Mr. Popper's Penguins (movie) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mr. Popper's Penguins |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Mark Waters |
| Produced by | John Davis |
| Screenplay by | Sean Anders John Morris Jared Stern |
| Starring | Jim Carrey Carla Gugino Madeline Carroll Clark Gregg Angela Lansbury |
| Music by | Rolfe Kent |
| Cinematography | Florian Ballhaus |
| Editing by | Bruce Green |
| Studio | Davis Entertainment Company Dune Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | June 17, 2011 |
| Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $55 million |
| Money made | $187,361,754 |
Mr. Popper's Penguins is a fun American comedy movie from 2011. It was released by 20th Century Fox and directed by Mark Waters. The film stars famous actor Jim Carrey. It's based on a popular children's book with the same name. The movie tells the story of a busy businessman whose life changes when he inherits six penguins!
The film came out on June 17, 2011. It received different opinions from critics. The movie made about $187.3 million worldwide, costing $55 million to make.
Contents
The Story of Mr. Popper's Penguins
A Childhood Dreamer
The movie begins by showing Thomas Popper, Jr. as a young boy in the 1970s. His dad was an adventurer who traveled all over the world. Young Popper rarely saw his father. They would talk using a special shortwave radio.
A Grown-Up's Surprise
Now, Thomas Popper, Jr. is an adult. He's a successful real estate businessman. He is also divorced and has two children. One day, he learns his father has passed away during an adventure in Antarctica. His father left him a "souvenir" from his travels.
A week later, a big crate arrives at his door. Inside is a gentoo penguin named Captain! Popper is annoyed by the penguin. He locks it in the bathroom before going to work. Captain accidentally floods his house. Popper calls his father's company to return the penguin. But because of a mistake, he gets five more penguins instead!
A House Full of Penguins
Popper first plans to give the penguins to the zoo. But his children, Janie and Billy, think the penguins are Billy's birthday gift. So, Popper changes his mind. He has to spend his evenings taking care of the penguins. Pets are not allowed in his apartment building. He has to secretly pay the apartment clerk to keep his secret.
A zookeeper named Nat Jones from the New York Zoo offers to take the penguins. He warns Popper that the penguins won't survive in his house.
Work and Family Challenges
At work, Popper has an important task. He needs to buy Tavern on the Green. This is an old restaurant in Central Park. It's the only private property there. Popper used to eat at this restaurant with his father. The owner, Selma Van Gundy, is an elderly lady. She will only sell the restaurant to someone she trusts. Popper tries to convince her, but she refuses to sell it to him.
As time passes, having the penguins helps Popper. He starts to get closer to his children. He also begins dating their mother, Amanda Popper, again. The penguins lay three eggs. Two of the eggs hatch, but one does not. Popper becomes very focused on trying to hatch the last egg. This causes him to lose his job.
A Change of Heart
Eventually, Popper realizes the last egg won't hatch. Nat Jones convinces him to donate the penguins to the New York Zoo. Popper gets his job back. But his children and former wife are sad about his decision.
Popper then finds a letter from his father. It was in the original crate with Captain. The letter tells him to hold his children close and love them. His father apologized for not being a better dad. Popper has second thoughts. He asks his children and former wife to help him get the penguins back from the zoo.
Happy Ending
They find the penguins and set them free. The penguins run away to the Tavern on the Green. Selma Van Gundy sees how Popper has brought his family together and saved the penguins. She decides to sell him the restaurant. Popper plans to fix up and reopen the restaurant.
Finally, Popper and his family travel to Antarctica with the penguins. This allows the penguins to live with their own kind. Captain, Popper's first penguin, reveals she has laid another egg! Popper tells his children they will visit when the baby is born.
Main Characters
- Jim Carrey as Tom Popper
- Henry Keleman as Young Tom Popper
- Dylan Clark Marshall as Younger Tom Popper
- Carla Gugino as Amanda Popper
- Madeline Carroll as Janie Popper
- Maxwell Perry Cotton as Bill Popper
- Angela Lansbury as Selma Van Gundy
- Clark Gregg as Nat Jones
- Desmin Borges as Daryl
- Philip Baker Hall as Mr. Franklin
- Dominic Chianese as Mr. Reader
- Ophelia Lovibond as Pippi Pepenopolis
- Jeffrey Tambor as Mr. Gremmins
- David Krumholtz as Kent
- James Tupper as Rick
- Frank Welker as the voice of Captain, Nimrod, Lovey, Loudy, Bitey, Stinky, and other penguin offspring
- Brian T. Delaney as Tom Popper Sr.
- Betsy Aidem as Tavern hostess
