Such a frustrating disappointment

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

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

I was attracted to this movie by Tony Shalhoub, (from "Monk"), who does a great job with his character's Russian accent. He plays an immigrant janitor who befriends a parrot who used to belong to a little girl. At first the parrot's lines are a little irritating, but the extended flashback is interesting, although inevitably without Shalhoub. The little girl's speech impediment ties in nicely with the janitor's troubles with English, and even the parrot's desire not to talk, even though he can. Overall it's a pretty decent film, especially if you need one with a language theme. And there's even a New Jersey joke. I suppose that the most disappointing thing is that Shalhoub ends up being a supporting character, but the succession of supporting characters that the parrot meets are some compensation, and Tony makes the moments that he does get, count. (8/10)

I have never seen anything like this. The story is pure creativity, and made it easy to suspend disbelief. A parrot who not only talks, but is cognizant, and whose one desire is to return to the little girl who loves and needs him, and who he also loves. Tony Shalhoub is wonderful. Jay Mohr is excellent. And you have Buddy Hacket! Cheech Marin! Gena Rowlands! To have this much talent, and a story that a young child can enjoy, but that truly speaks to a person of any age is a wonderful thing. This movie made me openly weep with joy. Don't worry about the what the plot is, or what the movie is trying to say; just sit back and enjoy it. I have never seen anything so magical and heartfelt. I feel sorry for anyone who sees it for anything less. Cynicism has robbed us of enough pure hope and pure joy. Let go of it for the hour and a half that is this inspired film!

I knew it was about a talking parrot, but that's about it, and truly, that's all it is. So Paulie (Small Soldiers' Jay Mohr) is the intelligent parrot (a Blue-crowned Parakeet/Conure to exact) has learnt to talk extremely well, and actually have a personality. So in the film, he is given as a gift to little Marie Alweather (Hallie Kate Eisenberg), but then he is taken away by her father Warren (Matt Craven) when she believes he can talk more just a couple of words. So the rest of the film sees Paulie have some mini adventures with a pawn shop owner, an old widow, a Mexican-American guy and a thief. That's all I can say really. Starring The Notebook's Gena Rowlands as Ivy, Men in Black's Tony Shalhoub as Misha Vilyenkov, Richard 'Cheech' Marin as Ignacio, Bruce Davison as Dr. Reingold, Mohr as Benny, Trini Alvarado as Adult Marie, Buddy Hackett as Artie and Bill Cobbs as Virgil the Janitor. To be honest, this is only a good film to see a parrot talking, and obviously some quite naughty things, the kids will approve, but the older viewer might not care about all going on. It won the BAFTA Children's Award for Best Children's Feature Film. Okay!