Mr. Popper’s Penguins Review

Despite the big penguin fad seemingly having been played out with March Of The Penguins and Happy Feet, here comes an amiable family comedy largely focusing on the feathered and flippered ones. Dreamer-turned-real-estate shark Mr. Popper (Jim Carrey) inherits the birds from his late adventurer father, and while he initially resists the noisy, smelly creatures, he soon warms (or should that be cools?) to his charges. When the penguins (a clever blend of real birds and CG) aren’t on screen, the rest is a predictable tale of a man learning to appreciate family and feelings once more, anchored by Carrey in a performance that thankfully never overwhelms the film. Like the titular characters, it’s fluffy and sweet, even if it never takes flight.