues to be captivated by our feathered friends, David Schurmann’s My Penguin Friend makes its debut in theaters.  Originally titled The Penguin and the Fisherman (a name that still graces my screening copy), this is a heartwarming true-life story of Brazilian fisherman João Perei de Souza, who rescues an oil-slicked, near-death penguin from the ocean. João’s act of kindness towards the bird leads to an unlikely lifelong bond that defies both species and expectations.  This family film is entertaining, but it’s attempting to achieve a lot with a relatively simple plot, offering a unique take on the penguin narrative. 

Taking a bit to find its footing, the film opens in the past as we learn about the tragedy that affects the life of fisherman João and his wife, Maria.  Flashing forward decades later, João (Jean Reno) is a set-in-his-ways old man who prefers to keep his distance from former friends, while Maria (Adrianna Barraza) only wishes he would find a connection that will raise his spirits.  When the injured penguin Dindim washes up on their shore, João takes him in and nurses him back to health, giving the bird the run of the house but letting him swim free when nature’s cycle tells him it’s time to migrate.  As Dindim returns year after year, a consistency returns to the lives of the older couple, filling a hole in their hearts they thought would never, could never, be mended.

What My Penguin Friend excels at is capturing the simplicity and sincerity of the bond between the fisherman and his bird.  As their companionship spans years and countless journeys, a genuine rapport is built between them.  The film’s true stars are the penguins, particularly those portraying Dindim.  Stealing the scenes with their playful antics, it’s the sequences shot by Schurman (a documentary filmmaker showcasing his roots) that stand out the most.  These sequences give the penguin a sense of autonomy as a resilient character, inspiring the audience and breaking up the often-heavy-handed human drama from Kristen Lazarian & Paulina Lagudi Ulrich’s script.

However, Reno’s portrayal of João feels mismatched to his speedily swimming co-star. While Reno (Lift) is a seasoned actor with decades of experience in a range of roles, his casting as a Brazilian fisherman seems off-key. While the performance is earnest, his French roots are a noticeable distraction in an otherwise immersive beach setting. Oscar nominee Barraza (Drag Me to Hell), playing João’s wife Maria, brings her typical warmth and lived-in credibility to her role, complementing Reno’s performance despite the odd casting choice.

Schurmann, known for his work as a documentarian, brings that genre’s eye for detail and authenticity to the film, though his transition to this type of narrative feature sometimes falters.  Its structure struggles to balance documentary-style realism and stock Hollywood sentimentality. The breathtaking shores of Brazil and Patagonia serve as stunning backdrops (don’t tell me you didn’t think about a week on the beach just now). Still, the film never fully capitalizes on these natural wonders, often retreating to safer, more conventional storytelling techniques.  Also coming up a hair short is Fernando Velázquez’s score, which works overtime to guide viewers’ emotions through every twist and turn. While the music is pleasant, its near-constant presence throughout the film dilutes its impact, leaving little room for quieter, more contemplative moments.

My Penguin Friend is a well-intentioned endeavor, brimming with heart and genuine moments.  Its greatest strength lies in its portrayal of the bonds formed between the main characters, both human and avian.  Like one of its adorable leads (not Reno), it doesn’t reach soaring heights, but it remains afloat as a heartwarming, if not entirely unforgettable, addition to the family-friendly genre.  In the realm of penguin rescue narratives, this one is a sweet diversion.