It's Just Movies

— by ADAM POYNTER —

Keeping with a hot trend right now, Hollywood is adapting another book into a feature film. This time, it’s Richard Atwater’s 1938 children’s classic “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” which updates the old tale into a contemporary setting.

In the movie, we have Tom Popper (Jim Carrey), an extremely driven businessman who has a hard time focusing on anything that isn’t in his career path … until he receives a gift from his father. The gift turns out to be six penguins, and at first, Tom is reluctant to take care of them, but the more he opens himself to the chaos, the more he and his children begin to enjoy each other. But as his personal and family life begins to finally start making sense, Tom’s business and professional life is turned upside down. Can he find the balance and have success in every area of his life?

We now have eight recently-released short clips to show you.

The first four clips show Tom Popper receiving the first penguin and his panic to get rid of it. When one penguin turns into six, he is just dumbfounded on what to do. We see his reserved side and the fact that he is just a little uptight.

In the final four clips, we are shown the softer side to Mr. Popper as he introduces his son Billy (Maxwell Perry Cotton), daughter Janie (Madeline Carroll) and his ex-wife Amanda (Carla Gugino) to his penguins. As his relationship with the penguins grows, you can see his interactions with his kids — and even his ex — begins to soften and grow.

I’m sure this is going to be a funny family film that kids will love, but it is yet to be seen if this will be one that only kids will find entertaining or will adults like it, too.

Also starring Angela Lansbury, Philip Baker Hall, Dominic Chianese and James Tupper, “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” slides into theaters everywhere June 17.

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