TV review: “The Penguin” | Moviefone

“The Penguin” will premiere on September 19 on HBO and Max and is the first (and so far only) series to continue the story of Matt Reeves' 2022 superhero film “The Batman.”

The focus is no longer on the suited vigilante played by Robert Pattinson (the producers have made it clear at length that he won't appear, in case you were waiting for the hero to burst in and give our wannabe boss a few “kapow” punches), but on the story on the streets, with the machinations and scams of the underworld taking center stage.

Will “The Penguin” succeed with his plans?

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in The Penguin by Max. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Executive producer and showrunner Lauren LeFranc cites The Sopranos as a major inspiration for the new series, so it's not hard to see where The Penguin gets its endless double-dealing and criminal political maneuvering from.

The problem is that a lot of what happens here — aside from the Batman-esque elements, particularly the characters played by Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti — doesn't feel particularly fresh. We've seen small-time gangsters trying to make it big in film and TV for years, and it takes something special to give Farrell a chance to talk about gangsters he draws inspiration from or wax nostalgic about how his neighborhood, and Gotham in general, used to be better.

Fortunately, some truly compelling performances help to increase interest even further than it perhaps could be, and the show tends to maintain the style of Reeves' film.

Screenplay and direction

(Left to right) Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti in The Penguin by Max. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

As mentioned, if you've ever seen a movie or series set in a gangster world, much of the series will feel familiar. There are power struggles, drug-related criminal dealings, and an action explosion or two, such as an impressive scene in the second episode where Oz is pursued by Sofia Falcone's forces.

It's just that little of it is truly revolutionary, and you can predict many plot twists. And there are some remarkable coincidences that help our main character along the way.

Lead director Craig Zobel, who shoots the first three episodes, actually tries to convince us that the action takes place in the same Gotham as The Batman. The only downside is that the scenes set in the suburbs or in the sprawling Falcone complex outside of it seem extremely realistic compared to the visual effects-driven dinginess of the inner city.

Related article: The Penguin panel at San Diego Comic Con featured a virtual Colin Farrell and a new trailer

Performances

The highlights of the show are, above all, the acting performances, with Farrell and Milioti particularly standing out – which is not surprising given that they are at the center of the narrative.

Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in The Penguin by Max. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Farrell reprises his role from the film, donning prosthetics and a fat suit once again to make himself almost unrecognizable as the scheming wannabe boss. Here in series form, where he has the scope and breadth to really explore the character, he goes all out, chewing his way through the scripts and bringing him to lively, waddling life.

He is helped along by some insightful – if predictable – backstory elements, including deceased family members and a caring mother (played by Tony winner Deirdre O'Connell) who is succumbing to dementia.

Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone

Cristin Milioti in The Penguin by Max. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Milioti gets a very different role here, and she really embraces it – full of psychopathy and a terrifying ability to order the deaths of her enemies. It helps that she also has a troubled backstory, dealing with not only the death of her father but another personal tragedy in the first few episodes.

She is a great counterpart to Farrell and the two have excellent chemistry, ensnaring each other in their struggle for power.

Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar

Rhenzy Feliz in The Penguin by Max. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Feliz' Victor is introduced as a street urchin who is interrupted while trying to steal the rims from Oz's car. He is the third pillar in the triumvirate of main characters. He quickly becomes the driver and potential protégé for Oz, who recognizes in the young man the same competitive ambition that he himself possesses.

And in collaboration with Farrell, Feliz manages to bring some of the rare humorous ideas into the show.

Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni

Clancy Brown in The Penguin by Max. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Maroni, the Falcone family's main rival, is currently in prison for his crimes after being set up.

Brown plays the role well as usual, exuding a quiet menace coupled with charisma, although the role is of course smaller and more limited given his (current) location.

He is ably supported in his role as wife Nadia by Shohreh Aghdashloo, although fans of “The Expanse” might complain that she does not (yet) get the chance to let loose her tirades in the less restrictive conditions of an HBO series.

Other notable characters

Although he isn't introduced until the end of the second episode, Theo Rossi's Dr. Julian Rush promises to be an entertaining character. Michael Zegen, meanwhile, has a small but crucial role as Alberto Falcone, the drug-addicted and drug-dealing son of the crime boss.

Final thoughts

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in The Penguin by Max. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

The Penguin won't win many awards for originality for its crime story, but it's at least watchable and its lead actors are certainly not wasted. It just doesn't always do the film justice.

Attentive fans of the entire Batman franchise will enjoy the subtle nods to the actors who have played the Penguin on television and in films. Look out for two special storefronts in Gotham, for example.

“The Penguin” receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

“The city will be his.”

TV-MA1 Seasons19 September 2024

Witness the Penguin's rise to power in Gotham's underworld following the Riddler murders. Read the plot

What is the story of “The Penguin”?

The new series takes place one week after the events of “The Batman,” in which crime boss Carmine Falcone was killed and his empire fell into disarray.

As seen in the film, Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell), aka the Penguin, Falcone's former lieutenant, seeks to fill the power vacuum left by his death, confronting rival factions to assert his authority.

But he faces a major challenge from those Falcone has entrusted with running his operation, particularly Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti), who was recently released from Arkham Asylum.

Who is in the cast of “The Penguin”?

• Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb/Penguin
• Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone
• Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar
• Michael Kelly as Johnny Viti
• Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni,
• Deirdre O'Connell as Francis Cobb
• Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni
• James Madio as Milos Grapa
• Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone
• Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone
• Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo
• Theo Rossi as Dr. Julian Rush

“The Penguin” premieres on Max from September 19th.

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