‘Mr. Popper’s Penguins’ make perfect family film

“MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS”

Blu-ray widescreen, DVD widescreen and digital copy, 2011, PG for mild rude humor and some language

Best extra: "Ready for Their Closeup" about the Gentoo penguins in the movie; for cinéphiles, audio commentary with director Mark Waters, editor Bruce Green and special effects supervisor Richard Hollander

IF YOU THINK using computer-generated penguins was the only way filmmakers could transform the 1938 children’s book of the same name into a movie, think again. Jim Carrey (Mr. Popper), and the other actors, actually got to work with real Gentoo penguins – in 30-degree temperatures to boot.

While it debuted to mix reviews, this story about a self-absorbed man saved by some Antarctic critters is heartwarming and definitely one for the family, especially this holiday season.

The high-definition transfer is so pristine you might actually feel how cold the actors must have been making the “little men” actors comfortable. On a large screen, it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between the real penguins and the CGI birds, such exquisite detail went in to the effects. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 fires on all channels, from the swish of sliding penguins at the famous Guggenheim Museum to the penguin’s blaring vocals.

There is a little overlap in the HD bonus features when using stuffed penguins to act out and plan the scenes, whether the birds are real or computer-generated. Other than that, there’s a nice bit of extras to choose from. They include: deleted scenes with optional commentary when playing all 12; a lame gag reel, and a new animated short, “Nimrod & Stinky’s Antarctic Adventure” for the kids. “The Legacy of Mr. Popper’s Penguins” explains how author Richard Atwater’s wife, Florence, rewrote part of her husband’s original manuscript after he had a stroke to make the book a better commercial sell during the Great Depression. Two of Atwater’s grandchildren are interviewed in this piece. On a similar note, the first three chapters can be read onscreen. If you haven’t picked up the classic story, now is a good time.

In “Ladies and Gentoomen,” an expert on Gentoo penguins from Sea World explains everything there is to know about the little birds, including an introduction to one of Sea World’s Gentoos. “Stuffy Penguin Theater” demonstrates how director Mark Waters used “stuffers” to plan how scenes would look when finalized. On a similar note, “Penguin Pandemonium” shows a scene from beginning to end, how it looks with Carrey working through the scene with stuffed penguins to the final CGI-enhanced scene.

As for “Ready for Their Closeup,” Carrey explains how penguins are “puppies-times-10” when it comes to being cute. Waters, though, says during the commentary that Carrey never once picked up one of the penguins during filming because penguins don’t like to be picked up. They look at humans trying to pick them up as big predators trying to eat them, he explains. What is amazing is how well filmmakers and actors could work with the Gentoos (eight were used) and how trainers could get them to stay on their marks. Smart birds and snappy dressers at the same time!

— Toni Guagenti

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