The Hollywood film, ‘Mr. Popper’s Penguins’ released in 2011 has been directed by Mark Waters and produced by John Davis and Sean Anders. It is a comedy family film based on a children’s book by the same name written by Richard and Florence Atwater. The main cast includes Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury, Madeline Carroll and Maxwell Perry Cotton.
The film is the story of Thomas ‘Tom’ Popper Junior, played by Jim Carrey who is a divorced real estate entrepreneur and a workoholic, like his father. One day after his return from a business trip he gets the news of his father’s demise. Next day, a lawyer visits Popper to inform him about his father’s will. Most unexpected, Popper gets a Captain Penguin as his father’ last memory for him. He is irritated and tries to return it to the authorities when more penguins end up at his place. He is to donate the penguins when his children Janie, elder daughter, played by Madeline Carrell and Billy, younger son, played by Maxwell P. Cotton, mistake the penguin as Billy’s birthday present.
Life takes a beautiful turn for Popper who starts becoming close to his kids. They love the group of penguins and start visiting him more frequently. His wife, Amanda, played by Carla Gugino, starts meeting her former husband, seeing them happy with their father. Amanda is dating someone but soon her lost love with Popper is reignited. Popper is asked to buy ‘Tavern on the Green’ a restaurant where he had dinner with his father, to get it demolished and get a new construction. He tries convincing its lady owner but she is insistent on its auction. In the meantime, the penguins are targeted by a business to keep them in a zoo to be sold in countries abroad and earn money. The penguins give three eggs and each hatch into beautiful penguins. Popper’s home becomes an ice-home with fishes as food of the penguins.
Popper’s loses his job for his attachment for the birds, hence sends them to the zoo authorities and joins office. His family is shattered to see this and is about to break-down in agony when his father’s words motivate him to bring the penguins back. The entire Popper family rescues the birds and sends them back to the Artics. The captain continues being with Popper’s. The restaurant is retained as it was and Popper’s get charge of it. Popper’s couldn’t be happier.
The film is wonderful for many reasons. The bond between a man and a bird is amazing. The family bond is also commendable and above all Jim Carrey and his special acting skills. The film is great to watch with family and a wonderful lesson to love and be loved by one’s family.
