Mr. Popper's Penguins (film)
Encyclopedia
Mr. Popper's Penguins is a live-action family
comedy film
distributed by 20th Century Fox
starring Jim Carrey
, based on the children's book of the same name. The film was originally slated for a release on August 12, 2011, but was moved up to June 17, 2011.
) is a divorced realtor whose father traveled to many far places around the world during his childhood. When his father dies, a crate containing a gentoo penguin
(Captain) shows up at his doorstep. Eventually, due to a miscommunication, more penguins arrive (Bitey, Stinky, Lovey, Nimrod, and Loudey), bringing the total to six. Popper initially intends to donate the penguins to a local zoo, but changes his mind when his children, Janie Popper (Madeline Carroll
) and Billy Popper (Maxwell Perry Cotton
), fall in love with the birds.
At the same time, Popper is given the task of buying Tavern on the Green
, an old restaurant where he used to eat with his father as a child, with the intent of tearing it down and building a new development in its place. However, its elderly owner, Selma Van Gundy (Angela Lansbury
), will only sell it to someone who she deems a person of true value. Having the penguins around helps Popper to become closer to his children and he begins dating their mother, Amanda Popper (Carla Gugino
), again. The penguins eventually lay three eggs. Two of the eggs hatched and one doesn’t. Popper becomes obsessed with saving the last egg, losing his job in the process.
Upon realizing that the egg can’t be saved, Popper feels he is not capable of raising the penguins and donates them to the zoo. He then refocuses his attention on purchasing the Tavern on the Green. His children and ex-wife, however, are disappointed in his decision, seeing it as wrong. Popper then finds a lost letter from his father which had been delivered with the first penguin, Captain.
In it, his father tells him to hold his children close and love them, just as this penguin would love him. He becomes guilt-ridden over his decision to give away the penguins and is determined to go to the zoo to take them back. Along with his ex-wife and children, Popper rescues the penguins which were going to be separated and traded to other zoos. Upon seeing how Popper had reunited his family and rescued the penguins, the owner of Tavern on the Green, Selma Van Gundy, agrees to sell him the restaurant. But rather than tear it down as once planned, Popper renovates the restaurant and reopens it.
Nat Jones (Clark Gregg
), the penguin expert of the New York Zoo
on the other hand, is publicly humiliated and escorted by the police out of the Tavern in the film's climatic scene. While he is legally in the right, the owner of the Tavern, Selma Van Gundy, is able to protect Mr. Popper from arrest due to her friendship with New York's Mayor. At the end of the film, Popper and his family travel to Antarctica with the penguins, allowing them to live with their own kind. Popper's first penguin, Captain, is revealed to have laid another egg. Popper tells his children that they'll have to come back and visit when the baby, who he named Bald Eagle (after the code name he used for his father), is born.
was going to play Mr. Popper, and Noah Baumbach
was originally going to direct; however, both dropped out. Owen Wilson
, Jack Black
, and Jim Carrey
were all considered to replace Stiller with the role eventually going to Carrey. Mark Waters was chosen to direct. Filming began in October 2010 and finished in January 2011.
On September 21, 2010, it was confirmed that Carla Gugino
had joined the cast.
Rhythm and Hues Studios
did the penguin animations for certain shots..
The musical score was ambitious, with music playing nearly throughout. It was written by Rolfe Kent
, and orchestrated by Tony Blondal
. It was recorded at the scoring stage at 20th Century Fox
in Century City, Ca. with a 78 piece orchestra.
and Super 8
. The opening was at the high end of 20th Century Fox's expectations, who were predicting a mid to high teens opening. In its second weekend, the film faced competition from Cars 2
and dropped 45% to $10.1 million and ranked in fifth place. Over the four-day Independence Day holiday weekend, it ranked in eighth place after dropping 34% to $6.7 million. As of July 10, 2011, the film has earned $67,018,000 domestically and $100,200,000 in foreign countries grossing a total of $167,229,247 worldwide making the film a box office success. First Stop News gave the film a rating of 6.8/10, calling the film "charming" but "predictable".
The film has received mixed reviews from critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 47%, based on 133 reviews. The consensus reads "blandly inoffensive and thoroughly predictable." It will be released in Blu-Ray and DVD on December 6th, 2011 along with The Help, The Debt, Cowboys and Aliens and The Hangover Pt II.
Family film
A family film is a film genre that is designed to appeal to a variety of age groups and, thus, families.In December 2005, Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial came first in a poll of the 100 Greatest Family Films. The genre today generates billions of dollars per annum.Family...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
distributed by 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
starring Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
, based on the children's book of the same name. The film was originally slated for a release on August 12, 2011, but was moved up to June 17, 2011.
Plot
Thomas "Dylan" Popper Jr. (Jim CarreyJim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
) is a divorced realtor whose father traveled to many far places around the world during his childhood. When his father dies, a crate containing a gentoo penguin
Gentoo penguin
The Gentoo Penguin , Pygoscelis papua, is easily recognized by the wide white stripe extending like a bonnet across the top of its head and its bright orange-red bill. The gentoo penguin has pale whitish-pink webbed feet and a fairly long tail - the most prominent tail of all penguins. Chicks have...
(Captain) shows up at his doorstep. Eventually, due to a miscommunication, more penguins arrive (Bitey, Stinky, Lovey, Nimrod, and Loudey), bringing the total to six. Popper initially intends to donate the penguins to a local zoo, but changes his mind when his children, Janie Popper (Madeline Carroll
Madeline Carroll
Madeline Carroll is an American actress who was first noticed for her role as Molly Johnson in 2008's Swing Vote. Carroll had many supporting roles in various films Comedy and Drama...
) and Billy Popper (Maxwell Perry Cotton
Maxwell Perry Cotton
Maxwell Perry Cotton is an American child actor who portrayed Cooper Whedon in the television series Brothers & Sisters.Cotton was born on May 7, 2000 in San Diego, California. His younger brother Mason Vale Cotton is also an actor....
), fall in love with the birds.
At the same time, Popper is given the task of buying Tavern on the Green
Tavern on the Green
Tavern on the Green was a privately owned American cuisine restaurant located in Central Park on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, in New York City. It remained in operation from 1934 to 2009 under various owners...
, an old restaurant where he used to eat with his father as a child, with the intent of tearing it down and building a new development in its place. However, its elderly owner, Selma Van Gundy (Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
Angela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
), will only sell it to someone who she deems a person of true value. Having the penguins around helps Popper to become closer to his children and he begins dating their mother, Amanda Popper (Carla Gugino
Carla Gugino
Carla Gugino is an American actress known for her roles of Sally Jupiter in Watchmen, Dr. Vera Gorski in Sucker Punch, Lucille in Sin City, Amanda Daniels in seasons 3, 5 and 7 of Entourage, Ingrid Cortez in the Spy Kids film trilogy, and as the lead characters of the television series Karen Sisco...
), again. The penguins eventually lay three eggs. Two of the eggs hatched and one doesn’t. Popper becomes obsessed with saving the last egg, losing his job in the process.
Upon realizing that the egg can’t be saved, Popper feels he is not capable of raising the penguins and donates them to the zoo. He then refocuses his attention on purchasing the Tavern on the Green. His children and ex-wife, however, are disappointed in his decision, seeing it as wrong. Popper then finds a lost letter from his father which had been delivered with the first penguin, Captain.
In it, his father tells him to hold his children close and love them, just as this penguin would love him. He becomes guilt-ridden over his decision to give away the penguins and is determined to go to the zoo to take them back. Along with his ex-wife and children, Popper rescues the penguins which were going to be separated and traded to other zoos. Upon seeing how Popper had reunited his family and rescued the penguins, the owner of Tavern on the Green, Selma Van Gundy, agrees to sell him the restaurant. But rather than tear it down as once planned, Popper renovates the restaurant and reopens it.
Nat Jones (Clark Gregg
Clark Gregg
Robert Clark Gregg is an American actor, screenwriter and director. He co-starred as Christine Campbell's ex-husband Richard in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, which debuted in March 2006 and concluded in May 2010...
), the penguin expert of the New York Zoo
New York Zoo
There are several New York Zoos* The Bronx Zoo, New York City's main zoo* The Buffalo Zoo is a zoo in Buffalo, New York* Central Park Zoo, in New York City* Queens Zoo, located in New York City...
on the other hand, is publicly humiliated and escorted by the police out of the Tavern in the film's climatic scene. While he is legally in the right, the owner of the Tavern, Selma Van Gundy, is able to protect Mr. Popper from arrest due to her friendship with New York's Mayor. At the end of the film, Popper and his family travel to Antarctica with the penguins, allowing them to live with their own kind. Popper's first penguin, Captain, is revealed to have laid another egg. Popper tells his children that they'll have to come back and visit when the baby, who he named Bald Eagle (after the code name he used for his father), is born.
Cast
- Jim CarreyJim CarreyJames Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
as Thomas "Tom" Popper Jr. - Carla GuginoCarla GuginoCarla Gugino is an American actress known for her roles of Sally Jupiter in Watchmen, Dr. Vera Gorski in Sucker Punch, Lucille in Sin City, Amanda Daniels in seasons 3, 5 and 7 of Entourage, Ingrid Cortez in the Spy Kids film trilogy, and as the lead characters of the television series Karen Sisco...
as Amanda Popper - Madeline CarrollMadeline CarrollMadeline Carroll is an American actress who was first noticed for her role as Molly Johnson in 2008's Swing Vote. Carroll had many supporting roles in various films Comedy and Drama...
as Janie Popper - Maxwell Perry CottonMaxwell Perry CottonMaxwell Perry Cotton is an American child actor who portrayed Cooper Whedon in the television series Brothers & Sisters.Cotton was born on May 7, 2000 in San Diego, California. His younger brother Mason Vale Cotton is also an actor....
as Billy Popper - Angela LansburyAngela LansburyAngela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
as Selma Van Gundy - Philip Baker HallPhilip Baker Hall-Early life:Hall was born in Toledo, Ohio, the son of a factory worker father who was from Montgomery, Alabama. He attended the University of Toledo. As a younger man, Hall served in the military, started a family, and became a high school English teacher. In 1961, he decided to become an actor...
as Mr. Franklin - Dominic ChianeseDominic ChianeseDominic Chianese is an American film, television and theatre actor, perhaps best known for his role as Corrado "Junior" Soprano on the HBO TV series, The Sopranos.-Early life:...
as Mr. Reader - Clark GreggClark GreggRobert Clark Gregg is an American actor, screenwriter and director. He co-starred as Christine Campbell's ex-husband Richard in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, which debuted in March 2006 and concluded in May 2010...
as Nat Jones - Ophelia LovibondOphelia LovibondOphelia Lucy Lovibond is an English actress.Ophelia had a part in the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy as well as the TV series FM. She played a leading role in the film 4.3.2.1 as Shannon and had roles in the 2011 films London Boulevard, No Strings Attached and Mr. Popper's Penguins.- Filmography...
as Pippi - Jeffrey TamborJeffrey TamborJeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
as Mr. Gremmins - David KrumholtzDavid KrumholtzDavid Krumholtz is an American actor best known for playing Professor Charlie Eppes in the television series Numb3rs. He appeared as Seth Goldstein in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and its two sequels, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas...
as Kent - James TupperJames TupperJames Tupper is a Canadian actor best known for his role as Jack Slattery on the ABC television series Men in Trees and recently appeared as Dr. Chris Sands on the NBC medical drama series Mercy , which was cancelled by NBC in May 2010.Tupper was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada...
as Rick - Patrick O'SullivanPatrick O'SullivanPatrick O'Sullivan is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently under contract with the Phoenix Coyotes...
as Thomas "Tom" Popper Sr. (uncredited)
The Penguins
- Captain – the head of the penguins (hence the name), she differs from the others by the heart-shape white feathers on her front
- Nimrod – gets its name for being the clumsiest of the group.
- Stinky – prone to acute flatulance, Stinky can be derived for white tail feathers.
- Lovey – notable for hugging others, her distinguishing characteristic is the black pockmark on her left breast (similar to Happy Feet character Norma Jean).
- Loudy – The noisiest of the penguins, Loudy is distinguished by his loud braying and more jagged white patterns around the eyes.
- Bitey – A bit of a nipper, Bitey has a white stripe down the middle of the head.
Production
Originally Ben StillerBen Stiller
Benjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller is an American comedian, actor, writer, film director, and producer. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara....
was going to play Mr. Popper, and Noah Baumbach
Noah Baumbach
Noah Baumbach is an American writer, director and independent filmmaker.-Background and education:Baumbach was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of novelist/film critic Jonathan Baumbach and Village Voice critic Georgia Brown. He graduated from Brooklyn's Midwood High School in 1987 and ...
was originally going to direct; however, both dropped out. Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson
Owen Cunningham Wilson is an American actor and writer, known for his roles in the films The Haunting, The Royal Tenenbaums, Zoolander, Meet the Parents, Wedding Crashers, You, Me and Dupree, Bottle Rocket, the Cars series, The Darjeeling Limited, Marley & Me, Midnight in Paris, Shanghai Noon,...
, Jack Black
Jack Black
Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
, and Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
were all considered to replace Stiller with the role eventually going to Carrey. Mark Waters was chosen to direct. Filming began in October 2010 and finished in January 2011.
On September 21, 2010, it was confirmed that Carla Gugino
Carla Gugino
Carla Gugino is an American actress known for her roles of Sally Jupiter in Watchmen, Dr. Vera Gorski in Sucker Punch, Lucille in Sin City, Amanda Daniels in seasons 3, 5 and 7 of Entourage, Ingrid Cortez in the Spy Kids film trilogy, and as the lead characters of the television series Karen Sisco...
had joined the cast.
Rhythm and Hues Studios
Rhythm and Hues Studios
Rhythm & Hues Studios is a visual effects studio serving the major film studios. It is known for its computer-generated 3D character animation. Recognized as one of the top facilities of its kind in the world, Rhythm & Hues has contributed to more than 150 feature films...
did the penguin animations for certain shots..
The musical score was ambitious, with music playing nearly throughout. It was written by Rolfe Kent
Rolfe Kent
Rolfe R. Kent is a British film score composer.Kent was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. He attended St Albans School, then graduated in Psychology from the University of Leeds in 1986...
, and orchestrated by Tony Blondal
Tony Blondal
Tony Blondal, , is a film and television orchestrator and conductor, and record arranger. He started out his musical career playing live and doing studio recording sessions...
. It was recorded at the scoring stage at 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
in Century City, Ca. with a 78 piece orchestra.
Box office and critical reception
The film earned $6.4 million on opening day and $18.4 million over the three-day weekend, ranking in third place behind Green LanternGreen Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
and Super 8
Super 8 (film)
Super 8 is a 2011 American science fiction action film written and directed by J. J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, and Kyle Chandler and was released on June 10, 2011 in conventional and IMAX theaters...
. The opening was at the high end of 20th Century Fox's expectations, who were predicting a mid to high teens opening. In its second weekend, the film faced competition from Cars 2
Cars 2
Cars 2 is a 2011 American computer-animated action film produced by Pixar, and it is the sequel to the 2006 film, Cars. In the film, race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck Mater head to Japan and Europe to compete in the World Grand Prix, but Mater becomes sidetracked with international espionage...
and dropped 45% to $10.1 million and ranked in fifth place. Over the four-day Independence Day holiday weekend, it ranked in eighth place after dropping 34% to $6.7 million. As of July 10, 2011, the film has earned $67,018,000 domestically and $100,200,000 in foreign countries grossing a total of $167,229,247 worldwide making the film a box office success. First Stop News gave the film a rating of 6.8/10, calling the film "charming" but "predictable".
The film has received mixed reviews from critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 47%, based on 133 reviews. The consensus reads "blandly inoffensive and thoroughly predictable." It will be released in Blu-Ray and DVD on December 6th, 2011 along with The Help, The Debt, Cowboys and Aliens and The Hangover Pt II.