Penguins

Release Date: April 17, 2019

Watch Date: May 30 – June 3, 2024

“Disneynature’s Penguins is a coming-of-age story about an Adelie penguin named Steve who joins millions of fellow males in the icy Antarctic spring on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a life partner, and start a family. None of it comes easily for him, especially considering he’s targeted by everything from killer whales to leopard seals, who unapologetically threaten his happily ever after!”

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   Before you say anything, I am well aware that this is neither a National Geographic film or a Star Wars film. It breaks the mold. But here’s what happened.

   Every night for the last week we’ve been letting our kids pick the documentary they want to watch before bed. And they’ve been picking whales, and dolphins, and that’s easy enough, because sharks fight all those things – apparently.

   But then our son chose penguins. And you know what sharks don’t eat, apparently? Or at least not in an interesting enough way to make a documentary about it? Penguins.

   So I had to find something, and this DisneyNature doc was the only something available. Bob says to just not give them the option anymore, or at least look at National Geographic animals available and pick from there. But where’s the fun in that?

   There isn’t any.

   So we watched “Penguins” and it was actually a blast. Back in the good ol’ days of True Life Adventures, I think this is what Walt Disney wanted. A fun story with some educational merit that uses live, unpredictable, wild animal actors.

   The kids adored it. Bob and I loved it. It was funny. It was heartwarming. There was very little death, and no forest fires. All it’s done is make me look forward to all the DisneyNature docs I get to watch in the future. Which feels mean. Because that is so, so, far away from now.