In 1976 Englishman Tom Michell is hired to work as a teacher in a very divided Argentina, when everything breaks out he ends up travelling with the school St George’s College closed and rescues a penguin from the beach.
As Tom arrives at the school he is greeted by Headmaster Buckle who quickly shows him around the campus and to the place he will also be living on the campus. Not only is he going to be teaching English, he is also enlisted to coach the rugby team. It doesn’t take long though until he gets friendly with housekeeper Maria and her outspoken granddaughter Sofia.
It was not as easy as Tom thought it would be and the behaviour of the boys within his lessons were difficult, not only towards him but each other as well. Who would have thought though that from a drunken night in Uruguay when he was trying to impress a woman everything would change when they save a penguin. The penguin would then not leave him alone, and thus keeps following him, this leads to many amusing moments.
He does try to relrease the penguin a few times and even contacts a zoo once he returns to the school, although getting the to take it was not an easy task at all. In the meantime and whilst all of the tough times going on for everyone, a penguin would actually bring joy in turbulent times.
I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable this film was, I didn’t expect much from it but it certainly has some lovely moments at its core and that even in tough times people can find some happiness and joy. Steve Coogan has somewhat of a career shift in the last few years and I think his choices have actually been very good.
