Pet-human interactions are undeniably amusing, regardless of them being on or off-screen. Although having a pet can be challenging at the start, especially when they aren’t trained to pee at a certain spot, it is also deeply comforting to have a companion to rely on and occasionally open up to, even if all you get from them is puzzled or indifferent reactions. The Penguin Lessons takes advantage of this comical dynamic by following a newly hired English professor (played by Oscar nominee Steve Coogan), who ends up realizing that his greatest ally is a penguin he found washed up on the shore and left to die from an oil spill.As expected, the protagonist doesn’t feel immediately drawn to the animal and actively tries to get rid of him through various means, even making threatening calls to the local zoo. Yet, the professor warms up to the flightless bird and finds that this unlikely friendship is the key to captivating the interest of his pupils and mustering the courage to stand up for what is right in the unsettling political state of 1976 Argentina. Directed by Peter Cattaneo, this dramedy is hyper-funny, sensitive, and nuanced, and all these elements put together make it an endearing title. – Collider

“This is amusing stuff, well served by Coogan’s knack for haughty composure in the face of the absurd.” – Variety