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29 out of 31 people found the following review useful:
A short summary of the film, as well as detailed comments., 5 April 2003
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Author:
SweetBirdi from Chicago, IL
Somehow, this movie manages to be invigorating, bittersweet, and
heartwarming at the same time. Stars like Tony Shalhoub (from Providence)
bring the tale to life. The story itself is inspiring. We see a desperate,
up-and-down life through the most innocent eyes imaginable: a bird's.
Paulie begins his life as a baby parrot given to a little girl
(played
by Hallie Eisenberg, also known as the Pepsi girl) with a speech
impediment.
While she learns to speak correctly, so does Paulie. However, unlike most
birds, he can speak and understand everything being said. The military
father doesn't like the bird, so he is sent to a pawn shop and bought by
an
aging artist, Ivy. She teaches him manners, etc., while traveling across
the
country to find Paulie's owner. The movie continues with several twists of
fate, until Paulie ends up at a laboratory where he is eventually hidden
away in a basement, and found by a Russian custodian, who is touched by
the
bird's story. the plot is in keeping with the simple, metaphorical theme
that language is a gift, and a curse.
I would like to say that the soundtrack is astounding. A beautiful
mixture of flute, digital base, and horns enhance the movie to the point
of
pure ecstasy.
The sweeping camera angles and breathtaking scenery beautify the
story
even more. And, as a final remark, the puppetry is entirely believable.
(Unlike in star wars, where Yoda resembles a Muppet) This film is one of
my
favorite movies, with the added remark that my wonderful parakeet of four
years died recently.
Overall, I give this movie **** out of four stars, two thumbs up, and
a
big hug.
24 out of 27 people found the following review useful:
Heart warming, 12 June 2004
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Author:
Southmark from Memphis, Tennessee
Something about "Paulie" touched my heart as few movies do. It is a
witty, funny yet emotional movie. I'm a late comer in becoming a fan of
this movie. I didn't see "Paulie" until May, 2004 and have since
ordered the Widescreen DVD from a seller at eBay.
The special effects of showing Paulie talking are superb. My son asked
me how the bird knew so many phrases.Probably my favorite part of the
movie is when Paulie is in Gena Rowlands (Ivy's) company followed by
Cheech Marin (Ignacio). Tony Shalhoub (Misha) plays an excellent part
as the good hearted human. You root for him all the way through the
movie.
You can't go wrong renting or buying this movie!!
22 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
A heartwarming, feel good film!, 16 January 2004
Author:
chipcoffey from Atlanta, GA
Paulie is a "feel good" film about the life of an amazing parrot and the lives he touches. He starts out as the friend of a young girl, then lives with a dying woman, an Hispanic performer and a con man. He finally winds up as the subject of experiments at a laboratory, where he is befriended by an introverted Russian immigrant, played by the wonderful Tony Shalhoub. I won't give away the end of the film, but it'll bring tears to your eyes. You won't believe you are crying about a parrot! A nice little movie that'll make you laugh and cry and give you a feeling of hope!
21 out of 23 people found the following review useful:
Surprisingly sweet and clever animal adventure film PG rated, 8 June 2004
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Author:
FionualaO from USA
I have seen this film numerous times and for the life of me, I cannot
understand why some people compare this to BABE. This film is not about
the secret life of ALL animals who secretly can talk. Instead, it is
about a Parrot who learns to talk to help his owner, a little girl with
a serious stammer, overcome her speech impediment only to be separated
from her in a heart-wrenching scene early on. Then the great journey
begins. Paulie the Parrot sets out to try and find his one great
friend, Marie.
Along the way, he meets several wonderful people and numerous nasty
people. He falls in love with a girl parrot and loses her. He gets
conned into a life of crime and then captured by a bad scientist who
wants to exploit him.
He recounts his tale to a sympathetic Janitor in the Lab who agrees to
help him escape and find his beloved Marie.
Tony Shaloub shines as the kindly Janitor who has an open mind and big
heart and who determines to help little Paulie despite the risks. Jay
Mohr plays the voice of the Parrot AND one of the seedy characters he
comes across.
There is a little suggestive language but this film is appropriate for
most kids and even more so if the parents join in on the fun and watch
too. It is a witty, clever, epic animal-adventure story and ultimately
a great love story about a Bird and his little girl. He search for
Marie ends with a quite an unexpected surprise for most people who
don;t know much about Parrots.
Kids who have seen the wild Green Parrot Tribes in Los Angeles and
Pasadena will especially benefit from seeing this film and
understanding that Birds, especially Parrots are not disposable pets.
All children everywhere, will see that Pets form deep attachments
themselves and that the love and loyalty of a dog or parrot is a gift
to be treasured.
so no BABE here, more of an incredible journey with a twist.
Enjoy and try no to tear up during the sad parts.
10 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Heart-warming again..., 31 December 2003
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Author:
El Cubico from Austria
This is a really heart-warming family movie. It has absolutely brilliant
animal training and "acting" (if you can call it like that) as well (just
think about the dog in "How the Grinch stole Christmas"... it was plain bad
training). The Paulie story is extremely well done, well reproduced and in
general the characters are really elaborated too. Not more to say except
that this is a GREAT MOVIE!
My ratings: story 8.5/10, acting 7.5/10, animals+fx 8.5/10, cinematography
8/10.
My overall rating: 8/10 - BIG FAMILY MOVIE AND VERY WORTH
WATCHING!
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
A pleasant surprise, 4 August 2003
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Author:
German Ciuba from Old Forge, Pa, USA
I'm no fan of newer movies, but this one was a real pleasure to watch. Adults and children could watch it together - how unusual! My aunt liked it, too. It had laughter, tears, love, adventure, special effects, good actors - and a talking parrot. It reminded me of a favourite, The Wizard of Oz. The hero, Paulie, an intelligent parrot, is separated from his home and family and goes through many adventures, temptations and disappointments, always keeping in mind his resolution to find his friend, Marie. Highly recommended.
10 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
the only kid-oriented movie with which I'm familiar that shows the plight of immigrants, 10 May 2006
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Author:
Lee Eisenberg (eisenberg.lee@gmail.com) from Portland, Oregon, USA
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.
10 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
A Parrots Tale, 13 May 2000
Author:
stirred_mind from New Zealand
Paulie is a loveable parrot who is owned by a little girl (Maire Kate
Eisenbierg), they love each other dearly. But one day Paulie is blamed for
an extreme accident and gets taken to a pet shop. Paulie breaks away and
searches for the little girl, and all this becomes "Paulie : A Parrots
Tale."
You'll love this film, and you'll fall in love with Paulie.
My rating : 8/10.
8 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
A touching film for viewers of all ages., 16 April 2000
Author:
winterhawke from Logan, Utah
The story of a talking parrot and the adventures he has while trying to return to the little girl he misses. This movie is an adventure of the heart which will take the viewer through the full gamut of feelings from soul-rending desperation to bone-tingling joy.
5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Paulie you're the man!!!, 17 January 1999
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Author:
baretta from New york, U.S.A.
I was very surprised with this film. I was touched with the lives that paulie touched along his way to find his "marie" the little girl he was separated from. The humor was also very good and it did not hurt the story as i thought it would probably do. Actually i was expecting "paulie wants a cracker" jokes to hurt this film but even that was done in a very humorous scene that turns very touching when paulie is in the research lab press room conference. So if you wish to see a good "animal that talks" film check this one out, much better than Dr. DOLITTLE in my opinion. PAULIE also has a surprised twist in the end that is done very nicely as well.
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