MARCH OF THE PENGUINS

Director: Luc Jacquet (no major film work)
Starring: Documentary (narrated by Morgan Freeman, US version)

While certainly a delightful little nature documentary, this small film narrated by Morgan Freeman has been rather oversold. The amount of press given to this tiny little release has far exceeded what it deserves. That does not imply that this is a bad film. It’s an interesting and enjoyable 90 minutes - although perhaps no more so than most top quality nature documentaries. Most unfortunately it’s also somewhat inaccurate. It spends those 90 minutes anthropomorphizing a group of emperor penguins living on the fringes of the livable earth, deep down in Antarctica. As a description of life, it’s exceptionally interesting. We see how life will struggle to fill every available gap in an ecosystem. Unfortunately, the filmmakers chose to present these penguins as brave, charismatic, heroes struggling through all odds. I don’t really believe that’s entirely plausible. Not many of these penguins rationally chose the life they lead any more than my cat chooses to be a persnickety clean freak. It’s called free will, my good filmmakers - free will. Nonetheless, I’m willing to pretend and enjoy the story of the dutiful penguins marching deep into Antarctica each year to breed. An enjoyable, if over advertised little film.

Standouts: The film crew. Amazing footage in horrible physical conditions.
Blowouts: The writers. Joyful chronicle of life? Nope. Anthropomorphic cliché.

Grade: B

7/17/2005