‘My Penguin Friend’ Review: Jean Reno and an Adorable Penguin Overcome Strife in Family-Friendly Charmer
variety.comCourtney Howard It’s been a few decades since last we saw Jean Reno playing a withdrawn curmudgeon protecting a pint-sized charge in “The Professional.” Now, with director David Schurmann’s “My Penguin Friend,” it’s a welcome return to a winning formula.
In the Brazilian filmmaker’s tender-hearted, all-ages adventure, Reno plays a grief-stricken father who gains a small, sweet companion after rescuing him from polluted waters.
Inspired by the unshakeable bond between a real-life Brazilian fisherman and a Magellanic penguin thrown off his migration route, the French actor reveals new colors as a performer, shading the picture’s playful and poignant overtones with sensitivity and subtlety, making this a must-see for those who love uplifting stories about redemption, perseverance and empathy.
Reno plays João, whose journey began long before his penguin pal’s arrival, when his cozy, beachside home in Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, was filled with love, music and laughter.
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