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By A. O. SCOTT

• Directed by: Mark Waters
• Rating: PG (Scatological Humor/Mild Language)

Review Summary

It would seem that “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” a summer family stopgap between the “Kung Fu Panda” and “Cars” sequels, missed the movie-penguin craze by about five years, though perhaps it will prompt a penguin revival. In any case, the film, directed with bounce and snap by Mark Waters, stands as a comeback of sorts for Jim Carrey, who mugs and prances and does funny voices and manages not to be upstaged by a half-dozen flightless birds. The birds — real gentoo penguins with computer-enhanced abilities — honk, defecate and waddle around Manhattan while Mr. Carrey’s Popper, at first vexed and then beguiled by the creatures, tries to deal with them, his job, his children and the state of his soul. Old-timers — those with vivid memories of Mr. Carrey’s “Ace Ventura” movies — will notice, with a sigh, that his rubbery limbs have lost a bit of stretch and his highly mobile face has acquired some lines. — A. O. Scott

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