Truly Dreadful Film

Nice effects though.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

If you are a William Hurt fan this movie is for you. Watching him opposite Molly Parker is so funny. She is a young confident open minded redhead who is so charming and irresistible. To watch him fall in love with the only girl within 50km is very entertaining. In fact she works very close to him in his secluded gourmet restaurant somewhere on the coast of Nova Scotia. If you are a Molly Parker fan this movie is for you. She is at her natural best in this one. She will brisk by after immodestly changing her top in front of him. You can practically smell her. While setting the tables she is inspired into a passionate dance with no one around... seeing these two actors fall in love is the best part of this movie. The quirky plot with his eccentric buddy is kind of fun too. It's mostly about how great William Hurt is as a comedy actor and this was a very sweet vehicle for him. I already forget how it ends but that part is not important...just keep your eyes on Hurt performance...he's one of the best! And how could you not fall in love with her in this one?

A fine piece of work that deserves to be seen more widely. I agree with the previous comment only so far as the cocaine sub-plot is concerned. Nicely rounded cast (including Mary Walsh who is uncredited as the younger waitress's mother).Molly Parker was sensuality itself, while Andy Jones had the rough conviviality that his role needed. William Hurt sustained his part well, and I didn't really notice the slips in accent (though I recognize they were there).The cocaine sequences were pointless (and presumably gave the film its R rating), and the ending with the ridiculously hapless RCMP was a little disappointing. However, by that time the film had charmed me enough to make it not matter.

"Rare Birds" tells of a hapless Newfoundland restaurant owner/cook (Hurt) whose remote seaside restaurant is suffering from insufficient patronage due to a lack of advertising. A quirky friend (Jones) hatches a plot suggesting Hurt report the sighting of a nearly extinct duck to encourage bird watchers to flock to his eatery thereby stimulating his business while he's being stimulated by thoughts of his comely waitress (Parker)...etc. A fun and earnest flick which trudges through it's wry tale relying on understated tongue-in-cheek humor and quirkiness for entertainment, the film includes other salients such as a home made submarine, 22 pounds of cocaine, some much coveted sheet lights, and an RCMP SWAT team for additional substance. Overall, "RB" is a warm hearted little flick for those who don't mind off-kilteredness and the absence of the usual Hollyweird appurtenances. (B-)

William Hurt played his part with a befuddled care that may not have been obvious. The solid cast of Canadians and the island itself round out this quirky tale. Rare Birds is similar in theme to Saving Grace.For those who smacked The Shipping News, pray that Randon Passage comes back to tv.