Birds of America (2008)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Craig Lucas

Writer (WGA):

Elyse Friedman (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Some families defy classification

Plot:

A regular guy struggles with a repressive home and professional life, as well as making amends for the trouble his free-spirited brother and sister cause about town. |

Plot Keywords:

Siblings | Family Relationships

Cast

Matthew Perry	...	Morrie
Ben Foster	...	Jay
Ginnifer Goodwin	...	Ida
Lauren Graham	...	Betty Tanager
Zoë Kravitz	...	Gillian
Hilary Swank	...	Laura
Gary Wilmes	...	Paul
Daniel Eric Gold	...	Gary
Stacie Theon	...	Ellen Thomas
Lindsay Allen	...	Roller-Blading Girl
Tom Pelphrey	...	Hitchhiker
Will Toale	...	Young Male Cop
Vivien Kells	...	Sleeping Girl (as Vivien Kells O'Brien)
Keith McDermott	...	Man in Street
Marisa Zalabak	...	Woman in Street

Also Known As:

The Laws of Motion (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality and brief drug use.

Runtime:

85 min | USA:89 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Finland:K-13

Filming Locations:

Darien, Connecticut, USA

Company:

Accomplice Films

Quotes:

Ida: Sometimes kindness is wiser than truth.

Soundtrack:

Acoustic

Odd Birds. Good Eggs.

You might be getting a little tired of movies about dysfunctional families. I know I am. I think I've seen at least three at Sundance this year. But Birds of America manages to break the mold and feel fresh and alive from the outset, delivering a warm, funny, zany, tender and compassionate film that left the audience smiling and satisfied.

Morrie (Matthew Perry) is an uptight university professor anxiously seeking tenure, which requires the approval of his department head, who lives next door. Morrie and his wife Betty (Lauren Graham—Gilmore Girls) live in a house he inherited at 18 years old after his mother died and his father committed suicide. As a result, Morrie raised his brother Jay (Ben Foster) and sister Ida (Ginnifer Goodwin), both of which grew into their problems. Ida is substance-abusing and promiscuous, and Jay a deeply gentle and sensitive soul whose actions are almost completely unfettered by advanced thought. They reunite in the family home when Jay gets run over by a car (he was laying in the road) and Morrie, who still feels more parent than brother, asks him to move in for a while. Without asking permission, Jay invites Ida to join them, stressing Morrie and Betty's relationship and jeopardizing his career with their outrageous behavior.

Matthew Perry is surprisingly good in his deadpan portrayal of an overwrought brother who cares deeply for his siblings, often at his own expense. Goodwin is a pleasure as well, as the addictive personality with the carefree spirit. But Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma) is great, and despite having such a naturally funny role, manages to never play Jay for laughs, creating an endearing and memorable character. Growing up without parents, these three have formed an unbreakable bond, with unconditional love and acceptance, and a tenderness and compassion unlike any I can remember in movies. Elyse Friedman has crafted a remarkable script, and Sundance veteran director Craig Lucas (Secret Lives of Dentists, The Dying Gaul) brings it to life with a funny but light-hearted and gentle touch.