Paulie (1998)

Best movie of this year hands down!

To me, this movie is perfection.

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

i just love this film Paulie came out in 1998 and i remember i was 8 at that time i used to watch this film every time it used to come on TV years lated i bought the DVD recently & checked it out again it made me cry that so many years just passed by it is so nostalgic.i don't know if Paulie was a real parrot or cgi but still i love him it was a interesting character.the story of this film revolves around a parrot named Paulie who goes on a journey he just wants to find her original owner Marie a little girl who loved him.i am not telling one bit that how Paulie ends up in a lab or why he is locked up in a basement & how a man helps him by listening to his story.the best thing about this movie is humans forget each other but animals never forget they have strong feelings about love.overall its a very emotional film with a great films like these are rare and sadly no one makes films like this anymore all the want is those garbage James Bond action films.i like to mention one more thing about the actress who played adult Marie i wonder where she is nowadays she was amazing her name is Trini Alvarado she should do more films.Paulie 1998 is a film for everyone if you have feelings in your heart & if you are a good person this film is for you my rating is 10/10.Highly Recommended.

Paulie (1998): Dir: John Roberts / Cast: Tony Shalhoub, Gena Rowlands, Jay Mohr, Richard Cheech Marin, Bruce Davison: Family film that will appeal to adults more than children. Paulie is a parrot taken from his owner after she falls off a roof. Through a series of events he is locked up in a basement in an institute because he refused to be exploited. Interesting concept divided into various encounters and an ending that seems too conventional. Director John Roberts does his best and aided with beautiful photography. Tony Shalhoub brings a warm sincerity as a janitor whose life is perfectly ordinary until he encounters Paulie. He goes unbelieved when he attempts to inform others about the bird's voice but decides to listen to his story. His role will be to help Paulie's voice be heard as oppose to exploited. Gena Rowlands is pleasant as a woman who first purchases Paulie. She will assist him in finding his owner until she loses her sight and eventually her life. Jay Mohr is terrific as a thief with specific plans for Paulie but the role is abruptly cut off. Richard Cheech Marin plays a parrot owner who uses Paulie for an act before he is stolen by Mohr. Perhaps the one role that is disappointing is Bruce Davison's villain, a research scientist. Young children will likely find this film depressing but adults will appreciate the strong animal rights message that flies high. Score: 7 ½ / 10

Such a feel good film, it had me tearing up twice within the first hour and again at the finale. I'd never caught this film on first release and managed to record it when it screened on television. Took a while to find the time to view it and I'm glad I did. I started playing it around lunch time and my two kids (5 year old girl and six year old boy) couldn't take their eyes of the screen. A great story with a minimum of characters, this picture really tugs at your heart strings. The lump in my throat when the little girl is struggling with her speech and interacting with Paulie was causing my lunch to get stuck in my throat. On an emotional level, this film is a winner, with each major character focusing on how their needs are met with Paulie. The old lady was the second tear jerker for me! When she accepts her fate and Paulie is there, a winner! Great piece of film at it's best. You will enjoy this one for sure.

Some people might call "Paulie" a kids' movie, but I wish to assert that it's more than that. Probably more than anything else, this movie successfully goes to great lengths to show the plight of immigrants in the United States - topical given the recent debates. Portraying a parrot telling a Russian immigrant janitor (Tony Shalhoub) of how he searched America for his original owners, the movie tells several stories. There's the elderly woman (Gena Rowlands) whom he befriends, then a Mexican immigrant (Cheech Marin), and others.All in all, it's a very well done movie. I usually don't expect much from these sorts of movies, but this one is a treat. I certainly recommend it. Also starring Jay Mohr, Buddy Hackett, Bruce Davison, Hallie Eisenberg and Trini Alvarado.