Paulie (1998)

Paulie, a talking parrot, recounts his travels looking for his original owner to a Russian janitor who helps him to the end of his journey.

Director:

John Roberts

Writer:

Laurie Craig

Stars:

Gena Rowlands, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gena Rowlands	...	Ivy
Tony Shalhoub	...	Misha Vilyenkov
Cheech Marin	...	Ignacio
Bruce Davison	...	Dr. Reingold
Trini Alvarado	...	Adult Marie Alweather
Jay Mohr	...	Benny / Paulie (voice)
Buddy Hackett	...	Artie
Hallie Eisenberg	...	Marie Alweather (as Hallie Kate Eisenberg)
Matt Craven	...	Warren Alweather
Bill Cobbs	...	Virgil the Janitor
Tia Texada	...	Ruby / Lupe (voice)
Laura Harrington	...	Lila Alweather
Peter Basch	...	Graduate Student #1
Emily Mura-Smith	...	Graduate Student #2
Hal Robinson	...	Grandpa

Storyline

Paulie, an intelligent parrot who actually talks, relates the story of his struggle to a Russian immigrant who works as a janitor at the research institute where he is housed and neglected. Paulies story begins many years earlier when he is given as a gift to a little girl who stutters. Eventually, he teaches the girl to speak correctly but is taken away by her father because he believes the girl cannot distinguish fantasy from reality because she believes the bird can talk. Paulie goes through a series of adventures with a pawn shop owner, an ageing widow, a Mexican-American troubadour and a would be thief before being taken to the institute where he now lives.

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Plot Keywords:

parrot | girl | janitor | human animal relationship | road trip | 

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Taglines:

The Bird is the Word

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tia Texada plays Ruby; Benny's girlfriend. She also voices Lupe who is Paulie's girlfriend for a short time. Jay Mohr plays Benny and the voice of Paulie. So, the respective actors played two different couples.

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Goofs

When Paulie first uses the ATM machine for money, he puts the card in. In the next shot when he's flying away, the card isn't in the slot anymore.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[Misha reports for work, it is dark and raining]
Virgil the Janitor: The agency told you you had to pay for your own uniforms, right ?
Misha: Yes, I to buy with money from job.
Virgil the Janitor: No, no, no. You can't start the job without a uniform.
Misha: But how to buy when not been paid ?
Virgil the Janitor: You don't have any money ?
Misha: No. This is why I take job. To make money. This is why I come to America. To be a big shoot.
Virgil the Janitor: Shot. Big shot.
Misha: I try not to live in past, only present tense since I come to America.
[...]

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Connections

Features The Birds (1963)

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Soundtracks

Battle Hymn of the Republic
Traditional

User Reviews

I know what you're thinking....

You're thinking something along the lines of "a schmaltzy movie about a talking parrot. Puh-leeeeeez!" I had somewhat the same reaction when I came across this on cable. Then I looked at the cast and said to myself, gee, how bad can a script be when Gena Rowlands and Tony Shaloub sign on? And my gosh, there's Buddy Hacket, in his last full length studio movie. To cut to the chase, this is the kind of movie the Disney Studios used to make; a charming, witty, sentimental movie with appeal for the whole family, and a few life lessons thrown in for good measure. I was totally enchanted (and I'm 72!) and the movie made me forget my cynicism. Is it a "feel good" movie? For sure. And can't we do with a few more feel-good movies, as opposed to movies that, after seeing them, you either feel like taking a shower or hanging yourself (or both, in that order)?

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

17 April 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Polly, a Parrot's Tail

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$23,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,369,800, 19 April 1998

Gross USA:

$26,875,268

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,875,268

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dreamworks Pictures, H2L Media Group, Mutual Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1