`PAULIE' HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.Byline: Glenn Whipp Daily News Film Critic Get ready to buy your kid a parrot. Or, at the very least, a plush parrot doll. I say that because ``Paulie,'' a charming new animal movie starring a wonderfully expressive blue-crown conure Co`nure´ n. 1. (Zool.) An American parrakeet of the genus Conurus. Many species are known. See Parrakeet. parrot, should do for mimicking birds what ``Babe'' did for precocious porkers. Director John Roberts has lovingly crafted a heartfelt, whimsical tale full of the kind of warmth and fun that never panders to its audience and, thus, has an appeal to all ages. The film opens in a dark, dank dank adj. dank·er, dank·est Disagreeably damp or humid. See Synonyms at wet. [Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin. basement where a newly hired janitor discovers a forlorn parrot in a cage. Neither really belong in their current station. The janitor, Misha (Tony Shalhoub), is a Russian immigrant who used to teach literature at a university. Misha soon learns that Paulie feels constrained, too, but he comes to this information in a most unusual way. Paulie tells him - in good, old plain English Plain English (sometimes known, more broadly, as plain language) is a communication style that focuses on considering the audience's needs when writing. It recommends avoiding unnecessary words and avoiding jargon, technical terms, and long and ambiguous sentences. that doesn't mimic the language, but conveys the parrot's innermost feelings. Before too long - and this being a family movie, the pace is properly brisk - Paulie is going back in time, explaining his story to Misha. We see Paulie as an adorable baby parrot being raised by Marie (Hallie Kate Eisenberg Hallie Kate Eisenberg (born August 2, 1992) is an American actress. Eisenberg was born in East Brunswick Township, New Jersey, to Barry and Amy Eisenberg. She has an older sister Kerri and an older brother Jesse, who is also an actor. ), a little girl who has a stutter stut·ter n. A phonatory or articulatory disorder characterized by difficult enunciation of words with frequent halting and repetition of the initial consonant or syllable. v. To utter with spasmodic repetition or prolongation of sounds. . Paulie starts talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to help Marie converse and before too long, both are communicating better than most adults. Marie's parents become concerned that Paulie is occupying too much of their daughter's life, particularly after she falls from a second-story railing while trying to coax the parrot to fly. Soon, Paulie is shipped off to a pawn shop a shop where a pawnbroker does business. - Shak. See also: Pawn , beginning a series of adventures that have Paulie trying to reunite with little Marie. Jay Mohr Jay Mohr (born August 23, 1970) is an American actor and stand-up comedian. Biography Personal life Mohr was born John Mohr in Verona, New Jersey, the son of Jean, a nurse, and Jon Mohr, a marketing executive. (the agent who fired Tom Cruise in ``Jerry Maguire'') gives Paulie's voice the right mixture of Brooklynese brashness and comforting tenderness. Mohr also has a supporting role supporting role n → second rôle m supporting role n → ruolo non protagonista as a grifter grift Slang n. 1. Money made dishonestly, as in a swindle. 2. A swindle or confidence game. v. grift·ed, grift·ing, grifts v.intr. Paulie encounters in Los Angeles while trying to find Marie. Mohr's turn is one of many nicely understated cameos found in ``Paulie.'' Gena Rowlands is particularly moving as a widow who purchases Paulie and helps him on his cross-country trek. Cheech Marin is also on hand, playing an East L.A. taco stand owner who features Paulie and three other parrots in a nightly song-and-dance revue. It's here that Paulie even acquires a love interest in a Spanish parrot named Lupe. The filmmakers used 14 parrots to play Paulie, mixing in a few animatronic effects when the script required something too dangerous. The birds are remarkably adept at expressing the full gamut of emotions with their movements - better, in fact, than a lot of the acting from humans that I've seen this year. (Remember ``Spice World''?) ``Paulie'' deftly blends laughter and tenderness in a way that's never heavy-handed or naive. Its lessons are small ones about politeness, honor and making the most of every moment, and it teaches them in a clever and intelligent way. Those are qualities that more movies should parrot. THE FACTS The film: ``Paulie'' (PG; language). The stars: Gena Rowlands, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Jay Mohr, Bruce Davison and Buddy Hackett. Behind the scenes: Directed by John Roberts. Written by Laurie Craig. Released by DreamWorks Pictures. Running time: One hour, 31 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: Three Stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: A little girl named Marie (Hallie Kate Eisenberg) forms a special bond with a parrot that talks and understands in ``Paulie.'' |
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