Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011) User Reviews

Jim Carrey, with penguins in a PG rated movie..what else do you need to know ?

[med77_99 · 7/10 · 18 June 2011]

Me and my wife took our 3 kids to this one, we wanted to enjoy a nice Saturday afternoon together watching a cute family flick, and this movie delivered what we were expecting. our kids laughed and had a lot of fun, and i found myself enjoying most parts of it.

Story is very familiar, about a business man " Carrey " who is always busy and away from his kids, then suddenly he inherits penguins that changes him and his life,..i guess you sort of know from here where the story is headed. a very simple, and might sound silly story, but executed in a very good manner, that made it better than your average family movie. Carrey was funny as always, and added a lot to the over all enjoyment of the film.

It is a family movie, starring Jim Carrey with penguins and is rated PG, what really are you expecting ? it is exactly what you would expect from this type of film. Just grab your loved ones, head to the theaters, and enjoy this movie for what it is, don't take it seriously, and you will have a great time !!

Contrived, but still Charming

[beccad90 · 5/10 · 25 June 2011]

Before I begin, let me say this: I like Jim Carrey. I really do. In fact, I watched Ace Ventura: Pet Detective back when I was a kid, and I still find it funny today. But, as with most actors and comedians, there is that little thing called shtick. Don't we all see a pattern when we see those familiar faces on the screen? In fact, it seems to generate the same kind of reaction: We become endeared to it at first, but then it gets real by the time the fourth or fifth movie rolls around. Will Ferrel, Adam Sandler and even Carey himself, are all the biggest 'offenders,' so to speak, in this day and age. But, for the sake of this interview, let's focus on the latter, and how this movie relates to his 'shtick.' The movie in question, if it wasn't obvious already, is Carey's latest venture, Mr. Popper's Penguins. Based loosely—the key word being 'loosely'—on the 1938 novel by Richard and Florence Atwater, "Penguins" tells the story of a work-obsessed businessman named Tom Popper, whose life is turned upside down when he inherits six penguins from his late explorer father. As is wont, his cold heart begins to melt by means of the flightless, cold-loving birds. In the meanwhile, he tries to evade suspicions of his bosses, a respected entrepreneur, and a brown-nosing zoo keeper while also rekindling his relationship with his estranged ex-wife and kids. And, yes, that's the plot in a nutshell. But, does that mean it's as mind-numbing as it sounds? No, my friends. It's not as bad as it seems.

First off, let's get the downside out of the way. The plot is thoroughly and shamelessly predictable. It is riddled with so many clichés, that I could sit there, predict every turn the movie was going to take and be right. Also, I sat there and counted six—yes, six—poop or fart jokes. There may have been a couple that I missed during a bathroom break, but I'm sure there were a couple more that I could have counted. I blush to admit it, but I do laugh at potty humor, but only when I don't expect it or it makes the movie actually funny. Again, predictability killed the mood for me.

However, for all its faults, it's more charming than repulsive. Carrey, though he is relying on his standard, over the top shtick, is not overshadowing those adorable penguins. But, aside from Carrey, his six co-stars, and his estranged family, there are two saving graces for this movie. Mr. Popper's secretary, Pippi (played by British actress Ophelia Lovibond) is a prim little poppet with a penchant for alliterating all her sentences with any and every word beginning with the letter P. She does grate a little bit, but she is still quite adorable. The other actress to show her face here is the great Angela Lansbury, who plays the owner of a restaurant that Popper used to eat at with his late father. It is so refreshing to see this woman on the silver screen again, especially for a girl who grew up with the likes of Beauty and the Beast and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (There's alliteration there, too, eh? Oh, darn this movie!). She still retains that grace and charm through all the forced dialogue and situations, and I applaud her for that.

Overall, my feelings for this movie can best be summed up by its summary on RottenTomatoes.com: "Bland, inoffensive, and thoroughly predictable, Mr. Popper's Penguins could have been worse…but it should have been better." But for all its faults, its charming, fun and completely harmless. It's probably best for kids, but animal lovers will love the cuddly penguins, and Carrey fans will like seeing their idol on screen. Give it a shot and decide for yourselves.

Jim Carrey makes a Disaster waiting to Happen in to an Enjoyable 90 minutes,

[lesleyharris30 · 7/10 · 7 September 2011]

Mr Popper's Penguins is a good movie with a reasonably well developed storyline and a talented cast. It's an enjoyable family film that had many funny moments and is also quite sweet, it easily could have been a disaster, but I think Jim Carrey did a great job of making it watchable, he may have only done this for a pay check but he looked like he was having fun and really became this character. However, It certainly has many flaws, it throws far too much conflict and issues at Mr. Popper, a divorce, a difficult job and kids who hate him, they seemed like too much problems to give its audience for a ninety minute film, and adding the penguins didn't feel as significant because of the real life struggles that faced him. I found Ophelia Lovibond's performance unbearable, Pippi was a very annoying character, her constant use of words beginning with p wasn't funny to begin with, and they just kept it coming. It has its flaws, but Mr. Popper's Penguins is still a fun film that I would recommend to a family if you ever see it on television and have some time to kill.

Mr Popper gets sent six penguins, which makes the man's life a lot more difficult, although he starts to grow fond of them when he discovers the joy it brings his children.

Fun for adults, too!

[plamya-1 · 16 July 2011]

On our way to an "adult" film (the theater turned out to be inaccessible), we ended up at "Mr. Popper's Penguins," which my friend remembered as a book that her now-29-year-old daughter had enjoyed. I can't remember an evening of more unadulterated, good-hearted laughs in ages.

Viewers should be cautioned to abandon any need for verisimilitude. This is not "March of the Penguin," although Jim Carrey does reference Morgan Freeman in one line. The human children, however, are delightfully true-to-life, in their enthusiasms and frustrations. The penguins, however, manage to exhibit a charming mixture of human-child mischief appropriate to their penguin natures -- sliding on any slippery surface, splashing wherever possible, finding refuge in any icy habitat available in a Manhattan apartment.

The dialogue is very well written and well paced. Jim Carrey is at his best -- annoyingly over- the-top as a slick sales executive, genuinely bonding with his surrogate children as time goes on -- a virtual "Marty Poppins." Angela Lansbury displays her mastery of her craft as a wealthy dowager quite unlike the charming "Jessica Fletcher" persona.

Enjoy the fun with someone young

[Quietb-1 · 7/10 · 17 June 2011]

Jim Carrey as Mr. Popper is restrained in this family friendly movie. Some of the charm of the original book is lost by the contemporary New York setting. The film has a bright happy look highlighted by excellent art direction and set design.

It's a harmless enough and would have received a "G" rating except for plenty of penguin poo. In a summer filled with super heroes and explosions it is a welcome change of pace.

The best scenes involve the penguins. As go the penguins so goes the movie. It's a message movie on the importance of family and don't sell out for a fish.

Good Family Movie...

[kbrkdr · 6/10 · 8 November 2011]

It is not awesome but it is a good comedy movie, we enjoyed it..

As always Jim Carrey's performance is very good in this movie..

The penguins are so cute..

I want to have them in my house :) Honestly we couldn't understand these penguins real or not..

Actually we read that -Jim Carrey said the penguins are real- ..

But still we cant believe that, it is amazing..

The animal cant act professionally like that.

If you watch this movie you wont be bored and I think you will enjoy it...

PPP pick up a penguin. Half good family film.

[tombrookes2007 · 6/10 · 6 September 2011]

Far from ppp perfect this easy, overdone on the sentiment film delivers another Carey rich performance. The penguins are lovable and cute and there is just about enough entertainment, and laughs, amidst a cheesy story.

Carey plays Mr Popper, a recently separated form his family businessman, who excels at property procurement. His father dies and leaves him a posted box of frozen penguins, which Carey looks after and falls for. His children who come to visit also love the penguins. Carey, whilst caring for the family of penguins, struggles to keep his job and acquire the last property in Central Park, New York which would make him a partner in the business he has worked so hard for. Whilst caring for the penguins Mr Popper learns the true value of family over materials and thus completes his journey reuniting his family, and re-homing the penguins.

The film also has small roles for stars Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote), Phillip Baker Hall, Clark Gregg and Jeffrey Tambor.

Mr. Popper's Penguins - predicated on public's preference on principal performer

[neji107 · 6/10 · 16 June 2011]

Here's the rundown...

THE GOOD:

-Jim Carrey's humor

-The penguins are CGI

-The film takes a modest modern twist on the book

-It's meant to appeal to the kids

THE BAD:

-Jim Carrey's humor

-The penguins are CGI

-The film takes a modest modern twist on the book

-It's meant to appeal to the kids

It's really a hit or miss situation here. The story is only loosely related to the book, so if you're a die-hard fan... stay away. So many liberties were taken to make Mr. Popper's Penguins a contemporary story that it is reduced to a weak shadow behind Jim Carrey's character. Films this rushed and awkward can pass as children's films, and in that regard I have little to no issue with the movie. It's an a adequate feel-good comedy for the entire family, but it all really comes down to your opinion of Jim Carrey. 6/10

Jim Carrey saves this film from being a total disaster

[calicritic · 5/10 · 13 June 2011]

On Saturday, I had the honor of attending an advanced screening of Mr. Popper's Penguins. Now I have never read the book in my life, but I am aware that the film is an extremely loose, contemporary adaptation with a setting in the present day rather than the 1930s in the book. So if you're a die-hard fan of the classic book, avoid this movie because they made so many changes to this new setting, it's insane. I am a Jim Carrey fan as well, which was the main reason I went to this film, but don't kill me for saying that I still have not seen Liar Liar, Ace Ventura, and The Mask yet. But those three are still on my watch list, though.

Jim Carrey plays Tom Popper, a successful New York City businessman who has put almost all of his life into his work life instead of family. One day he gets a phone call saying that his father has died, but he left him a gift behind. That gift is six gentoo penguins, and these penguins are going to help him realize that he has shunned out almost every opportunity he's had in life to appreciate the beauty you can experience if you take the time to do so. Once the penguins are brought into the public eye, though, Popper has to contend with a stern zoo keeper (Clark Gregg) who wants the penguins because he believes that Popper's house is not well-suited to take care of all of them.

Jim Carrey definitely carries this movie and saves it from being a complete disaster. His physical slapstick that has become well known in almost his whole career translates in a good enough manner to provide so decent moments of comedy. He may be very grounded in his limits for what he can and can't do, but watching Carrey go crazy on screen is always good enough for me. The supporting cast's performances are really nothing special, but it was pretty cool to see Clark Gregg go on the villain side for once, when he's not playing SHIELD Agent Phil Coulson in the MARVEL films building up to The Avengers. However, the penguins I believe are the weakest part of the film. The jokes involving the penguins are heavily centered on young children and parents who like to see their kids laugh. I'm 17 so I thought most of the jokes were very juvenile at some times, especially a running joke they carry on with one of the penguins who goes by the name of Stinky. In addition, you'll be able to tell in every scene involving the penguins when they're real or CGI, especially in the final climactic sequence of the film.

Overall, if you've seen the trailers to this film, you pretty much know what you're going to get out it. This movie could have been a Razzie nominee in several categories, but Jim Carrey is there to save it from going in that direction. I can say that I mildly enjoyed most of this movie, but I'll probably forget sometime this week.

Jim Carrey makes a welcome return back to pure comedy mode, and this movie delivers just the kind of winning family fun it promises

[moviexclusive · 7/10 · 15 June 2011]

Not since Ace Ventura has Jim Carrey played opposite animals, but he does just that- next to six gentoo penguins to be exact- in this contemporary adaptation of the 1938 classic children's book by Richard and Florence Atwater. The setting has been updated to modern-day New York, but the premise of a businessman called Mr. Popper who inherits six penguins remains largely similar. Rather than an eccentric relative, the inheritance here instead comes from Mr. Popper's father, a globetrotter who has never been around for much of his son's life.

And as formula would have it, Mr. Popper has also not been much of a father to his two children- a teenage daughter Janie (Madeline Carroll) and a young son Billy (Maxwell Perry Cotton). He is also separated from his wife Amanda (Carla Gugino), choosing to devote his time to his real- estate job in an effort to climb up the echelons of the company. Again, as formula would have it, Mr. Popper receives his father's inheritance just when he is one deal short of joining the firm as a partner- the clincher an iconic Tavern on the Green restaurant in Central Park owned by a feisty old woman Mrs. Van Gundy (Angela Lansbury).

The untimely gift however becomes a blessing in disguise, a tool if you will, for Mr. Popper to acquaint himself with his children, especially Billy who can't seem to get enough of the Subarctic flightless birds. He soon develops a change of heart- and instead of devising ways to get rid of them, starts to learn on how best to take care of them, even going to the extent of turning his house into a winter wonderland for their comfort. The rest of the plot unfolds pretty much as you'd expect it to, right down to its denouement where Mr. Popper's personal and professional life collide.

Indeed, no less than three writers (Sean Anders, John Morris and John Stern) worked on the screenplay, but there is little originality in their adaptation. Even the villain of the movie, the New York Zoo official Nat Jones (Clark Gregg buying time before next summer's The Avengers) seems no more than a perfunctory character introduced to bring the movie to some kind of a climax. Yet the fact that the film remains surprisingly entertaining despite their middling script is a testament to Jim Carrey's comedic talents.

Carrey is a master of slapstick and he uses his flair for physical comedy to great effect here. Much of the fun comes from watching Carrey interact with the six penguins, each one of them given a name which represents their behavioural inclinations. Carrey's initial exasperation with the six new occupants of his swanky New York City apartment is a hoot to watch, and his eventual bonding with the birds is equally hilarious- Carrey demonstrating once again that he is easily one of the most physically expressive comedians in Hollywood.

He also has a great sense of comedic timing, especially telling in his wise-cracking delivery. The fast-talking shtick recalls his earlier Ace Ventura days, and his perfectly-timed, deadpan delivery of punch-lines such as this- "Somewhere out there, there's a giant sentence missing an ending" when looking at an art piece resembling a large round dot in the Guggenheim Museum- shows that he has lost none of that Midas touch. Yes, Carrey is through and through a consummate comedian, and his uproarious performance is truly entertaining.

Of course, the kids will inevitably be more enthralled by the flightless sextet- the squawky Loudy, the hugger Lovey, the farter Stinky, the clumsy Nimrod, the biter Bitey and the leader of the pack Captain- and director Mark Waters (better known for his much less CGI-ed comedies Mean Girls and Freaky Friday) does a fantastic job combining the real animals with CGI. Waters also milks what cute potential there is within the penguins and their respective characteristics to largely charming effect, and this is a movie parents can rest assured that the kids will love.

As is typical of such fare, there is a final message about the importance of staying together as family- although it isn't as heartfelt as it should be, thanks to the lacklustre plotting. Nevertheless, there is great family fun to be had here- the kids with the lovable and even irresistible penguins, and the adults with the rubber-faced Jim Carrey back in Ace Ventura-mode- and perhaps there is all one should ask of a family-friendly comedy like this.

• www.moviexclusive.com

Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011)

[SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain · 1/10 · 12 December 2011]

I absolutely love the book. I'm also crazy about penguins. I collect all kinds of penguin memorabilia and will usually give a film about penguins a free pass. So a scathing review from me should really tell you how bad this film is. Let me start by comparing this to the book. Now I don't demand complete faithfulness, but changes made should at least make sense in adapting a book to the screen. This film is almost as if the writers decided to do the exact opposite of everything in the book. In the book Mr Popper is poor, happily married, wants a penguin, gets more penguins to stop it being lonely. In the film he is rich, divorced, wants nothing to do with the penguin, gets more penguins by accident. It leaves us with some tripe that has been done over and over again. Businessman puts business over family, has an inconvenience come into his life, learns the value of family, the end. Please look at The Santa Clause for how to do this. Characters seemed real despite the fantasy elements. Mr Popper's Penguins goes for the most contrived story points imaginable. It's pretty lazy writing, to the point where having Carrey name the penguins was probably an example of the best names these writers could come up with. The film also makes everybody so painfully nice, and then struggles to find a villain. Clark Gregg plays a zoo keeper that is entirely in the right. Yet the film hides him in shadowy cars and gives him ominous music. He should have been the hero of this movie. Krumholtz plays a neighbour whose life is made a living hell with all the noises. Even though it is against the rules to have penguins in the apartments, he is once again played as the villain when he tries to get rid of the penguins. This is a world where levelheadedness is a sign of evil. Further emphasised by dumb ass Gugino. She's the ex-wife that will gladly leave a date for a man that failed at a 15 year marriage, and then thinks that buying pet penguins is a good idea for her kids. It is also a very unfunny film. I can't even remember any jokes, or at least any punchlines. Lots of poo and fart jokes though. This is a film that I would never want a child to see. It gives the impression that parents will just get back together, that your own selfish happiness is above that of other living creatures, that breaking the rules is fine if it's done in a cute way and so on. Please parents, do your kids a huge favor and buy the book. Sit down and read it with them. It will be cheaper and will actually take less time than sitting through this movie.

Popper's Princely, Peeping Penguins

[pawanpunjabithewriter · 9/10 · 13 October 2021]

Light comedy at its best!

The movie started off on a very Light note as if there wasn't much to expect from until all the penguins arrived. The environment changed. Things around turned. It was the biggest tent pole a light movie could have had. Nimrod was my favorite. I am out of words to describe his curious and merry attitude. Jim wasn't at his best, wasn't going through the best of his times either despite having all-time best comedies and performances to his name. Still, he managed to deliver a spectacular performance. Two characters weren't agreat, his wife and the hotel owner.

I enjoyed, lqughed through out. It was quite a funny, adventurous journey, with the latter in bits and pieces.

Sweet, funny movie

[grantss · 7/10 · 4 September 2020]

Sweet, funny movie. Meant for kids, it has a charm, innocence and humour which will appeal to adults too.

Good performance by Jim Carey in the lead role. Good support from Carla Gugino, Ophelia Lovibond, Madeline Carroll, Maxwell Perry Cotton and six CGI penguins.

Carrey cannot carry Mr. Popper's Penguins himself

[Ed-Shullivan · 5/10 · 22 November 2013]

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

I trust the producers were not expecting Mr. Popper's Penguins to be a box office smash, because if they were, they neglected to mix the full recipe ingredients for a block buster movie. Yes, they included one of the major star comedians, Jim Carrey. Yes, they gave us a good background story of a young boy named Tommy Popper who listened endlessly and intently to his CB (citizen band) radio patiently waiting for the rare occasion his world traveler father would reach out to him from afar on the CB radio and tell young Tommy Popper about his current adventure he was on from the four corners of the world. But Tommy grew up as a lonely boy and then 30 years later we see Tommy (now an adult Jim Carrey) as a successful real estate mogul, who is separated from his wife and two kids because he just does not have time for any of his own family. Like father, like son.

Before Tommy's father passes away he sends adult Tommy two crates from the Antartica containing six adorable Penguins. There is also a letter included in one of the the crates which Tommy inadvertently does not see fall under the hall table until quite some time later. Again the producers did a good job with making the penguins look real in all their animated scenes. The penguins bathroom breaks were exceptionally cute and appropriate for all age audiences including young children. I saw the movie at home, but I would imagine any child between the age of 3-13 would be howling of laughter with the antics of the six penguins, who were individually named in a manner that resembles their predominant and individual behavior, similar to the Disney's Seven Dwarfs.

Jim Carrey's estranged wife Amanda (played by Carla Gugino) has moved on with her life and she has a new man she is interested in. Their two kids, a girl and a boy have not spent a lot of time with their father who is always too busy with his real estate deals. I anticipated I may have heard Cat Stevens 1971 classic song "Father and Son" contained somewhere in the film, but it was missing, as was a story line that the audience could commit to believing in.

Angela Lansbury plays Mrs. Van Gundy the sole owner of the Tavern on the Green restaurant that adult Tommy Poppers bosses assign him to acquire for their new development plans. We find out later that little Tommy used to eat at the restaurant with his father on the rare occasion he came to town to visit with his son. Introducing Angela Lansbury was an attempt to make it more like the 1971 Disney classic she previously starred in Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

It is worth a watch for Jim Carrey's interaction with the adorable penguins. The animators did a fantastic job of making the penguins irresistibly entertaining. But let's not fool ourselves. Mr. Poppers Penguins is a good movie that is sure to entertain children between the ages of 3-13 but when I mentioned the film was missing some key ingredients I am referring to that Disney magic. Mr. Poppers Penguins is simply lacking that warm story line and the charm of any of the Disney classics even with Ms. Lansbury in a supporting role, and the advanced CGI animatronics available today.

I expected something else...

[alex_i-0 · 9 October 2011]

...a bizarre comedy with the penguins as the main starlets.

This was not really the case.

It is a family movie you watch round Christmas and feel a little cheered afterward.

Hollywood is really amazing! In a a bad way. It has one single obsessive theme in most of its movies: the absent father and the relationship divorced father - his kids. I think the writers at Hollywood have real childhood issues and should see a pshycologist about it, instead of being so damn repetitive in every movie! But the penguins not been transformed into humans - like the apes in the awful "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" - is a good thing.

Angela Landsbury has aged. But she is still a very sympathetic grand old lady. I love her! 6.5/10. An OK movie!

Jim Carrey is still funny, if not as outrageous, in Mr. Popper's Penguins

[tavm · 7/10 · 29 June 2011]

Okay, so Jim Carrey isn't too much of his outrageous self in this movie like in many of his previous ones though he still has his moments (try not to laugh when he does his Jimmy Stewart impression or when he does his slo-mo bit). And I liked many of the turns he had with his supporting players like Jeffrey Tambor, Clark Gregg, the always welcome Angela Lansbury, and newcomer Ophelia Lovibond as his secretary. And he also does pretty well with those penguins. And the fact those birds also have a love for Charlie Chaplin is also a plus. So while, yes, many moments are predictable and not everything is completely believable (so he actually gets sold the Tavern on the Green after Lansbury's character said no and he still keeps his job?), I was willing to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy many good moments that happen throughout Mr. Popper's Penguins. It's certainly his most family-friendly of his I've seen so that should help him get some new young fans.

Nice family movie.

[axismladen · 7/10 · 12 October 2011]

Mr. Popper's Penguins is as dumb as a movie can get. I mean, it's really idiotic and a big nonsense of a movie. A guy get's a whole lot of penguins from his dead father and he decides to keep them and make his wonderful apartment look like a zoo. These kind of movies are made nowhere else, but America. The thing that i mind the most about these kind of movies is that they always try to make me believe like there is some sense in all of it and like it's the right thing to do. Of course, penguins aside, you gotta have a father who's neglecting his children trying to make a career for him self and so on.... There is also an ex girlfriend/wife who he still loves.... etc....

As much of a nonsense as it is, even though i usually hate this kind of movies and even though i have every reason to hate this one too, i still enjoyed it quite a lot. It's not really the kind of movie that you'll be taking seriously or that you'll remember twenty years from now, and if you do it will be because of Jim Carrey and nothing else, but it is a movie that you could/should be entertained by and that might make you feel a bit better. This is what i like to call A Time Waster. It's also a nice family movie. Not also, but just is. It is a family movie, i can't see what else. Your kid's, if you have any, will most definitely like it. It has that feel good vibe that really puts a smile on your face whether you like it or not. The best time to watch it would probably be around Christmas, though. Or, now that i'm thinking about it, Summer if you wish it was Christmas or winter.

Jim Carrey is charismatic like he usually is, though, his performance is somewhat average. I didn't like the scene near the end of the movie where he does the slow motion stuff. It really brings you back to reality and reminds you that you're watching a Jim Carrey movie, and than you ask your self, where is Ace Ventura? I'd rather see him than some penguins!

It's an entertaining and very lovable movie. Pure nonsense, but a nice family film that will definitely not bore you, no matter how dumb it may(is) be.

Penguins everywhere

[lagudafuad · 6/10 · 30 June 2011]

The Movie itself is a family movie, one you can go to watch with your kids. If you can come to terms with the fact it is a family movie, then you will catch the fun in watching the movie. The plot is similar to all those Disney Flicks we are use to, Man puts work above family and then he has to take care of something (usually someone), then he realizes what is more important and forfeit his work to be a good father and husband. Mr Popper doesn't fall far from this tree of genre, as the plot shows Mr. Popper (Carrey), a slick real estate broker in New York City. His ex-wife (Carla Gugino), a young son (Maxwell Perry Cotton) and teen daughter (Madeline Carroll) and a fancy apartment.

He also has an assistant named Pippi who makes sure her sentences always have words beginning in P.

Mr Popper is the best at what he does resulting in a broken home and creating a gap between him and his kids. One day, Mr. Popper receives a crate containing a penguin, an inheritance from his father, who was usually absent in Mr Poppers life while growing up. In the process of getting rid of the Penguin he ends up with more penguins.

Carrey well wasn't extraordinary in this movie as you will expect, as he plays a role not requiring a lot of skills, skills he is blessed with.

I wont say the movie is bad, cause i enjoyed it and believe you and your family will too.

Cherish happiness

[IreneWatsonC · 7/10 · 14 April 2020]

The movie tells a common truth with a warm story. Animals and people can see the true heart of what has been paid. Mr. Popper has learned to pay by raising penguins and treat others with sincerity, and has regained happiness in the family. People must understand the love around them and respond appropriately to them.

Rather too juvenile family comedy.

[barnabyrudge · 4/10 · 3 September 2011]

Jim Carrey's career has in many ways mirrored that of Eddie Murphy. In their early days, both had distinctive styles of their own – Murphy was fast-talking, foul-mouthed, vulgar and very funny; Carrey was a manic and energetic physical comedian like one of the Three Stooges on steroids. They were both at their best in those early years. Their comedy was effective and the films they made were usually enjoyable and funny. Then, for reasons best known to themselves, both men settled for a niche in that most insipid and cloying of genres – the mainstream Hollywood family comedy. From time to time, both men escape from the constraints of this self-imposed exile – check out Murphy in Bowfinger, for example, or Carrey in The Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind – and we get a wonderful reminder of what they're capable of. But all too often, both men slip back into "Hollywood Family Comedy Hell", where their talents are wasted on cinematic silliness like Mr Popper's Penguins. This Jim Carrey vehicle is lame and predictable for its duration, pandering solely for children below the age of 10.

Tom Popper (Jim Carrey) is a successful businessman who treats everyone around him with frosty disregard. As a child, he was neglected by his father who spent most of his time gallivanting around the world in search of animals. As an adult, Popper now treats his own kids – daughter Janie (Madeline Carroll) and son Billy (Maxwell Perry Cotton) – with the same dismissive indifference. One day he receives word that his father has died in some God-forsaken corner of the world, and shortly afterwards Popper inherits a number of penguins. Initially he wants to be rid of them but soon he discovers that he actually cares for the penguins, loves them even, and before long he finds himself becoming a better person thanks to the effect the penguins have on his life. His relationship with his kids grows, and he even starts to rekindle a romance with his ex-wife Amanda (Carla Gugino). But as always things don't run smoothly, and Popper ends up having to save his penguins from a nasty zoo-keeper while keeping alive a precious business deal with cranky old heiress Mrs Van Gundy (Angela Lansbury).

This isn't hugely different from Carrey's earlier offering Liar, Liar. Once again, a single-minded and neglectful father gets a shot at saving his marriage and rebuilding his relationship with his kids thanks to extraordinary circumstances. But where that film had a degree of manic energy, this one merely offers sentimental schmaltz. Mr. Popper's Penguins is not a total loss by any means, with some amusing moments and good special effects. It's just that the film doesn't really hang together as a whole, alternating too often between the disappointingly predictable and the excessively juvenile. In fact, the penguins have all the best moments – if it wasn't for them, this would be a very long 94 minutes indeed.

Fairly amusing stuff; not Carrey's best by any means, but it's a good selection for family viewing time

[callanvass · 6/10 · 16 September 2013]

(Plot) An arrogant businessman's life begins to alter for the better when he inherits six penguins. His apartment becomes a suitable, winter home for the Penguins, and everything begins to change around him

Carrey's star has waned a bit over the past few years, but he can still be very funny with the proper scripts. I wouldn't say this is one of his best movies, but its decent entertainment for sure. It has plenty of slapstick gags that will get some chuckles going, and a sentimental story that rings true. Any complaints? Not really. It is very predictable, and it was easy to see where most things were headed, but it's a family film, not something that is gonna bring in the Oscars. Jim Carrey is funny as per usual, and I enjoyed him immensely. His interactions with the Penguins were cute & amusing. Carla Gugino is a classy lady, and made for a good love interest. Angela Lansbury has a small, but effective role, whilst Clark Gregg steals every scene he's in.

Final Thoughts: This is a good rental or a good selection on Netflix if you are looking for something to watch. It's also a film the whole family can get some kicks out of. It's not great, but I felt it was decent. Give it a whirl

6/10

About what one should expect from Hollywood & Jim Carey

[jmstettner · 3/10 · 9 July 2011]

This movie is predictable in both content and quality. It is surprising and disquieting that so many reviewers are raving about this as "family fare" ~ perhaps it's the same poster using aliases. Jim Carey is himself and the scat humor is unnecessary. The relationships of the characters are stereotypical and pathetically overused ~ are there no married couples with children who have a normal life style any more? Finally, this movie bears no resemblance to the book which the title was lifted from apart from the obligatory penguins. It is trash and indicative of the twaddle that dribbles out of the media elite who haven't the decency to just leave iconic stories (Where The Wild Things Are, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, etc) alone and tag their flights of fancy with a simple "inspired by ...." tag at the end of the credits.

If Hollywood and the Screen Actors' Guild really want to stop piracy, they should consider doing something to EARN their ticket sales instead of insulting audiences.

The reviews are unfair. Great movie

[JustBe333 · 8/10 · 17 April 2019]

I can't believe more adults didn't defend this movie. I'm 35 and I love it. It's fun, funny, cute and sweet. It's not ground breaking or overly deep but it's entertaining. People suck ;p

Appropriately rated

[bgar-80932 · 6/10 · 31 August 2022]

This is a decent kids movie with pretty much the exact rating I'd give it. It's about a big shot who wants to connect with his kids more who basically inherits some penguins. I watched it and it was decent enough and my kids were interested enough just seeing the penguins. I like Jim Carey and I think he did a pretty good job. It was never laugh out loud funny but I enjoyed the ride and it's short so watch it with your kids and you may enjoy it. It didn't blow me away and I'll never rewatch it but don't feel like it was a waste of time by any means. Don't watch it alone, watch it with your kids.

Mr. Popper's Penguines (2011)

[dpolwatte · 5/10 · 9 December 2018]

Without Jim Carrey this movie is not watchable. Anyway a feel good family movie with less laughs and unrealistic animal conditions.