Mr. Popper's Penguins (Jim Carrey)

[GreenScar]

It's strange to think that we haven't seen Jim Carrey in a live action role in two years. Things, of course, would be different if I Love You, Phillip Morris was ever released, but, as it stands, Yes Man was the last time we saw the classic rubber-faced comedian (no, Mr. Zemeckis, motion capture doesn't count). Needless to say, it's been far too long, but it's a problem that the actor is rectifying.

Entertainment Weekly reports that Carrey has officially signed on to star in Mr. Popper's Penguins, as was rumored back in late June. Carrey will play the titular character, a business man whose life suddenly and radically changes when he receives six penguins in the mail. Mark Waters will direct the film, which will begin shooting this fall.

The last actor rumored for the part was Ben Stiller, but, frankly, Carrey is a much better fit. Stiller would probably just get all grumpy about the penguins ruining his life whereas I can see the former Ace Ventura having a bit more fun with it. It's almost certainly not going to be a cinematic masterpiece, but it would be nice to see Carrey in a funny movie again.

[Foggy]

Must not laugh...at slightly inappropriate name

[vegeta88]

I remember reading this book as a youngster. I remember very little about it.

Seems like it would very much so be a movie aimed at a very young crowd.

[EricJ]

The last actor rumored for the part was Ben Stiller, but, frankly, Carrey is a much better fit. Stiller would probably just get all grumpy about the penguins ruining his life whereas I can see the former Ace Ventura having a bit more fun with it.

Agreed--Stiller's "Lovably frustrated asshat" is starting to wear dangerously thin the more that producers think they can clone "Night at the Museum" for big-budget family films.
Although, Stiller idea wasn't so much Museum/CGI kissup, as it was Noah Baumbach who originally wanted to do the Stiller version, but looks like Mark "Spiderwick" Waters will be handling the kids-book CGI instead.

(No, seriously, Noah, what is it with the culturally nostalgic kids' films all of a sudden, when you know you don't know how to make them?--Everyone thinks "Fantastic Mr. Fox" was some kind of snooty intellectual stunt for the grownups, but now it's just getting weird... )

[GreenScar]

8 Clips from MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS

20th Century Fox has released 8 new clips from their upcoming family film Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Based on the children’s book of the same name, the film centers on a divorced New York real estate developer who inherits some penguins from his kooky father. Directed by Mark Waters (Mean Girls) the film stars Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury, Clark Gregg and Madeline Carroll. Hit the jump to check out the clips. Mr. Popper’s Penguins hits theaters on June 17th.

Click the link above to check out the clips

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by GreenScar

20th Century Fox has released 8 new clips from their upcoming family film Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Based on the children’s book of the same name, the film centers on a divorced New York real estate developer who inherits some penguins from his kooky father.

...LOOSELY.

Like every other major-studio steamrollering of a children's book--
Let's count off the wrongs/cliche's, based on the trailer Fox showed with XMFC:
- Mr. Popper in the book was NOT an "executive with no time for his family"
- He didn't inherit the penguins from his "kooky father", he was pen-pals with an explorer who sent him a souvenir,
- The penguins didn't "ruin" his life/apartment like eight little Beethovens; in fact, he was the only one who liked having them around,
- I don't recall there being a big zoo rescue at the end, but I haven't read it in a while.

...You get the picture. Hollywood is afraid of books, even children's ones, and wants to "tame" them.

It's strange to think that we haven't seen Jim Carrey in a live action role in two years. Things, of course, would be different if I Love You, Phillip Morris was ever released, but, as it stands, Yes Man was the last time we saw the classic rubber-faced comedian (no, Mr. Zemeckis, motion capture doesn't count).

Well, it has been, and I think we're going to see a few more--

Jim's only interested now in weirdo-indie Philip Morris roles to "challenge" himself, but they don't pay. So, every two years, he takes one of the default projects studios toss him...And studios, when they hear "Jim Carrey", suddenly get stuck in the 90's again, and want him to remake "Liar, Liar" and "Bruce Almighty" a few hundred times.
It's like a quick welfare check: Every time he's running low, he indulges the studio, does what Fox or Universal thinks is a Jim Carrey Tentpole, charges $20+M for his time, grabs his studio subsidy, tosses the hi-concept-comedy performance off in his sleep, and then runs off to see what Charlie Kaufman is doing again.
(In this case, he might've thought "Oh, good, they're doing the book!" and gotten sentimental, but...c'mon, we saw it coming, Jim, you should have. )

...Oh, and is slipping in a CGI-enhanced penguin rap-dance really a smart idea with the real Happy Feet sequel around the corner?

[720pDude]

Oh Jim Carrey (and Bill Murray for that matter)...two of our funniest actors who have a burning desire to do serious stuff that usually sucks...well, Bills serious stuff is usually crap while Jims is okay..but guys, you were meant to be funny nit seek after Academy Awards! God didnt make you serious, he made you FUNNY..its sad..it like seeing someone born gay seeking reparative therapy to be straight. *SIGH

Mr Poppers Penguins looks INANE, TRITE, STUPID, DUMB and seems WAYYY below Carrey's talents...I dont give a rats behind about penguins. Jim Carrey in a comedy upstaged and playing second fiddle to Penguins...Kevin JAmes, upcoming Zoo movie where he gets upstaged seems okay....but Carrey?

[The_Basterd]

Just saw a screening of this. It was actually pretty good. Carrey is great as always.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by 720pDude

Mr Poppers Penguins looks INANE, TRITE, STUPID, DUMB and seems WAYYY below Carrey's talents...

Those words describe every Jim Carrey movie I have ever seen.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Those words describe every Jim Carrey movie I have ever seen.

Although--in keeping with your posting name --it's when he's interested in a project that he can deliver.
Like, when he was allowed to live out his personal Peter Sellers fantasy and play four or five different characters in "A Christmas Carol" and "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events".
(And again, he probably naively thought they WERE going to do a version of the 4th-grade favorite.)

Problem is, if Jim openly snubbed Fox and Universal, and went on the free, wandering Bill Murray/Winona Ryder road of Pretentious Indie-Movie Self-Discovery, the studios would be only too happy to cut the tether and stop trying to hi-concept default-cast him in "Bewitched", "Incredible Mr. Limpet", and other projects likely to be soon taken up by Will Ferrell instead.
But no, he needs the safety net, so he strings the studios along by indulging them every couple years or so...It's the STUDIO'S problem for still putting Carrey on the "When in Doubt" default list for tentpole projects they don't know what else to do with.

[Bk_Tan]

It looks harmless but that doesn't mean it's worthy of my time or money.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Although--in keeping with your posting name --it's when he's interested in a project that he can deliver.

The book was better.

[Atreyu]

Originally Posted by EricJ

...LOOSELY.

Like every other major-studio steamrollering of a children's book--
Let's count off the wrongs/cliche's, based on the trailer Fox showed with XMFC:
- Mr. Popper in the book was NOT an "executive with no time for his family"
- He didn't inherit the penguins from his "kooky father", he was pen-pals with an explorer who sent him a souvenir,
- The penguins didn't "ruin" his life/apartment like eight little Beethovens; in fact, he was the only one who liked having them around,
- I don't recall there being a big zoo rescue at the end, but I haven't read it in a while.

You act like this is the first time Hollywood has tampered with a book when turning it into a film. Hollywood is notorious for changing things around. Very rarely does a film adaptation remain faithful to the novel it was derived from.
From what I recall, the movie of The NeverEnding Story was very faithful to the first half of the book, with just a few minor changes. That is why I cannot understand why the author, Michael Ende, hated it so much he insisted his name not used in the credits

[masoud90]

I just...idk...I love JC, but idk...

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Those words describe every Jim Carrey movie I have ever seen.

Yeap because Eternal Sunshine is such an awful flick. *rolls eyes*

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

Yeap because Eternal Sunshine is such an awful flick. *rolls eyes*

Nor The Truman Show, but I can't tell people what to like. I'm a fan of Jim's serious work and some of his silly stuff too.

[Zen_Amako]

South Park took a jab at this movie last week (NSFW!).

YouTube - ‪South Park: You're getting old "Crap Movie Trailers Scene"‬‏

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

South Park took a jab at this movie last week (NSFW!).

(Not to mention a jab at Adam Sandler's how-much-more-misogynist-can-it-get "Jack & Jill"--
Which, thankfully, I've been spared from seeing, but I have a feeling Hangover II survivors weren't as lucky. )

[nolfoc]

any word on this BD release yet? Kinda shocked nothing has been said... You can't even find it in BD.com database no less... I would love an Sept/Oct release, but Im thinking December would make more sense with the holidays coming right up