My Penguin Friend

I cried in this movie as it's so moving especially seeing what the Penguin had to go through to go to his beloved master who saved him.

The movie is very similar to Hachi: A Dog's Tale with Richard Gere based on a true story.

It's a moving movie and training a Penguin to do and play the best parts is not so easy. I can imagine the trainer how many hours they repeated the shots to get what was required to progress the movie.

The movie lacked a strong direction and one time makes one feel angry when the penguinologist/ornithology sends a tv camera crew to interview João and then kidnap DinDim the beloved Penguin who was crossing doing the 5000 miles journey from Argentina to Brazil for 8 continuous years.

Our local theater does "Mystery Movies" on Monday where all the tell you is the run time and rating before the movies starts, so we had no expectations. When it started, I saw that this was going to be a PG animal flick, so I started out bummed. I was pleasantly surprised. Based on the true story of a man who befriends a penguin, but the real story is more about how a man overcomes grief and re-engages with his life and community. How a village can actively support one another. There are quite a few laughs and silly moments as you would expect from a movie with a penguin as a main character, but pull that back, and it really is a redemption and growth story about a simple couple in a fishing village. There are a few darker themes, especially around human hubris and callousness, this will go over younger viewers' heads, all in all, a really heartwarming film that I recommend to take the whole family to see. My biggest criticism is that the dialog was a bit weak and they tried a bit too hard with some of the underwater shots. They tried something they hoped would look cool, but it was more disorienting than anything else.

This was such a heartfelt and loving story. It is not your typical Hollywood movie but rather showed real emotion, the highs and lows and overall love that was shared between a man and a penguin. I loved that real penguins were used versus using CGI or animation that can sometimes make storytelling feel inauthentic and not natural. It really showcases how all walks of life crave human interaction. It was well documented and you could feel the connection through the screen. DinDim helped a man heal and find true meaning again. It was beautifully and wonderfully made and everyone should see it!!

When is the last time you went to a movie that left you feeling good about humanity? This quiet little gem is perfect for pretty much anybody, even people who are too cool to admit they like it but secretly do anyway. Part animal story, part commentary on healing the broken human heart, I got to see this at a local art movie theater and enjoyed it thoroughly. Support tender little films like this at your local art house to show that we need more of them made and appreciate them when the effort is taken to do so. Excellent cast, unusual setting, cute penguins and beautiful scenery, this film has all you need to walk out of the theater smiling.

My Penguin Friend is an extraordinary film that beautifully portrays the heartwarming relationship between a man and a penguin. The movie excels with its breathtaking visuals and a deeply moving narrative that explores themes of love, kindness, and the profound connections we share with animals. The storytelling is engaging and heartfelt, making it a visual treat and an emotional journey. This film stands out as one of the most memorable and impactful movies I've ever seen, blending uniqueness with emotional depth into an unforgettable cinematic experience that resonates deeply with viewers. Truly beautiful.