“Mr. Popper’s Penguins” teaser

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Yes, there are some real penguins in this teaser for Mr. Popper’s Penguins, but the majority of shots in the final film will be hybrid CGI from LA-based Rhythm and Hues.

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  • http://kecky.blogspot.com kecky

    wait.

    this is real??

    I’m gonna go on believing Jim Carrey just pulled off the most expensive April Fool’s joke of all time.

    • http://jackmunchproductions.blogspot.com/ Malcolm Thomas

      Russel Brand already did it. It’s called “Hop”.

      • jpanim8r

        Hey Gustave,

        A winter movie being released in the Summer ?
        (Jim Carrey is starting to get …. OLD (even without the dead motion capture Mr. Magoo RipOff)

      • Scarabim

        Yeesh. Dick Van Dyke and the Disney-animated penguins in “Mary Poppins” were far more convincing than this.

    • snipp245

      This is real.

      I inadvertently stumbled into the crew filming outside for it this past Fall.

      How is it the only thing Rhythm and Hues is hired to do these days is to create cute talking animals in a live-action setting?!

      • Jim

        People hire you to do what you’ve done before; this goes for people as well as studios. It makes sense, in a way, because if you’re throwing millions of dollars around then it’s prudent to be risk-averse. The only way to break that perception is to devote time and resources toward producing personal work that shows you can do other work, the work that you might actually want to do. Easier said that done though, right?

        Blur is a great example of a studio that’s dramatically increased its profile via internal projects (their short films over the years, as well as their feature development of The Goon with David Fincher). Either R+H doesn’t care and just wants to keep the bills paid (still an admirable goal) or their margins are so low that they don’t have the time or money to self-fund other work that could open up their opportunities.

      • Chris Sobieniak

        It’s all business. I’m sure anyone would’ve worked on this for those reasons too.

  • Iain

    Looks like standard family fare.

    As for the shots of the penguins themselves, I’d rather take the real penguins over the obvious CG.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/VujadeEntertainment#p/u/0/3HaupcJwAdk Steve Schnier

    I’m wondering if this is the same thing – except its listed on IMDB.

    “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” was one of my favorite books, growing up. It was one of my Dad’s favorite books and my kids’ too.

    While I can appreciate that they’d want to update the story, I think the Depression era setting would have been charming. Looks like a ‘renter’ to me.

  • anonyMascot

    at least there’s no animal dance sequenc—-

    nevermind. i’ll be going now

  • http://www.forthebirdsblog.blogspot.com Michael J. Ruocco

    It looks like fun!

    The only thing that upsets me about this teaser isn’t the real vs. CG penguins issue, but how much Jim Carrey has aged. That first closeup of him at the table made my heart sink. Just wrinkles everywhere.

    Still, I’m glad he still makes me laugh just as much now as he did when I was a kid back in the 90′s.

    • Kate

      Well he is nearly 50, give him a break!

  • http://hueboxx.blogspot.com Jim Turner

    Boy, Jim’s come a long way from this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BTJ_n9Oqs0

  • http://www.damianosketchblog.blogspot.com Damiano

    I really have no words. This realistic looking CGI animal (talking or not) craze has got to stop.

  • uncle wayne

    well, it certainly looks 87 times more happier than “Happy Feet!” Yghkk!

  • http://thatssokraven.livejournal.com/ Kelly Tindall

    Aw, man. Fake is fine, but unbelievable is inexcusable.

  • Donald C

    Interesting interpretation.

    Do people think that kids are afraid of historical settings or something? Does everything need a modern twist?

  • http://www.artware.mx Arturo

    What happened to you, Jim?… you used to choose better projects…

  • http://art-candy.blogspot.com/ Andrea

    Mr. Popper does have a very nice apartment…

  • Dr. Truth

    gawd, could jim carrey get any more old and irrelevant?
    dude, you have 30 billion dollars and you’re not funny anymore. stop making crap and retire.

  • Toonio

    Rhythm and Hues ain’t what it used to be.

    I blame the coca cola bears :)

  • Gerard de Souza

    Oddly enough, I think Jim Carey is a great actor. There are comedians: Robin Williams; Eddie Murphy; Jim Carey etc, who when they are in a comedy aren’t funny because, I think, they only know their one way of being funny. But give them a straight or dramatic role and they are actually freed from their schtick.

    Familiar with seeing the book as a kid. Never read the book. I am glad it is not a remake or based on boomer aged cartoon shorts.

  • http://www.enigmation.de slowtiger

    Looks like something I could like. I giggled over some scenes. But I’d prefer real penguins, let’s see how good CGI blends in.

    As for Jim Carrey: of course he gets older. So what? Older actors usually only become better and better.

  • http://www.base14.com Tyler

    At least the penguins aren’t talking in British accents, making quip remarks.

  • http://MrFun'sBlog Floyd Norman

    Oddly enough this was in development at Disney some years ago. And, Dick Van Dyke was even considered for the role of Mr. Popper.

    This should have been a period piece and it should have been done at Disney Animation. However, the clueless managers would have none of it. The perfect family picture and the perfect Disney picture, but they wanted none of it.

    Go figure.

  • http://christianscartooncorner.blogspot.com Christian
  • http://MrFun'sBlog Floyd Norman

    That’s correct, Christian. The project was spearheaded by Joe Grant and Burny Mattinson, and I was hoping to be invited on the project myself.

    Then again, what did the three of us know? We had only worked with a guy named Walt Disney, and I doubt if those at the studio even knew who the hell he was.