Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Paulie, a talking parrot, recounts his travels looking for his original owner to a Russian janitor who helps him to the end of his journey.
Paulie is a charming family adventure with a heartfelt episodic structure following a talking parrot's cross-country journey. The plot is warmly engaging though somewhat formulaic in its picaresque setup. Acting is solid across the board with Tony Shalhoub and Gena Rowlands lending genuine warmth. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable for the era. The film's novelty lies in its sincere, non-ironic take on a talking-animal narrative told mostly from the animal's perspective, which gives it a modestly distinctive voice. The ending delivers satisfying emotional closure without surprises.