For a man who arguably owes his film career to animals, it’s fitting that Jim Carrey’s return to comedy sees him teaming up with a troupe of six dancing penguins.
His first lead role in 1994 film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective made him an overnight success and follow-up hits The Mask and Dumb And Dumber cemented his name as one of Hollywood’s hottest comedic talents.
But in recent years, he’s flexed his serious acting muscles with thriller The Number 23 and last year brought the true story of a convict to life in I Love You Phillip Morris.
“I never leave the funny roles, I just go all over the place. I’m a creative, so I like to do it all,” says the Canadian-born actor, flashing his world-famous manic grin.
Mr Popper’s Penguins is based on a children’s book published in 1938 about a guy who inherits 12 penguins. While the original Mr Popper is a painter who lives in small-town America, the film version features Carrey as a divorced businessman in New York, who’s more interested in sealing the deal than seeing his two kids. Until his explorer dad bequeaths him six penguins.
“Some people resist working with children and animals for fear of being upstaged,” says the 49-year-old. “But I love capturing the spark of innocence. And what’s better than penguins, in our case, and children to bring that out in us?”
He admits identifying strongly with his feathered friends, played by Gentoo penguins.
“There’s no mistaking their innocent purity and there’s this quality about them that’s odd. They’re not quite at home in the water, they’re not quite at home on land.
“Are they fish? Are they fowl? What are they? I think everybody who looks at them has that same feeling about themselves, I know I do. Where do I fit in? That’s what we love about them. They’re awkward!”
Carrey beat off competition from five “major comedians” for the role, according to producer John Davis, who says: “Some of them showed up at my office with penguin statues and said, ‘I have to do this movie because I love penguins’.”
But the actor’s ability to bring more than just comedy to the role won him the part.
“He has a rare kind of emotional accessibility,” says Mean Girls director Mark Waters.
Carrey is certainly in touch with his emotions. Having openly battled with depression, he’s long been on a mission to make people laugh.
“My major quest in life is freedom from concern, that’s my MO. It’s what I’ve done since I was a kid.
“People always ask me where the comedy comes from. Well, my mother was a sweet, sweet lady, but she was struggling with so much I felt like it was my responsibility to lift her out of it and free her from concern. I spent my life doing that.
“Then it was for my family when money was tight, and for my friends. I realised I could fit in like a glove if I made people laugh, and now it’s become this worldwide obnoxious pilgrimage.”
The film will certainly put smiles on the faces of its audience, as Mr Popper struggles to accommodate the needs of his new, messy housemates – named Captain, Lovey, Bitey, Nimrod, Stinky and Loudy after their traits.
In one scene, Mr Popper sits the penguins down for a civilised meal that turns into mayhem as the birds leap onto the table and gobble down their sardines.
“That was a highlight for me,” admits Carrey. “The penguins were maniacs, all they wanted to do was attack the dinner plates.
“I liked working with them because it was always spontaneous; you never knew what was going to happen.
“All they want is fish, so I carried fish around with me – in my pockets, shoes, everywhere.”
Besides the smelly pockets, the actor suffered for his art in another way.
“It was freezing on set all the time, just 30 degrees [Fahrenheit] – I was dying but the penguins were very happy. Then we’d go outside and do a scene on the roof where it was 80 degrees and I had to be in a Parka and five layers of clothing.
“I literally almost fainted at one point. I was like, ‘Get it off’ and they had to tear the coat off me.
“My life is very hard...” he adds, with another grin.
Last year was an emotional roller coaster for the twice-divorced actor: he split from long-term girlfriend Jenny McCarthy and also became a grandfather for the first time when his only daughter gave birth to a son.
Just as Mr Popper learns what’s important in life and comes to appreciate the value of family, Carrey has also learned a few lessons from the film.
“When things you don’t necessarily want interrupt your life, they’re there for a reason - to open you up to something you’re missing.
“I’ve gone through periods where I was selfish or wasn’t necessarily there as much as I should have been.
“I guess that’s why I was called to do this part because I could be that guy. We can all get caught up in our little quest for greatness, discovery and things that fascinate us. And there’s something so much more fascinating sitting right there.”
