It’s hard to believe March of the Penguins and Happy Feet – two highly rated (and high grossing) penguin-heavy films came out over a decade ago. So I suppose it was inevitable that we were due for another round of penguin rich content.
This time it is the aptly named Penguins. The new film from Disneynature follows the story of a young Adélie penguin named Steve as he endeavors to find a mate and raise a family in the harsh Antarctic environment.
Because the penguin sojourn has been captured so ubiquitously on camera -- through documentaries like the aforementioned March of the Penguins and the wildly popular Planet Earth series – there isn’t much content here that will surprise the penguin savvy viewer. Likewise, the anthropomorphic “plot” follows your typical Cute Animal Documentary formula: cute animal appears on screen, captures hearts, confronts obstacles, emerges victorious. The film chronicles the trials and tribulations of the penguin experience without confronting too closely the dog-eat-dog (or in this case, sea lion-eat-penguin) chaos that exists in the natural world, which makes Penguins a safe and trauma-free bet for families viewing with young children. The voice work by Ed Helms (of The Office and The Hangover fame) strikes a tender balance of kid-friendly humor (yes there are barf jokes) and rich, informative storytelling that will keep a wide range of ages engaged. The comedic relief for Penguins’ more mature viewers is primarily rooted in the documentary’s soundtrack. Ever wondered what it would be like to watch two penguins fall in love over REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t fight this feeling”? Well, Penguins will scratch that itch for you.
The real star of Penguins (besides, well, the penguins) is the cinematography. Whether it is the dramatic, sweeping shots of the Antarctic mountain ranges, gripping underwater chase scenes, or tender moments captured between Steve and his doting companion Adeline – viewers are sure to leave the theater with a deep appreciation for the years of hard work, dedication and patience that the film’s videographers undoubtedly poured into this visually impactful film.
Despite its Earth Day release, what viewers won’t get from Penguins is any kind of reference to climate change. I’m sure it was an intentional choice by the filmmakers to honor the sacred separation of penguins and politics, but it seems like a missed opportunity to educate young viewers about the impacts of our changing environment. After all, NASA studies have estimated that climate change could cause the Adélie penguin population to drop 60% by the end of the century. Regardless, a portion of the proceeds will go toward the Wildlife Conservation Network, which will hopefully help keep the penguin content coming for the next generation of moviegoers.
--Kelsey Robinson
This time it is the aptly named Penguins. The new film from Disneynature follows the story of a young Adélie penguin named Steve as he endeavors to find a mate and raise a family in the harsh Antarctic environment.
Because the penguin sojourn has been captured so ubiquitously on camera -- through documentaries like the aforementioned March of the Penguins and the wildly popular Planet Earth series – there isn’t much content here that will surprise the penguin savvy viewer. Likewise, the anthropomorphic “plot” follows your typical Cute Animal Documentary formula: cute animal appears on screen, captures hearts, confronts obstacles, emerges victorious. The film chronicles the trials and tribulations of the penguin experience without confronting too closely the dog-eat-dog (or in this case, sea lion-eat-penguin) chaos that exists in the natural world, which makes Penguins a safe and trauma-free bet for families viewing with young children. The voice work by Ed Helms (of The Office and The Hangover fame) strikes a tender balance of kid-friendly humor (yes there are barf jokes) and rich, informative storytelling that will keep a wide range of ages engaged. The comedic relief for Penguins’ more mature viewers is primarily rooted in the documentary’s soundtrack. Ever wondered what it would be like to watch two penguins fall in love over REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t fight this feeling”? Well, Penguins will scratch that itch for you.
The real star of Penguins (besides, well, the penguins) is the cinematography. Whether it is the dramatic, sweeping shots of the Antarctic mountain ranges, gripping underwater chase scenes, or tender moments captured between Steve and his doting companion Adeline – viewers are sure to leave the theater with a deep appreciation for the years of hard work, dedication and patience that the film’s videographers undoubtedly poured into this visually impactful film.
Despite its Earth Day release, what viewers won’t get from Penguins is any kind of reference to climate change. I’m sure it was an intentional choice by the filmmakers to honor the sacred separation of penguins and politics, but it seems like a missed opportunity to educate young viewers about the impacts of our changing environment. After all, NASA studies have estimated that climate change could cause the Adélie penguin population to drop 60% by the end of the century. Regardless, a portion of the proceeds will go toward the Wildlife Conservation Network, which will hopefully help keep the penguin content coming for the next generation of moviegoers.
--Kelsey Robinson
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