When Doing The Right Thing For The Wrong Reasons Leads to Owning a Penguin

If you have followed my reviews for any length of time, you know that I see most G and PG movies, and some PG-13 movies. This film has been on my calendar since my youngest son first noticed it on a list of upcoming movies. I read absolutely nothing about it beforehand, and didn’t even watch a trailer. So I had no expectations going in. The Penguin Lessons Christian Movie Review will give you the info you need before viewing this film with your kids.

This film is rated PG-13. It could have easily been adapted to a PG film, but I doubt that children would find it interesting as it is very slow-moving. Ultimately, you want to know if it is worth seeing and what the content is.

The Penguin Lessons Christian Movie Review

Studio Synopsis:

Inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, his life is turned upside-down.

My Synopsis:

Tom Michell is British, and he goes to work as an English teacher in Argentina. Unfortunately, the country is in upheaval and his class at the all-boys school is unruly and undisciplined. When he rescues a penguin from a certain death to impress a woman, he finds that he is now the proud owner of a penguin that he can’t get rid of in a school with a no-pets policy.

The Penguin Lessons Christian Review – What Parents Want to Know

Language:

Use of Christ and Jesus as blasphemy. Graffiti on a wall reads “bastardos.” Two uses of the f-word. Excessive use of s-it, including one use of bulls-it, one use of b-stard, one use of h-ll, and the word shat is used. A person uses c-ck for male body part. Additionally, there may be other slang British expletives that I didn’t know or catch.

Violence:

In 1976, when the movie opens, Argentina is in upheaval. A bomb goes off in the town near the school. There are military paroling the streets, and people who spoke out against the government are grabbed off the streets and taken to prison. After being released from prison, one man is shown with a black eye and is limping.

In another scene a man is hit in the face with a pan. Additionally, the school boys bully a fellow student and call him a socialist rat. Someone threatens to kill the penguin.

A woman says he husband died from cancer, and a man talks about his daughter who was killed by a drunk driver.

Furthermore, there is a scene on the beach with an oil spill. They show dead penguins, and amongst the dead is one penguin who is still alive.

FOR ADDITIONAL CONTENT, SEE Spoiler Below.

Other Content:

A man explains why he has a penguin, “I was trying to impress a woman I wanted to have sex with. Now I ended up with a penguin and no sex.”

Additionally, a woman takes of her nylon. She uses it to tie the penguin’s beak shut so it can be given a bath. However, the way the scene is shot, you think she is doing it seductively. Later, a man and woman kiss intimately. The woman breaks it off and explains that she is married.

There are a few sexual innuendos. For example a man says, “I like my balls round.”

Positive Content:

Thom Michell uses a unique approach to reach his students. He ends up uses the penguin in the classroom, and he allows the students to feed the penguin on their lunch break. This helps the students bond with him and the penguin.

Several people talk to the penguin as if it is a psychiatrist. This helps them to work out their problems.

While the main character does not always do the right thing, the film clearly shows that he regrets those moments.

My Viewing Recommendations for The Penguin Lessons Christian Movie Review

While this film is very slow-moving at times, it is a cute and at times a funny film. However, it is also a drama that deals with heavy topics such as the death of a child, wars, oil spills, and coups. This film could have easily ommitted some of the more extreme language, and I really wish it would have.

Overall, it is deserving of a PG-13 rating, and if you know me, you know that I hold to the PG-13 recommendation for parents. I did enjoy the film, and I have put The Penguin Lessons, the book, on my “to read list.” It is definitely a movie worth seeing for teens and adults.

Other Penguin Films that are more suitable for children:

DisneyNature Penguin

My Penguin Friend

About the Movie:

Rating: PG-13 for strong language, some sexual references, and thematic elements.

Release Date: March 28, 2025

Runtime: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Genre: Drama/Comedy

Studio: Intake Films, Rolling Dice, 42, Nostromo Pictures, Aperture Media Partners

Directed by: Peter Cattaneo

Written by: Jeff Pope, Tom Michell

Based on The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell

Produced by: Rory Aitken, Adrian Guerra, Andrew Noble, Ben Pugh, Robert Walak

Edited by: Robin Peters, Tariq Anwar

Music by: Federico Jusid

Distributed by: Sony Pictures Classic

 The Cast of The Penguin Lessons

Steve Coogan as Tom Michell

Jonathan Pryce as The Headmaster

David Herrero as Diego

Bjorn Gustafsson

Aimar Miranda as Ernesto

Hugo Fuertes as Ramiro

Joaquin Lopez as Victor

Miguel Alejandro Serrano as Walter

Brendan McNamee as Cooper

SPOILER ALERT:

Does the penguin die in the film?

Yes, the penguin dies at the end of the film.