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By Will Raiman and Sean Morrison Mmm...Parrot Kabobs |
Guide to Star Ratings |
: Paulie is the story of a parrot who (via some unexplained means) is able to carry on intelligent conversations. Through his recollections, we follow the dramatic story of what can happen to a parrot who talks too much.
Will: Going into this movie, I didn't expect much more than an updated Mr. Ed. I tend to say this a lot, but I was pleasantly surprised. One of the first things I wouldn't have expected was a complex narrative style, as Paulie relates his life story to a Russian literature teacher who is forced to work as a janitor when he comes to America.
Sean: Well, I wasn't pleasantly surprised. That is to say, I had heard nothing about this movie. I'd never seen a preview, or a commercial, or anything else. So, I went into Paulie with no preconceived notions (well, almost no preconceived notions. I mean it is a talking bird movie!). What I found Paulie to be was a pleasant morality play that doesn't club you over the head with its message. It was funny, and warmhearted, and enjoyable to watch. So, debuting our new and improved 63 point rating scale, I give Paulie 54 out of 63 points.
Will: So, you're debuting the 63 point rating scale without my approval. Very well. Let me just do some math to convert from my planned score on the 37 point scale... I give Paulie a 55.125 out of 63. I did that in my head, honest. Anyhow, it is true that they don't bang us over the head with lessons on morality. For example, during his adventures, an unscrupulous human uses Paulie as a thief. Eventually, Paulie is educated in what is right and wrong, but that scene is blessedly off camera.
Sean: Which was my whole point, really. But thanks for reiterating it for me. Why don't you just crawl back into your little hole and I'll tell the nice readers out there what you thought of the movie. For example, Will is going to say that the computer work of the people at DreamWorks was exceptional, since there were very few scenes that were obviously done on computer, and yet there must have been a lot of computer imaging done to make Paulie "talk."
Will: That's okay, I'll just tell all our readers about how you thought that the movie was very intelligent and philosophical. There was a certain amount of symbolism involved, and some excellent "carpe diem" themes. And if that isn't enough reason for kids to not enjoy this movie, I should point out some of the other interesting topics covered: death, empty lives, feuding parents, stuttering, angry fathers, and evil laboratory scientists. In short, adults might enjoy this movie more than kids, but adults wouldn't go to see a talking parrot movie unless they had kids.
Sean: We did. I don't have any kids. I don't know about you, but I'm reasonably certain you haven't managed to convince anyone to procreate with you. Well, I don't really have much more to say about this movie than what I've already said. It was good, go see it (unless you can't get over the mysterious talking parrot thing, in which case that will probably hamper your viewing enjoyment).
Will: Sean, you ignorant slut. You know, the vast majority of the characters in the movie didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that a parrot with a brain the size of a peanut has suddenly gained the ability to speak more intelligently than most of the students at my old high school. You know, I'd sooner believe in the intelligent parrot than in people calmly accepting the intelligent parrot. Before we go, my compliments to DreamWorks for another excellent film, and to Tony Shalhoub (the Russian who Paulie confides in) who is turning out to be an excellent actor.