Penguin Bloom (2020) User Reviews

If you are a fan of the Penguin Bloom Instagram page - Watch this film!.

[gareth-tiedt · 8/10 · 27 January 2021]

I feel the critics are far off the bat with this one. Perhaps they have not been invested in this magical experience like those of us who have grown watching this story.

I've been following Penguin Bloom on Instagram for years now, since Penguin was still with the Bloom family.

This film captures this family's story well. Ignore the critics and those without the context.

A beautiful film.

Wonderful

[tosi-18344 · 8/10 · 28 January 2021]

A tragic story turned awe-inspiring, surrounded by love... love of family, love of nature, love of, yes, a bird. Loved it!

And the Oscar goes to-The Magpie........

[girvsjoint · 8/10 · 26 January 2021]

An enjoyable little film based on a true story, don't know what the bad reviewers were expecting? It's not an action film, just a heartwarming little story of how a rescued magpie helps a family come to terms with the devastating accident suffered by the Mother, and in turn helps her to begin enjoying life again. If nothing else does, the magpies will entertain you, Naomi Watts is her usual reliable self, with a perfectly competent supporting cast. Goes along at a casual pace which puts you in there with the family. I liked it, as has everyone I know who's seen it!

A Warm Family Movie

[Neon_Gold · 6/10 · 27 January 2021]

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

The magpie(s) are stealing the show.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 25 July 2021]

In the drama genre Penguin Bloom is a good movie. So if that's the genre you like the most you can't really go wrong with this movie. It's not my favorite genre but nevertheless I liked it as well. It's a gripping story, based on true events (pictures from the real Blooms in the end credits), played perfectly well by Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln (finally in something better than The Walking Dead), and their kids in this movie. But the star of the show (or should I say stars as there were ten different ones) is definitely the magpie. That's what makes this movie enjoyable to watch, at least for me as an animal lover. The story can be a bit cheesy at times but the magpie made that all seem futile. The fact that it's based on a true story makes it a bit special, like always with these kind of stories.

Naomi Watts elevates a formulaic drama

[Sir_AmirSyarif · 7/10 · 30 January 2021]

While Glendyn Ivin's based-on-a-true-story 'Penguin Bloom' often falls into run-of-a-mill territory of those family dramas about overcoming physical and mental struggles, the film succeeds in engaging the emotions, both in times of overbearingness and those of joy and ambition. Naomi Watts delivers a strong, impactful performance with the rest of the cast is made up of strong performers but have little things to do. In addition to the performances, the cinematography and background score are great and ties the movie together.

its the story...

[ops-52535 · 9/10 · 28 January 2021]

About the extensively happy but ever so unfortunate woman , with a large family and spouce, who on a trip to thailand falls from the roofterrace of their hotal, and gets paralysed due to T6 fracture of the spinal cord. so from there we follow the family in the process of rehabilitation, and parts of this occupational therapy are done by a peculiar and unexpected figure...

its a sad but happy story for everyone, and may inspire others in their task to become''useful ''for oneself and the others, and happy with the circumstances after all. broke my back myself some years ago after a ladder fall 5.5 meters. allthough not paralyzed (body shrunk 1.5 cm's) , the pain was devilish, but better now, by long hard trailwalks painstaking return to work and believe it or not helped mentally by imdb's challenging opportunity to write reviews, so look at my membership date and youll know the approximate date for my accident.

its also a look at the dilemma of wildlife saving, is it heroism or just against the natural laws??? the grumpy old man shall not decide, but i wouldve done much the same as a kid. its a lovely film though nice acting and slow pacing story for the human touch, so an 8 should be rewarded

An enjoyable drama about a family overcoming catastrophe. And a remarkable bird.

[JohnDeSando · 3 February 2021]

"It's like Mum was stolen from us." Noah (Griffin Murray-Johnston)

Shamelessly sentimental, yes; simply striking, yes. After the confining tyranny of a pandemic, it's time to be freed by a true story, Penguin Bloom, of loss and redemption that may bring tears (ok, it will) of joy at recognizing heroic humans just like us living through even worse than a raging COVID and past president. Narrated by tween Noah, Penguin Bloom makes you face the reality of loss while it frees you up to soar like a bird when you embrace humanity once again.

Dispel your fears about Nicolas Sparks or Hallmark sentimentality, for this Australian drama is about a mother, Sam Bloom (Naomi Watts), who breaks her back and the hearts of a loving family, only to be redeemed by a kayak and squawking Magpie (Gerry, Clipper, and Eugene). It hits hard about the sacrifices everyone suffers after such a tragedy and the joys of beating back the gloom with the emergence of a life maybe even better.

Penguin Bloom, aka Peng, a Magpie of exceptional wit (an Oscar for this bird, anyone?), finds a home with the Blooms for as long as nature will allow. My English major readers will spy immediately the metaphoric nature of Peng paralleling Sam's imprisonment and release. Peng's constant complaints (she is a Magpie after all) echo Sam's despair over her loss of freedom while both, with each other's help, live to fly another day. The move from inside the house early on to the gorgeous Australian outside is an obvious reflection of bird and mom taking flight. Cliché, yes, maudlin, no.

Director Glendyn Ivin carefully keeps our tears back while he accurately shows the struggles and triumphs of living with a disability. Along the way husband Cameron (Andrew Lincoln) earns major stripes as caregiver and super dad. Again, the feel is real; no one could doubt his love for his family and his willingness to give up his freedom for theirs. Everybody wins.

Decent Enough

[sweidman-28016 · 6/10 · 10 February 2021]

"Mom's not the person she once was. And I know she's not the person she wanted to be. But to me, she's much more than that."

Welcome to January Movies! Today we have...an above average Hallmark movie!

Penguin Bloom stars the incomparable Naomi Watts in the true story about the Bloom family. Sam, a young mother, has her world is turned upside down after a shocking, near-fatal accident leaves her paralyzed. Sam and her family are struggling to adjust to their new situation when an unlikely ally enters their world in the form of an injured baby magpie they name Penguin. The bird's arrival is a welcome distraction for the Bloom family, eventually making a profound difference on Sam's life, teaching her how to live again. As cheesy as this sounds, it's not as bad as you'd think. Even I found myself enjoying a good duration of it. Naomi Watts is great as always. Without her here, I don't think it would be as good as it is now. The adult cast does well, too. Jacki Weaver, Andrew Lincoln, and Rachel House are all developed well enough to like them. I should also add that the cinematography is actually really good. I like what this movie tries to do.

Where it falters is the story. It follows that Hallmark-like structure so its predictable and tries so hard to be emotional. Right away we're greater with a child giving a home movie where they address how everything was great until this moment. The kid, Noah, of course blames himself for the accident but it isn't explored enough why. There's a scene explaining, but we don't know him well enough to see the point. The script could've been better as well. If I could change one thing, it would be the length. It's an hour and a half long but it would've worked so much better as an hour long special or something. In 45 minutes it covers everything, really. Then not much happens until almost the end. It couldn't figure out what else to do so I began to lose interest. When the movie does finish, it's serviceable enough to be fine. I'm surprised that this is better than expected. It's on Netflix so for a casual watch, this should do.

Brilliant, simple and emotional

[mattrochman · 10/10 · 27 January 2021]

This was a magnificent watch with some mindblowing performances and credible and compelling storytelling.

Moreover, it has this simplicity that makes the film realistic. We are somewhat dropped into a family that is dealing with the aftermath of tragedy, but with a human-emotion focus.

While some other scriptwriters may have chosen to focus on post-tragedy sporting achievements and overcoming adversity using a mix of emotional and practical standpoints, the scriptwriters here really focus on mental anguish, learning to cope and somehow trying to re-find hope. But at no point does it descend into Hollywood shmultz, instead keeping things totally realistic and down to earth.

It is a tear-jerker, so for viewers who are known to weep a little during films, this one my require at least a pocket pack of tissues.

I wished more films like this were made. The story, at the end of the day, is straightforward and for that reason, the viewer doesn't end up being sidetracked with bizarre or strangely complex subplots. But it says so much with so little. Even it's central metaphor may be fairly obvious, though I don't think films should be frowned upon for weaving subtlety and obscurity into its metaphoric dimensions.

Wonderful film for Australia too - and hopefully captures the eye of award bodies. Rachel House's performance was a striking aspect. Go see it.

A beautiful, inspiring movie

[steveinadelaide · 7/10 · 24 January 2021]

A lovely family movie with a straightforward, inspiring, uplifting story. Based on the true story of Sam Bloom who was paralysed from the chest down following a fall from the roof of a building when holidaying in Italy with her family. Naomi Watts, who plays Sam, brings her experience as an actor to the story along with, of course, the trainer of the magpies who starred in the movie (ten of them!). Watts does a great job of portraying the physical and emotional impact of paralysis and there are some heart-rending scenes where she struggles with her new life along with her husband and children. The kids in the movie do a great job of playing authentic children, especially the one who introduces Penguin to the family. The film is beautifully photographed and the magpies, who play Penguin, are brilliant. They steal the show every time they are on screen. My one criticism of PENGUIN BLOOM is that it doesn't tell us enough about the past and present of Sam Bloom, leaving that to a few facts at the end of the movie. While this is, in my view, a family film, it does have a few themes that might be difficult for young children, so parents may want to see it first before watching it with their younger kids. PENGUIN BLOOM, based on the book of the same name, is an old-fashioned movie and avoids sentimentalism and sappiness. Delightful.

Heart wrenching

[belcrompton · 8/10 · 26 January 2021]

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

Stunning

[iannikkibanks · 7/10 · 3 November 2021]

Like most Australian movies the film is a visual feast. Amazing shots of the coast abound. It is also a sad but eventually uplifting film that features a magpie that unites the family. Excellent performance from the 2 lead players. This is not high octaine but it tells a wonderful story.

What a bore

[emmashorten · 3/10 · 11 July 2021]

Sorry, I'm trying to be positive here, but the characters are one dimensional, and based on a true story it's painful to watch. The husband is useless in it, has no depth, the kids are just props and the protagonist is an amazing actor who struggle to even convince me she's suffering.

Direction is weak, but some beautiful cinematography.

It lacked originality, we've seen these sort of films far to often twenty years ago.

Andrew Lincoln !!!

[bood-73364 · 27 January 2021]

This guy acting is just insane he carried this movie a straight 10 from me

Am I the only one?

[wendyg-2008 · 6/10 · 28 January 2021]

I'm halfway through this movie and I noticed (spoiler alert) that after the mother fell off a high patio on vacation leading to tragedy, her children still play on a flat roof of their home--WITHOUT ANY RAILING WHATSOEVER. One child even jumps from that roof onto--of all things--a trampoline below (which of course has no guard real/netting, etc.).

How do people learn to avoid danger and accidents? Not from this movie, I guess.

Otherwise, very nicely played and sorrowful for this athletic, driven mother and nurse.

Emotional

[isaacochoterena · 7/10 · 28 September 2021]

This movie is full of heartbreaking emotions and feelings.

Although we know that it is based on real events, the script of this film is very well written, since it shows each of the emotions that the characters feel which are justified, it has very good acting, good photography and a good message. I like the way the bird is a high-impact character for the plot.

The story may seem a bit long and at certain points slow, but for me the message about valuing your life and what you have works very well, and so does the story of inspiration, hope and courage.

Great Family Movie

[dominguezerin · 7/10 · 29 January 2021]

This was a very delightful family film. I would have liked to have gotten to know the Blooms a little bit more, but they seemed like a real family from what we do see. This film brought me joy, laughter, and sadness. Technically speaking, it is a very good film. The cinematography was fantastic, and I thought the music served the film well. This was a very cute film that I will happily recommend.

Soul soothing movie!

[ashkarashraf · 9/10 · 30 January 2021]

First of all Movie is underrated. Naomi did what she usually do. Well directed and soothing. A must watch.

A Very Uplifting Story

[Zac_La_Porte · 7/10 · 21 December 2021]

Penguin Bloom's heartfelt peculiarity is what glimmers and stands out among large selections of true stories. This film portrays the intensely near-fatal fall of Sam Bloom, who's left paralysed and stricken with grief over the experience and the aftermath, and it results in the downheartedness of a family. It seems so sudden when a miracle arrives, being a magpie in this case, that powerfully reconnects the family with each other, and it's such an uplifting transformation to believe.

We reach the point where tears are drawn towards the lower half of our eyes as we witness the frustration experienced by the Bloom family. Naomi Watts is extraordinary, superbly realistic and we connect with her character. The rest of the film is stocked with excellent child and family member performances. There's definitely a sense of prediction and a lack of real surprise, but it's not a fictional tale that's packed with magic or complete happiness, so it frequently remains realistic and follows the real events.

And once Penguin the magpie finally enters the story, the attachable family arguing and grieving meets uplifting moments of joy and laughter that spread smiles over your face. Penguin Bloom is a story of family, nature and love, and it's beautiful.

If you liked this review, check out the full review and other reviews at aussieboyreviews.

Inspiring and authentic story telling great cast

[tm-sheehan · 9/10 · 28 January 2021]

I have a friend who was an avid Sportswoman and had an incredibly active life until 7or so years ago due to a tragic sporting accident she lost use of her lower body muscle function and became paraplegic so she is now permanently confined to a wheel chair. I know quite a bit of her story of pain struggle and acceptance . She is a also a Mum like Sam Bloom in this movie. She has managed to raise a teenage son with the help of supportive friends and family and a wonderful assist dog . Recently her joy at extensive renovations to her home which she supervised to the last detail filled me with admiration and gratitude to know her. This is possibly why I enjoyed this new Australian film "Penguin Bloom." so much and why I find some of the revues I've read so cynical and predictable. Why is it when a story as uplifting and well produced like this receives descriptions like mawkish and over sentimental,especially when it's based on true characters and true events .? I posted my top 50plus Australian movies a few days ago and Penguin Bloom is now added to that list . Glendyn Ivan was recently listed in The Sydney Morning Herald as one of Australia's most powerful and influential film, television and commercial directors and I can understand why after seeing "Penguin Bloom." It would be simplifying the plot to say it's about a woman ,her family and a magpie that changes all their lives forever. The fact that the woman Sam Bloom played by one of our finest actresses Naomi Watts with great integrity, skill and honesty has lost her mobility and feels totally worthless to her family is the backbone of this story. Her family devoted and supportive husband Cameron also beautifully performed by British actor Andrew Lincoln and her three young boys Noah, Rubin and Oli also feel the loss of their vital young Mum who has become isolated in her home and unavailable emotionally. That's enough of the story no spoilers except to say all their lives are transformed when a baby magpie falls out of its nest and is rescued from certain death by young Noah Bloom and taken home and nurtured back to health. Young actor Griffin Murray-Johnston, made his debut with the movie 'Penguin Bloom' cast as eldest son Noah Bloom . Griffin is somewhere between 10 and 13 years and gives one of those astonishingly good child performances that amaze me and I'm in awe of the professionals who train and produce these great acting achievements from one so young. Griffin's brief resume gives the information that he has attended St Martin's in an invitational cross-age group for over four years. He has a keen interest in costume, character, role play and creative making. He has an inherent fascination with art and performance and brings a thoughtful, genuinely intuitive capacity to each and every role, that's perfectly obvious in this movie. Now speaking of training the various amazing magpies that played Penguin at various staged their trainer was Paul Mander who trained 8 magpies and considers them among the most intelligent of birds, up there with the pelican. At least as smart as dogs or cats and surprisingly playful, even as adults. "Their intelligence is much higher than predatory birds and their memory retention really stands out," he says from the Gold Coast, with warbles from an aviary in the background. "They pick up things very quickly and they remember things from the day before, which is a great training tool." Special mention of two supporting roles Jackie Weaver as Sam's mum Jan ,always great to see Jackie on screen her although her character irritated me until she had a great dramatic dinner table scene that entailed a total change in behaviour. Also a lovely performance by Rachel House as Gaye Hatfield who befriends and assists Sam to transform and accept her new life. It's a tiny criticism but the screenwriters who wrote her entrance line "Hi nice to meet you I'm Gaye must have known that would cause giggles and comments from the audience. The look of the film Penguin Bloom is stunning set in Newport with sweeping views of our beautiful Coastline and the local Bush and river locations nearby help make this film a joy to watch . Unlike the 2019 film Palm Beach ,which had a similar setting but was extremely short on substance and just played homage to self indulgence Penguin Bloom has a heart and soul and I found it very entertaining and moving . Based on the book by Cameron Bloom who I'm sure would be thrilled with the film adaptation which among its many Co Producers are his wife Sam Bloom and star Naomi Watts I urge everyone not to take any notice of some of luke warm reviews it's an insult on IMBD to rate this fine film only 6.7 . It's not IMBD's fault it's the fault of some silly "Professional " film critics who should research what movie audiences want and what they find entertaining instead of intellectualising every frame and word .

Small things matters

[ks-60500 · 6/10 · 11 March 2021]

I don't agree with the reviews said this is boring. There are way many movies boring and pointless compare this one. It's kind of lesson learnt to our lives in many aspects from this movie. What you think a problem in your life compared to other probably nothing. A bright side for the unfortunate ones how to go on in their life. Just inspiring and chicken soup to me.

A realistic depiction of the interruption a disability throw your way.

[ftmcnally · 8/10 · 15 February 2021]

I'm a para, like Sam Bloom in the movie. About the same level, too--T6 ,T8. But not as a result of the same sort of accident. I've been in a chair a little longer, going on 33 years now. I've found movies depicting disability of one kind or another usually contrived but this one was refreshingly not so and rang true to me. At least for folks like Sam and I with paraplegia. I have many friends that are quadriplegics, and they do not share the same abilities that we do. Despite that, dealing with a major disability when you have a family (I had 2 kids, ages 3 and 1 when my illness struck) is hard. Luckily family and a few good friends helped me move on, and so did my old Lab, Rocky, along with my love for the water and sports. So this movie hit home for me. Hopefully those who watch it will never suffer similar circumstances as Sam or I have endured, but if you live long enough you'll probably have someone close to you that will. The movie tells a good story about the hurdles and triumphs we all face at one time or another, If you find the movie boring, well, watch it again. In 20 years...

A pleasant true Australian tale with universal appeal

[eddie_baggins · 6/10 · 25 January 2021]

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

A very boring cheese sandwich

[Also_Kiki · 4/10 · 9 January 2021]

Penguin Bloom was a film so generic that I'm honestly more impressed than disappointed. While the film is based on a true story, the resulting product ends up being incredibly sappy and boring, with the some most predictable, by the numbers setups I've seen in years. The story follows Naomi Watts as Sam Bloom, who becomes permanently wheelchair bound after falling off a cliff during a family vacation. Sometime later in the story, her kids find an injured magpie, who they name "Penguin", (hence the title) who they decide to nurse back to health. Sam does not like this magpie, but grows closer with it throughout the movie. This is basically the extent of the film. The magpie wins the arbitrary prize for being the best actor in the film and is probably the most enjoyable aspect of it. Naomi Watts is a great actress, but does not deliver anything exceptional in this movie, the child performances are nothing of note, and Andrew Lincoln delivers a performance so excessive and overacted that his character ends up being totally unlikeable. In summary, the story was cheesy, the music was cheesy, the acting was cheesy, and the dialogue was cheesy, The rest of the movie is represented by the most boring and bland two slices of bread you have ever seen, and the magpie is a sprig of parsley to garnish the cheese sandwich that is Penguin Bloom. Penguin Bloom is indeed a movie.