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Gena Rowlands, Jay Mohr, Tia Texada, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin ... see more see more... , Bruce Davison , Trini Alvarado , Buddy Hackett , Hallie Kate Eisenberg , Matt Craven , Bill Cobbs , Laura Harrington

In the Babe tradition of talking animatronic animals, this comedy adventure gets underway when animal-research-lab janitor Misha (Tony Shalhoub) expresses concern for a Blue-crown Conure parrot named ... read more read more...Paulie (voice of Jay Mohr) caged in a dank basement. Misha settles back as Paulie tells his life story, seen in flashback: When Paulie was owned by little Marie (Hallie Kate Eisenberg), the parrot helped the little girl get rid of her stutter. After Marie tried to teach Paulie how to fly, he wound up in a pawnshop owned by Artie (Buddy Hackett), where he got an education in one-liners. Paulie and Ivy (Gena Rowlands) learn Marie's family is in LA, so Ivy agrees to drive Paulie cross-country in her RV. However, Marie goes blind and dies. Paulie is forced to fly to LA, where small-time entrepreneur Ignacio (Cheech Marin), with an eye for talent, talons and tacos, puts Paulie to work as a dancer at his taco-stand, where Paulie gets a birds-eye view of a female parrot with pretty plumage. Unfortunately, researcher Dr. Reingold (Bruce Davison), convinced Paulie can bring him academic recognition, steps in with a false promise to link the parrot up with Marie. Betrayed, Paulie refuses to speak anything other than the standard "want-a-cracker" lines, resulting in solitary confinement. Misha, who knows why the caged bird talks, hopes to free Paulie for an eventual reunion with Marie. Animal stunt coordinator Boone Narr and Stan Winston animatronics brought Paulie to life. For another fine-feathered film, see Dean Riesner's Bill and Coo (1947); the film's all-bird cast (dressed in human clothing) brought a "Special Award" for producer Ken Murray during the 1948 Oscar ceremony. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Flixster Users

50% liked it

42,776 ratings

Critics

61% liked it

36 critics

PG, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: John Roberts

Release Date: April 17, 1998

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DVD Release Date: August 3, 1999

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Stats: 1,108 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,108)

  • ajv2688
    July 21, 2011
    ajv2688
    A boring kids movie with another talking animal. At least the cast has some good actors, though.
  • skeletonking101
    January 31, 2011
    skeletonking101
    An extremely wonderful and sadly underrated film
  • ScoopOnline
    December 22, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    Paulie is very adventureous Movie with an intelligent but too Naughty Parot. A tiny bit of everything in it. Some senti moments and lots of LOL moments.
  • SirPant
    September 28, 2009
    SirPant
    The only ?talking animal? movie that I actually quite like.
  • thmtsang
    June 14, 2008
    thmtsang
    Movie about a talking parrot. Rubbish!
  • SarahG1988
    September 27, 2006
    SarahG1988
    I really like this mianly because my younger sis loved it when she was 4.
  • kiriyamakazou
    August 20, 2006
    kiriyamakazou
    With so many talking animal movies, especially with ones as good as Babe, there really isn't a reason to choose to watch this. But at times it is quite funny.
  • Yinali
    October 11, 2007
    Yinali
    Cool funny movie.
  • ileo
    December 23, 2007
    ileo
    Great movie! A favorite!
  • placeinthesun455
    September 13, 2011
    placeinthesun455
    not overly impressive. a simplistic plot overlain with episodic adventures that don't really amount to much. I guess there's some OK themes regarding perseverance and friendship, but it's hard to fully get on board when the main character is a parrot. movies like Babe work becaus... read moree the animals operate in their own little world. here, the bird is more likable and oftentimes much smarter than virtually every human with whom he interacts, and it never quite feels believable (although I did enjoy Tony Shalhoub). even Paulie himself is just a stereotypical New Yorker with an attitude problem. it's better than a lot of plushy family films, comparatively speaking, but at the end of the day, it's still a plushy family film.

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Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy
May 12, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Paulie has moments of minor charm but lacks the magic to fully capture the imaginations of either children or adults. Full Review

Lisa Alspector
May 12, 2008
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

Shalhoub gives an impressively nuanced performance in the dangerously cliched role, and Paulie -- a combination of trained parrots, animatronics, and the voice of Mohr -- comes across as a fully devel... Full Review

Bob Heisler
February 14, 2001
Bob Heisler, Los Angeles Times

A perfect family movie with the intelligence, humor and hug-me moments to be a great first-date movie, too. Just remember to bring a hankie. Full Review

Louis B. Parks
January 1, 2000
Louis B. Parks, Houston Chronicle

Unusual and surprisingly agreeable.

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The film is aimed at children, I suppose, although I don't think they'll like Paulie all that much. I didn't. Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Paulie has elements of a good weepy, but overall it never quite gels beyond being a passable novelty. Full Review

Lawrence Van Gelder
January 1, 2000
Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times

It is something to behold. Full Review

May 12, 2008
Film4

True family entertainment that caters for grown-ups as much as for kids. Full Review

Maitland McDonagh
May 12, 2008
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide

The story is rooted in real feelings and relationships, and parents will find as much to enjoy as children. Full Review

Ron Wells
December 6, 2005
Ron Wells, Film Threat

My head still throbs from being hit repeatedly with blunt life lessons. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Paulie: [when falling off his perch in the house] Ah! Look out!
    • Paulie: [when he was first given to Marie by her grandpa as a baby bird] I don't know what this creature was, but I liked it.
    • Lila Alweather: [during an argument between her and Warren about Marie's stuttering] Alright, we'll order her to stop stuttering.
    • Warren Alweather: Birds don't talk and they don't teach, okay? They just repeat what we say. They don't understand.
    • Marie: P-- P-- Paulie understands!
    • Warren Alweather: [sarcastically] Pretty quiet, aren't you there, professor?
    • Paulie: I was quiet. I'm sorry I was, but I was afraid of him.
    • Warren Alweather: [shaking Marie's hand] That's a strong handshake.
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Paulie Trivia

  • In the movie 'Paulie' what did the janitor use to coax Paulie to speak?  Answer »
  • In the movie "Paulie", who is Paulie?  Answer »
  • The following was said in the movie Goodfellas: "Paulie may have moved slow, but it was only because Paulie didn't have to move for anybody." Which actor played Paulie?  Answer »
  • in which movie did paulie shore think globaly?  Answer »
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