Despite the tuxedos this is No Formal Affair

A frozen entrée served cold

By Morgan P Salvo

I have already gone on record to say that I can’t stand Jim Carrey. I recently saw him on a few daytime TV shows just making an ass out of himself valiantly trying to prove how funny we must think he is. I used to give him credit for being an Ok guy in real life. No more. I’ve always said that even the lamest of actors can give one good performance. Carrey’s claim to fame was I love you Phillip Morris. Mr. Popper’s Penguins is not. I can concede that Carrey can act if/when he ever gets the chance but he still cannot make me laugh. I find his rubber faced antics and jerky movements and overall hamming it up offensive. Didn’t he have his day in the sun and get replaced by Will Farrell who got replaced by Steve Carrell oh wait--- then there’s Ben Stiller Jack Black to contend with. Up and comers Russell Brand and Michael Cera don’t stand a chance. Let’s face it with Hollywood churning out generic scripts and ideas in “vehicle” movies for comedians to repeat every thing they’ve done in every movie they’ve ever made… they will never leave! Its time for these tired old comedic repeat performances to retire. Thankfully Carrey’s star seems to be fading judging by the minuscule number of audience participants.
This innocuous film is about the most G a PG flick can get. Not interested in believable scenarios it just goes for the saccharine jugular Penguins is touching, sweet, stupid and endearing. With the combo of Carrey as bouncy goofy funnyman/jackass and cute penguins what could possibly go wrong? The answer is nothing. This flick is such formulaic drivel that I can’t fault it for its methodological genius. This Carrey “vehicle” designed to move the hearts of Good Samaritans and Peta alike could easily be called "Dances With Penguins". Here we have Carrey in the role of Mr. Popper, a businessman whose life begins to change and his professional side starts to unravel after he inherits six penguins. Go figure. There’s the requisite love/hate relationship between Carrey and Penguins, the bonding with kids and ex-wife, and of course the evil zookeeper. Turning his apartment into a winter wonderland Carrey dances with penguins, makes faces, jerks his body; it’s basically Ace Ventura with a heart of gold. Popper’s is mainly an ensemble piece hinging on the (mostly animated) penguins allowing only a few Carrey-esque moments including some over-the-top body language and bad funny voices. And what could make this movie even cuter? That’s right, they even have baby penguins. This is the kind of movie parents will be dragging their kids to for all eternity. Youngsters will love it. There was really no reason for me to see this movie. I took a huge bullet for the team on this one. I am not fond of family friendly sagas especially something this filled with formulaic mush. But in order to expand my critical horizons I sat through this entire movie and I have to say I’ve seen worse, though not by not much. Balancing stupid with cute this flick is more aimed at charming kids and there it succeeds. Not a lot of laughs just a lot of penguin shenanigans. Not very funny and not too adorable it’s sort of pathetic how sugary this flick is. Still Penguins is harmless fun just not my idea of a good time. Sure take the kids have a blast with raging cuteness but leave me out of it.


Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Starring Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury, Ophelia Lovibond, Philip Baker Hall, David Krumholtz
Directed by Mark S. Waters
1 star