Paulie *** (1998, Jay Mohr, Gena Rowlands, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin) – Classic Movie Review 1654

It’s a bird’s life! Paulie is a parrot who can speak – not just mimic but really talk – in director John Roberts’s appealing and touching 1998 magical DreamWorks adventure for all the family.

Paulie relates his life to Misha Vilyenkov (Tony Shalhoub), a janitor at a research station, where he’s been forced to spend the rest of his days. Paulie’s life is one of adventure and inspiration – and governed by his search for Marie Alweather (Hallie Kate Eisenberg), the little girl who loved and raised him.

Years ago, Paulie was given to little Marie, who stuttered so he taught her to speak correctly. But Marie was taken away by her father who thought she couldn’t distinguish fantasy from reality because she believed a bird can talk.

Now, the janitor feels compelled to help Paulie, and is determined that nothing will stop him finding Marie. An so Paulie goes through a series of quirky adventures.

Paulie also stars Gena Rowlands as the ageing widow Ivy, Cheech Marin as the Mexican American troubadour Ignacio, Bruce Davison as Dr Reingold, Trini Alvarado as the adult Marie Alweather, Buddy Hackett as Artie, Matt Craven as Warren Alweather and Jay Mohr as Benny as well as the voice of Paulie.

Paulie is a grand little tweet.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1654

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