Jim Carrey Makes A Splash In "Mr. Popper's Penguins"
NOVI (WWJ) - Jim Carrey hasn't been seen on the big screen much since 2009's "I Love You Phillip Morris." But, he returns this weekend and makes a big splash in his latest project, "Mr. Popper's Penguins."
Carrey stars as Thomas Popper, a New York real estate mogul who receives a mysterious crate from Antarctica. Inside the crate is a gift from his late father, who lived his life traveling around the world. When Popper opens the crate, he finds what he thinks is a stuffed penguin, but eventually he discovers that the penguin is actually live. When Popper calls Antarctica to try and send the penguin back, he ends up getting five more. Before Popper can make plans to get rid of the penguins, his former wife and their two kids come-a-calling. Needless to say, the kids are enamored with the big birds and life as Popper has come to know it, changes dramatically.
"Mr. Popper's Penguins" is based on the novel of the same name. The book was originally published in 1938. It tells the very funny - yet touching - story of a humble, small-town house painter and his family who inherit twelve penguins. The filmmakers took some liberties to make changes for the screen version, but Executive Producer Derek Dauchy says, "Though the film's Mr. Popper is no longer a house painter who dreams of traveling the world, the script retained the book's sense of fun and its family values. I think that theme stays true in our film, which is about a man who learns something about himself through getting these penguins by happenstance."
And just in case you're wondering, the six penguins - Captain, Lovey, Bitey, Nimrod, Stinky and Loudy (so named for their distinctive traits) who star in the movie alongside Carrey - are actual, real live penguins. "The penguins were pretty wild when we got them," says head trainer Larry Madrid, who has been working with animals for thirty years. "The first part of the training was getting to know them and getting them to eat food from us in a way that they were comfortable with."
So, when you're watching "Mr. Popper's Penguins," be sure to make note of the fact that what you're seeing onscreen really is "movie magic."
- Terri Lee, Entertainment Reporter
Follow Terri on Twitter @TerriJLee
