I beg to differ with Diana Oleszczuk’s review of “March of the Penguins.” My sons, ages 4 and 5, have just gotten old enough to sit through a feature-length movie that interests them, and they won’t sit still for one that doesn’t.
They were riveted throughout “March of the Penguins.” The only thing we heard from them were whispered questions, which we immediately answered by narrator Morgan Freeman. The penguins were fascinating, adorable, funny and occasionally tragic?#34;the net effect was sheer wonder.
Diana said that the film should have focused on a single family, but it’s clear to us that teamwork and flock action are central to the lives and survival of the penguins. Yes, there are a few dead penguins, but these are shown tastefully, and the only thing that upset my sons was when the adult penguins left the nearly grown adolescents, “never to see them again.”
He thought that was pretty sad, but was reassured that we are not penguins.
There are far more charming and funny moments, like when one of the penguins slips on the ice and grunts when it lands?#34;my younger son exclaimed, “That sounds just like you, Mommy!”
My oldest son is a truck lover, not an animal lover, but he has been telling all his friends to go see the penguin movie. If you want to review a family film, be sure to ask the kids?#34;their opinion counts!
Kris Gallagher
Oak Park
