Mr. Poppers Penguins (20th Century Fox)
Carrey and the Penguins Play Well Together
Mr. Poppers Penguins is an ideal summer movie for the entire family. Instead of just aiming at the kiddie audience or skewing it too much towards the adult one, this enjoyable movie finds the perfect center between the age ranges. It is definitely kid friendly but adults can have a great time too. Jim Carrey is at his most loveable best and the supporting cast which includes Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury, Madeline Carroll and Matthew Perry Cotton are with him all the way. This is the best family movie of the summer so far.
Tom Popper (Carrey) is a successful real estate dealer in New York. He makes deals happen which others only dream about, and he does it with ease and finesse. He is ready to be made partner at the office where he works, but the senior partners have one last task for him to pass. They want him to purchase Tavern On the Green which is owned by Mrs. Van Gundy (Lansbury).
While working on this deal Popper is also trying to build relationships with his children, Janie (Carroll) and Billy (Cotton). Popper and his wife Amanda (Gugino) are separated. The kids feel like he cares more about his business than he does them, and in many ways that is true.
One day he gets a package from his recently deceased father. It is his inheritance and it is a penguin. Popper plans to get rid of it as quickly as possible but before he can, five others arrive. Now he has six and when the kids see them they are fascinated. It seems the penguins bring out the human side of Popper.
The penguins are a combination of animatronics, animation and real penguins. I couldnt tell where one process stopped and the other one started. In any case they become individuals who win over the audiences hearts. Carreys ability to interact with the creatures and to merge them into the storyline is fantastic.
The heart of the story is Poppers evolution into a thinking, caring husband and father, rather than a real estate developing tycoon. Carreys performance is right on target every step of the way. He is silly, rubber faced, loving, frantic and a million other things but he is always a good man at heart.
The movie is rated PG for some rude humor.
Mr. Poppers Penguins is the type of movie the big studios just dont make any more. Heres hoping that kids and their families show up to demonstrate there is still a market for this type of entertainment.
Take a chance and go to see Mr. Poppers Penguins. It is Carrey at his best and the penguins are amazing.
I scored Mr. Poppers Penguins a tuxedoed 7 out of 10.
