March of the Penguins
Directed by: Luc Jacquet
Written by: Jordan Roberts, Luc Jacquet, Michel Fessler
Narrated by: Morgan Freeman

Amidst a dry spell full of Hollywood duds, it’s ironic that one of the few movies to generate a decent box office return this summer happens to take place in the coldest place on earth. It’s even more ironic that the movie has no major Hollywood stars to speak of… wait, better make that no humans at all.

March of the Penguins is a documentary about an animal that is both fascinating and endearing: the Emperor Penguin. Choosing to live its life in perhaps the harshest environment possible, the story of the Emperor Penguin is nothing short of amazing. These strange little creatures embark on an annual journey across the Antarctic snow and ice, waddling and sliding on their inflated chests where possible, to an area where their mating rituals take place. They endure temperatures that can drop below -60 degrees Celsius, and powerful winds gusting at over 100 mph, all while huddling together to keep warm and protect their precious eggs. It’s incredible to see an animal that has beaten nature by adapting to such unforgiving circumstances.

There’s no doubt that this movie will tug at your heartstrings. The human-like qualities of the penguins are unmistakable, and their oddly-proportioned bodies are a joy to watch. Maybe it is a little too sappy at times, although this should come as no surprise seeing as it is partially billed as a family movie. Then again, in the French version of the movie, the penguins were supposedly given voices and dialogue by French actors, which sounds a lot worse if you ask me. The American release of the film treats these magnificent animals with enough levity to make it entertaining, but also gives them the respect they deserve.

There are people who will be immediately interested in March of the Penguins. Anyone who spends a lot of time watching nature shows and Animal Planet on TV is probably already sold. But for the others who are maybe a little suspicious of why such a thing would be playing in theatres, rest assured that this is an enthralling cinematic experience. It goes beyond the dry, scientific information that most nature films are known for. Morgan Freeman’s narration tells a heart-warming story of sorts, and the sights and sounds of the film take us to a place we could never dream of visiting ourselves. I still can’t comprehend how the filmmakers were able to operate under such conditions (the end credits offer a brief glimpse of the crew on the job).

Admittedly, it’s difficult to review a movie like this and compare it to anything else you might possibly see in theatres this year. But maybe that is all that needs to be said about it. If you’re looking for something completely fresh and unique, look no further than March of the Penguins. If you thought the only stories worth telling were those concerning the human condition, you clearly had it wrong. — Sean