The life of a businessman begins to change after he inherits six penguins, and as he transforms his apartment into a winter wonderland, his professional side starts to unravel.
Carrey fans will be let down by the rubber-faced one playing straight man to a pack of penguins. While kids may find the plot p-p-past its sell-by date.
Sweet-natured, undemanding family fun.
Raises the odd chortle but is unlikely to appeal to anyone over 10.
P-p-p-pretty poor ‘family’ comedy insults its members’ intelligence.
As family entertainment for the summer holidays it isn't bad, and Britain's Ophelia Lovibond does well as Popper's perky assistant, though Carrey is fundamentally subdued.
It’s perfectly harmless, though, and quite genial, with the occasional burst of winking inspiration (Carrey’s out-of-nowhere impression of Jimmy Stewart) to keep the inevitable schmaltz at bay.
The laughs are a downpayment on the schmaltz.
Pretty peculiar.
It might sound horrid but the wistful whimsy manages to put a lump in your throat. P-p-p-pick up a ticket.
Much of the plotting is perfunctory but the slap-stick is fun and Carrey, toning down his usually mugging, shrewdly lets the penguins steal the show.
The penguins naturally (or as natural as CGI gets) take the biscuit and steal the show. Expect tap dancing.
Mr Popper's Penguins is much more bearable than most Bad Dad comedies.
There's one excellent scene where the penguins disrupt a black-tie charity event at the Guggenheim Museum, but the laughter is intermittent and is ultimately overwhelmed by a wave of sentimentality.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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