Penguin Bloom

This is one the most boring movies I have ever seen. Even the shocking fall off a cliff that should have been truly dramatic came off as funny with no background or explanation whatsoever - it just happens and then in case we didn't get it the first time we get to see it again for good measure. Seriously the only good thing about this movie is the magpie. All of the other performances are so wooden and the dialog so cheesy it's hard to stay focused. There is no narrative tension or any reason to keep watching. Sometimes Sam smashes things and occasionally the bird flies away and comes back but that's about it. Surely the book is better than this. 1/10.

This film was so heartwarming I saw it at a Q&A screening and I had such a good time and andrew Lincoln's Aussie accent was so good! Rachel house was excellent she's hilarious Naomi watts was really good I think she needs a best actress nomination for this role and definitely Andrew Lincoln two Jacki weaver I loved in this film I actually remember auditioning my kids for this film but they didn't get the part I loved this film heartbreaking at times but I loved it very underrated film

"Penguin Bloom" is a beautifully told story of a woman broken by a tragic accident and her slow painful and at times joyous journey to recovery. It's summed up well by former "Men At Work" lead vocalist Colin Hay in his song, Waiting For My Real Life To Begin" from his release "Going Somewhere" as heard in the closing credits. Linger after the movie ends for heart warming photos of the Bloom family. Naomi Watts as the real life Sam Bloom has to slay a few dragons just to cope with her new reality. It's also a beautiful love story of a man and a woman and their 3 offspring and how those peoples dynamics have been altered by the accident in Thailand whilst on a holiday. They should have gone to Disneyland. So many what if's are explored by their too wise for his age eldest son. Andrew Lincoln plays hubby Cameron Bloom and the only Walking Dead in this movie is his wife struggling to come to terms with her limitations, until she finally finds a way through the darkness. At one stage Sam Bloom gets a birthday present tee-shirt that states, "I'm Only In it For the Parking". Lincoln manages a passable Australian accent, which is not bad for a Yorkshire Man, but you tell kids that nowadays and they won't believe you. "Hunt For The Wilderperson" star Rachel House becomes a part of their extended family as an expert Kayak instructor and is amazing in her spiritual KIWI presence. No child will be left behind in this film. I'm predicting another Oscar Nomination for Naomi or there is no diversity in Hollywood. The Academy should always include one us minority Aussies. (theres only 25 million of us) Lookout for: Jackie Weaver as Jan the Matriarch of this family, who's only ever 3 feet away...Gia Carides as Megan and Leeanna Walsman as Kylie. Naomi and Leeanna once starred together in the TV Series, "Brides of Christ". "Penguin Bloom" is a based on the best selling book of the same name and was filmed in the real Bloom house on Sydneys majestic Northern Beaches. By the way the family does take in an injured Magpie promptly named, "Penguin". This amazingly well trained bird will steal your heart with its antics and its show of strength that will empower others to live again in the wake of this near-fatal accident. "Penguin Bloom" will make a profound impact on any one who views it without being preachy and over sentimental and without trying to milk every teary trick in the Script Writing Playbook. Do yourself a favour this summer and take time out to see this film. 4

Beautifully told and acted. Needed my tissues for this one.

I saw an advance screening of this movie. If I could have I would have walked out to see what was playing in another theater. The actors are all good but they don't get a particularly outstanding performance. Their performance is mediocre at best and I think that has to do with the story. If the story were stronger I think they would have given more to the film.

This movie is very much a "Sunday Movie". One that you and the whole family would sit down to watch all cozied up. It is lovely and quite emotional. I think it's PG rating does show ever so slightly with some of the humour being a little bit childish. I mean it tends to come from the kids so maybe it was a choice. The acting was good but nothing to write home about. I really enjoyed the young lead. I thought he was great and made the character believable and likeable. I think you could watch it. It was pretty good

source: Penguin Bloom

This is one the most boring movies I have ever seen. Even the shocking fall off a cliff that should have been truly dramatic came off as funny with no background or explanation whatsoever - it just happens and then in case we didn't get it the first time we get to see it again for good measure. Seriously the only good thing about this movie is the magpie. All of the other performances are so wooden and the dialog so cheesy it's hard to stay focused. There is no narrative tension or any reason to keep watching. Sometimes Sam smashes things and occasionally the bird flies away and comes back but that's about it. Surely the book is better than this. 1/10.

A local Australian production that has garnered more time in the spotlight than is usually to be expected due to the continued dry spell of overseas content arriving on our shores due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the extreme disruption it has bought to the film industry, Penguin Bloom is a pleasant if unremarkable film that manages to hold your attention throughout without ever quite captivating you in its claws. Based on a moving true story centred around the Bloom family, a family of five that found their lives upturned in the aftermath of their maternal patriarch Sam's devastating injury whilst on holidays in Thailand, an injury that left her unable to use the lower parts of her body and disrupting her previously activity filled life, Bloom fails to find a central driver as its based on reality story plays out around the Bloom's coming to terms with their current situation and the new addition to their family, adolescent Magpie Penguin. Nicely directed by the predominantly TV focused Glendyn Ivin and wonderfully captured by D.O.P Sam Chiplin, Bloom is an above average local affair in many respects and benefits in a big way by having a proven star such as Naomi Watt's on leading duties as the understandably sullen but determined Sam (a role that is easily one of her best in years after a string of so-so features) with solid supports from Rick Grimes himself Andrew Lincoln as her husband Cameron (of whom co-wrote this tales original book) and an impressive debut performance from Griffin Murray-Johnston as the Bloom's oldest boy Noah but its a film that feels almost instantly familiar and rather by the numbers throughout with a failing to find a spark that would've taken it to a whole different level. The films feathered stars and unique tale of Penguin's ability to bring a family closer together in their darkest hour is certainly a winning aspect but Ivin's contentment to play things out in a completely competent but pedestrian manner often holds the film back from creating huge emotional moments or engagement and the story suffers from not having a true identifiable goal to reach with there never appearing to be an endgame in sight outside of the fact Sam needs to find the happiness she once felt in her new day to day life, making the film one you would find hard to hate but one that isn't as instantly lovable as it could've perhaps been. Sold to Netflix in a worldwide distribution win, Bloom may find a larger and more accepting audience than your typical Australian slice of life tale manages to secure and their are certainly worse local efforts to have on the big stage with many (particularly families) likely to find an easy to enjoy tale with its heart in the right place. Final Say - A string of nice performances (both feathered and human) and an above average production help make this true life one to sit back and enjoy but Penguin Bloom never soars the way in which you would've hoped, the possibility of it being a new Australian classic at times appearing to be near but eventually becoming far from its reach. 3 cold bundles of Fish n Chips out of 5

I kept hoping it would get better. It's a pointless plotless movie.