KSL Movie Show review: ‘The Penguin Lessons’ is a sweet, emotional adventure

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SALT LAKE CITY — British actor/comedian Steve Coogan has put together a rather comfortable career playing the narcissistic cad in many films to perfection.

He gets yet another chance in this “inspired by” tale of a less-than-enthused English teacher taking a new job in a posh private school in Buenos Aires in the mid-1970s.

Tom Michell (Coogan) has bounced around all over the world, in a seemingly random effort to avoid living life to any level of satisfaction. Yet, he seems content to simply exist and teach the one thing he knows well — English literature.

New school, new annoying students, but basically same old same old.

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To spice up the story, based on Tom Michell’s biography, he’s managed to enter Argentina during a political firestorm where opposing sides battle for control over a country rampant with inflation.

You think you’ve seen it bad, Tom is instructed to spend his paycheck immediately upon receiving it, since whatever he was hoping to buy, might be double in price the next day. Simply put — spend the currency quickly before it loses all value.

During an intense week of unrest, St. George’s headmaster (Jonathan Pryce) decides to close the school temporarily out of an abundance of caution for the safety of students and facility.

Tom takes that opportunity to travel to nearby Uruguay, with a persistently annoying colleague, to visit the South American hotspot, Punta del Este, with its beautiful beaches and fun-loving residents.

It’s while strolling along the shores with a lovely lady that they come upon a number of dead penguins washed up upon the beach, covered by an extensive oil spill. There seems to be only one still alive, struggling to breathe, so Tom’s lady friend insists they take it back to his bungalow to hopefully clean and save it.

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That works, while Tom’s charms do not, (bye, nice lady), leaving him and this pesky penguin to fend for themselves. Tom wants nothing to do with this smelly bird, trying to return it to the ocean, but it just comes right back out and follows his imprinted new daddy Tom around. Ahhh.

Remember, Tom is a self-centered jerk who has zero interest in bonding with anyone, much less this squawking creature, but authorities insist he take the bird back with him to Argentina. Calls to the local zoo have no effect, so Tom is forced to look after the penguin, much to his chagrin.

However, his housekeeper and her politically active granddaughter fall in love with the little dude, now called Juan Salvador, and we begin to see cracks develop in cranky Coogan’s armor.

So, of course, Tom starts turning into an actual human being, with feelings and empathy for the penguin, the people and the pupils.

It’s a sweet, emotional adventure that will warm the coldest heart, to the point where if you’re not moved by this little film, you just might be a robot.

“The Penguin Lessons'” (B) Rated PG-13 for strong language, some sexual references and thematic elements. Starring Steve Coogan, Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero, Jonathan Pryce and Alfonsina Carrocio. Directed by Peter Cattaneo (“The Full Monty” “Military Wives”) – filmed in Catalonia, Spain. Running time: 112 minutes.

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.