Review: Mr. Popper's Penguins

Last week, the wee ones and I attended a preview screening of Mr. Popper's Penguins. Mister Man has been beyond excited since he discovered this movie was being made back in April. His class was in the process of reading the book, and he was enjoying it immensely. Seeing the book come to life was a dream come true to him.

After seeing the previews myself and realizing that Mr. Popper was being played by Jim Carrey, I knew the movie was going to be nothing like the book. As someone who generally avoids seeing movies based on books - especially books I've enjoyed - that put up a little red flag for me. As much as Mister Man loved reading the books, how would he do with the movie being different?

Having seeing the movie now, I can count on one hand the things in the movie that are the same as the book. It's hard to even say the movie is based on the book with all the differences. In a way, I think that made it easier for Mister Man to enjoy it, as it was a whole new story. I would have been just as happy with the original book turned into a movie, set in the beginning of last century and all.

In the movie, Carrey plays Mr. Popper, a man who grew up with a father who was always traveling to remote places looking for "something" that is never defined for us. He keeps in touch with his son primarily through radio contact when he can, but Mr. Popper grows up to be nothing like his father. He is a hard dealing, slick businessman who works for a company purchasing real estate to turn into a whole new entity. He's thisclose to making partner at the firm, and all he needs to do is get the owner of Tavern on the Green in Central Park to sell to him.

Enter the penguin who is left to him by his father in his will. Although there are more penguin excrement jokes in the movie than I needed, hilarity ensues. Mr. Popper does his best to return the penguin but accidentally orders five more. And then his son comes over to celebrate his birthday - he and his wife are divorced, and Mr. Popper's son and daughter live primarily with her - and thinks the penguins are his for his birthday.

The fact that the movie doesn't take itself seriously helps. A lot. Mr. Popper's assistant Pippi, played by Ophelia Lovibond, speaks completely in "P" alliterations. Amanda - Mr. Popper's ex-wife, played by Carla Gugino - has an over-the-top the world is full of sunshine and roses boyfriend Rick played by James Tupper. And then there's the wonderful surprise of seeing Angela Lansbury play Mrs. Van Gundy, the owner of Tavern on the Green.

Yes, the story is predictable. And yes, it's completely different from the book. And yes, there is some sophomoric humor tossed humor tossed in there that I personally could have done without. That said, the wee ones really enjoyed it. Mister Man was bouncing in his seat, and Little Miss was enthralled. It wasn't too scary for her (and trust me, she ran up to her room because Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was too scary for her).

There were many cute parts in the movie from the penguins sleeping with Mr. Popper to the penguins invading a black tie event looking for him to Captain flying using a kite. It was better than I had expected, although still so different from what I had anticipated walking into the movie.

The movie opens today, June 17, in theaters nationwide. It is rated PG and runs just over an hour and a half.

In the interest of full disclosure, the wee ones and I attended a screening of "Mr. Popper's Penguins." I have not received any compensation, and as always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Giveaway: Movie Moment Prize Pack

Disclosure: I received a coupon for a free box of General Mills cereal and four movie passes in exchange for this review, but the opinions presented are solely my own.

I love going to the movies, although I've done so far less regularly since the wee ones were born. In fact, the last time I was at the movies on a regular basis was on Mister Man's due date when I saw Finding Nemo.

That's partly due to time and the cost of finding a babysitter, but also I lack the motivation to some degree. Having two small children puts a damper on any sort of social life, as I'm sure many of you know.

General Mills recognized this, and started up a new promotion called the General Mills e-movie cash. You can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of General Mills´ Cereals. After purchasing two cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the code found inside each box of cereal and print your free movie certificate.

Participating brands include select sizes of: Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix, and Reese´s Peanut Butter Puffs.

The Movie Cash certificate is valid for any showing of any movie at participating theaters -- and there are a lot of them, anywhere from Cinemark Theaters to Regal Cinemas and more. To fit the list of all the eligible theaters, I think the font is in six point type!

Now that's motivation to go see a movie. So we did, since there are four of us and I received four movie passes. This was Mister Man's second movie ever, and Little Miss's first. Amazingly, they both sat still for the whole movie. They thought it was the coolest thing ever, and I'm saving this as a reward for good behavior in the future.

When we got to the theater, we had no problems with the coupons for the tickets, which was a little bit of a worry for me. Fortunately, the cashier took them and figured them out immediately, so there was no hassle at all.

And really, with children around, who doesn't go out and buy cereal on a regular basis? You don't want to know how many cereals we have at my house -- and I even make my own from scratch!

You have until June 30, 2010 to enter your codes into the website, and the certificates are valid for 60 days from the date you print them. Win-win, no?

Go, buy some cereal (especially the Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which was one of my favorites growing up).

Or you can win your own Movie Moment prize package here that includes four free e-movie certificates (each valid for one admission up to $12) and a coupon for a free box of any one General Mills cereal courtesy of General Mills via MyBlogSpark.

You have until December 14 at 8pm CST to enter. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 24 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the first movie you remember ever seeing and what you remember of it or the first movie you took your child to see and how it went. This must appear in the comments below or none of your entries will count.

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry):
1) Earn one additional entry for Tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).
2) Earn one additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link to your post in the comments.
3) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog.
4) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly!.

Good luck!