A grieving fisherman rescues a lost penguin, irrevocably impacting their lives. It’s a heartbreaking tribute to an unlikely real-life friendship.

By Courtney Howard

It's been a couple of decades since we last saw Jean Reno as a reclusive grump protecting a minor attack in "The Professional." Now, director David Schurmann's "My Penguin Friend" is a welcome return to a winning formula.

In the Brazilian filmmaker’s tender, all-ages adventure, Reno plays a grief-stricken father who gains a small, lovable companion after rescuing him from polluted waters. Inspired by the unwavering bond between a real-life Brazilian fisherman and a Magellanic penguin pushed off its migration route, the French actor reveals new colors as a performer, coloring the film’s playful and poignant undertones with sensitivity and subtlety, making this a must-see for those who enjoy uplifting stories of redemption, perseverance, and empathy.