"Mr. Popper's Penguins" is a great example of what is wrong with many family movies in recent years. It takes a sweet children's picture book and manages to stretch it out to over an hour and a half. How? Well, mostly by ignoring the original story and the things that made it charming. Sadly, like another Jim Carrey 'classic', "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", this STILL managed to make money despite pretty much ignoring the source material...though it did manage, somehow, to keep the title. I at least prefer this film to "How the Grinch", as it managed to preserve a tiny bit more of the original story.
The original picture book was about a poor painter who lives in a small town with his loving family. In the film, Popper is a rich attorney with no soul who lives in New York City and is estranged from his ex-wife and children because he's a jerk. See?! The film ignores the source material, even though the book was an award-winning classic. And, somehow these penguins manage to restore his relationship with his family. I is rather sad how so many Hollywood films seem down on families and divorces and dysfunctional relationships seem the norm. Perhaps this is how it is in Hollywood...but I'd rather my kids see something a bit more uplifting.
It's odd. In recent years, Carrey has stopped making films and has talked about how soulless the film industry is. He's right...but he made those two soulless abominations based VERY LIBERALLY on classic children's stories.
The bottom line is that if you love the book, avoid the film. Or, realize the two have little to do with each other. Otherwise, you'll be in for a tough ride. It's more a Jim Carrey film than a film about a classic book.
The original picture book was about a poor painter who lives in a small town with his loving family. In the film, Popper is a rich attorney with no soul who lives in New York City and is estranged from his ex-wife and children because he's a jerk. See?! The film ignores the source material, even though the book was an award-winning classic. And, somehow these penguins manage to restore his relationship with his family. I is rather sad how so many Hollywood films seem down on families and divorces and dysfunctional relationships seem the norm. Perhaps this is how it is in Hollywood...but I'd rather my kids see something a bit more uplifting.
It's odd. In recent years, Carrey has stopped making films and has talked about how soulless the film industry is. He's right...but he made those two soulless abominations based VERY LIBERALLY on classic children's stories.
The bottom line is that if you love the book, avoid the film. Or, realize the two have little to do with each other. Otherwise, you'll be in for a tough ride. It's more a Jim Carrey film than a film about a classic book.