Rent The Penguin Lessons (2024)

Delightfully Surprising Stuff - The Penguin Lessons review by griggs

I braced myself for a twee overload, but Penguin Lessons won me over. I had expected it would be all fluff and waddles, but it certainly has more backbone than expected. Surprisingly, whilst it doesn’t dig too far into Argentina’s Junta horrors, it gives just enough to anchor the film into such a traumatic period. Coogan nails the washed-up Brit soul-searching in exile. And yes, the penguin works—saving Coogan from himself and his past. Unexpectedly poignant, with more heft than its premise or trailers suggest. Delightfully surprising stuff.

Heart-warming Feelgood Feathered-Friend Fable with Bite, very Loosely Based on a Memoir - The Penguin Lessons review by PV

I was not sure if this film would be a huggy slush-fest as so many feel-good heart-warming movies are - i have literally turned off more than a few before the end as I detest that schmaltzy stuff. However, though the tweeness is here - with a rescued penguin - the main character's cynicism and the political backdrop of 1976 Argentina helps the story to avoid drowning in slush slurry as so many others do.

The word for feelgood books like this is 'UP-LIT' - often near-fantasy stories of a stranger entering a community and touching the lives of everyone in a positive way. Films like The Untouchables (French, 2011) and Amelie and Chocolat and more are like that, and all these novels about people going on long walks. It is a slim, simple, feelgood story, perfect for family viewing at Christmas or whatever.

I first heard of the Penguin Lessons memoir on which this fictional film is based ('inspired by a true story') on a radio programme, World Service, I think. The author himself, Tom Michell stated in interview that the film was not his story really as it is altered and embellished, but hey, that is film. In reality, the 23 year old Tom became a chemistry teacher in Cornwall.

Here Steve Coogan plays a cynical fifty-something with a sad backstory (no spoilers). All fiction. No idea if other stuff that happens is fact or fiction. I do know no school private or state would stand for a lot of what happens in the lessons here anyway, all a bit Dead Poets Society etc. Coogan gives his best performance since the great Philomena (2013) and Stan and Ollie (2018). I try to forget how irritating he and his views are in real life when I watch him on screen...

The backdrop of the fascist dictatorship in Argentina and how many people went missing (presumed dead) then helps steer this story away from twee oversentimentality, as does some snappy cynical dialogue (no idea if that is from the book or not).

And the penguin is great! Spanish for penguin is pinguino I learnt here! The word is actually from the Welsh language, meaning HEAD WHITE literally, used to describe the extinct Great Auk originally. But sailors usually referred to the bird as 'arse-foot' which makes sense LOL.

A few more penguins like this and the lessons he gave; the world would definitely be a better place! - The Penguin Lessons review by The REAL Film Cricket

If you read the outline and few other short and undetailed summaries of this film, I can imagine a lot of serious, or looking for something with more clout, film viewers will bypass The Penguin Lessons.

To be fair if you have a genuine interest in films and you see Steve Coogan and Johnathan Pryce in lead roles trust me you should watch the film.

The first thing you need to realise and be amazed at is this film is based on a real story. Okay Tom Michell was roughly 23 years old when the events happened and Steve Coogan is 58, but for me this makes no difference. What I liked about the film is the title, the apparent storyline makes you think you are watching a cute, fun animal centred film. In a way you do but….

The story the film tells is that one change, one different thing in anyone’s life can make you positive, change your perspective more than you thought possible. In reality a writer could have made a fictional tale about a man falling in love with a woman and how much that changed his life – and these stories have been done.

This is different, very different.

To be fair Steve Coogan could probably sleepwalk this role, it is so suited to him, so much up on his strengths I knew that I would enjoy his role in the film if nothing else. Then you add in Jonathan Pryce, strongly cast in a role he can do in his sleep, and you definitely have something worth watching.

The weakest in a story like this would be the supporting cast, but in my opinion, the not so well known amongst us Brits cast, were superb, believable, and just added strong foundations to the tale.

Björn Gustafsson is great as the ‘Finnish’ teacher who supports Tom, and my wife worked with a Finnish company for a decade and was nodding her head throughout, yes we know Bjorn is Swedish. You’d be shocked to know Vivian El Jaber was an actress and not a cleaning lady and those young lads were very good.

Add in the centre of the tale, the penguin, a fantastic and lovely creature and even if you do not like the tale or way the story is presented, I cannot imagine anyone disliking it intensely.

Large parts of the film are fictional, to create tension and give a path to Tom Michell, which some viewers were upset about and I understand that. Michell clearly never had a 13-year-old daughter – due to his real age – and the daughter of the cleaning lady did not exist in real life. In my opinion without Sofia it would be harder to underline and highlight the despicable people that were in charge of Argentina at that time and that is an important part of the film.

If there is any criticism due, and I am patient so it did not create too much of a problem for me, the story is definitely slow going, especially at the beginning, I can see this as good platform to push on the three stages of Michell’s life and how and why he changed, but in modern day entertainment a lot of audiences want at bit more pace.

Again, I find it good that the hideous and frankly murderous behaviour of the Argentinian regime at that time is hinted at and spoken but not graphically shown. When these things happen those that witness it often never get past it and The Penguin Lessons is not in this genre of film.

This actually makes it stronger for me. Steve Coogan’s Tom, apart from being a clever English teacher, would probably behave like most of us would in the same circumstances if we are honest.

The story is heart-warming, lovely, fun and in this current time of 2026 a tad scary for some of us. The acting is very good, and dare I say superb, and believable from the main characters right down to supporting cast. Then you add in a penguin that you cannot fail to fall for and you have a slightly fictional tale based on a real story that is entertaining, fun and can pose a few questions for you.

I would recommend The Penguin Lessons but if you like fast violent action and running from point to point, and screaming laughter, it may not be the film for you.