The Penguin Lessons, the British comedy-drama starring Steve Coogan, has landed a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film tells the real-life story of Tom Michell (Coogan), a "disillusioned" Englishman who takes up a teaching role in 1970s Argentina. Residing in a divided nation, Tom’s life is changed forever when he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach.
Written by Jeff Pope, with whom Coogan collaborated with for Philomena, The Penguin Lessons also stars Björn Gustafsson, Vivian El Jaber and Jonathan Pryce, with Peter Cattaneo – best known for The Full Monty – in the director’s chair.
Ahead of the film’s theatrical release in the UK and Ireland on Wednesday (16 April), The Penguin Lessons has been warmly received by critics thus far, garnering an approval rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes from 88 reviews at the time of writing.
You can read a selection of reviews below:
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What to Read Next
Observer
"Despite the danger of G-rated sentimentality, which everyone involved heroically avoids, The Penguin Lessons is a work of surprising depth and subtle, irresistible impact."
The Hollywood Reporter
"It emerges as an engaging delight from start to finish... The Penguin Lessons also proves unexpectedly moving, its emotional manipulations fully forgivable."
Variety
"This is amusing stuff, well served by Coogan’s knack for haughty composure in the face of the absurd. The film is less convincing, however, when it reaches into the realm of the tragic."
The Globe and Mail
"Coogan brings a delightfully sardonic deadpan to the role of the bemused bystander observing the antics of penguins, adolescents and … military dictatorships."
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Arizona Republic
"Coogan has a witty and dry sense of humour and expressiveness to him that contrasts with Björn Gustafsson delightful silliness and light-hearted delivery."
The Wrap
"If you’re not crying at the end, when The Penguin Lessons wants you to cry, then you’re the one who really needs a penguin."
AARP
"Strangely moving and often funny, The Penguin Lessons is winningly acted by Coogan, who has a knack for plumbing the souls of curmudgeons and coming up with hidden gold."
The Penguin Lessons is released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on 18 April, with special previews on 16 and 17 April.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
