X
- 2021
- PG-13
- Netflix
- 1 h 42 m
- 2021
- PG-13
- Netflix
- 1 h 42 m
Summary After Lilly (Melissa McCarthy) suffers a loss, a battle with a territorial bird over dominion of her garden provides an unlikely avenue for her grief and the courage to heal her relationships and rediscover her capacity for love.
Directed By: Theodore Melfi
Written By: Matt Harris
- 2021
- PG-13
- Netflix
- 1 h 42 m
- 2021
- PG-13
- Netflix
- 1 h 42 m
The Starling
31
4.8
Where to Watch
Summary After Lilly (Melissa McCarthy) suffers a loss, a battle with a territorial bird over dominion of her garden provides an unlikely avenue for her grief and the courage to heal her relationships and rediscover her capacity for love.
Directed By: Theodore Melfi
Written By: Matt Harris
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 23 Critic Reviews
31
4% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
43% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
52% Negative
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 23 Critic Reviews
31
4% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
43% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
52% Negative
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
The Starling is trying to be a feel-good movie about finding hope in dark times. That’s admirable, but the main problem is that it does it in such a down-the-middle, straightforward way. As a result, there aren’t any surprises and at least a few missed opportunities. Still, Melissa McCarthy and Kevin Kline are worth the price of admission alone.
It’s nice to see McCarthy and O’Dowd in roles that showcase their emotional range; one just wishes it were in a project worthy of their talents.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 15 User Ratings
4.8
33% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
27% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
40% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 15 User Ratings
4.8
33% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
27% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
40% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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It may seem churlish to knock a film that works so hard to present everyday, well-meaning folks facing unspeakable, real-life pain. But between the picture’s uncertain tone, quirky-for-quirk’s-sake elements and such self-conscious dialogue as “What color is the sky in your world, kemo sabe?” it’s tough to be all that supportive.
The performances are as deflated as the subject matter, which, considering the caliber of the players and the track record of the director, points back to the script.
It will provide a fun discussion on what went wrong, rather than what went right, and that conversation will give more joy, story, and clarity than the film itself.
McCarthy is one of our finest physical comedians. Every moment of physical comedy she performs here is cringey.
Every implausible scene, every unconvincing character, every contrived dollop of symbolism, every toe-curlingly misjudged and unearned emotional climax seems as if it has been concocted in some secret bio-warfare lab for assaulting your mind with pure, toxic nonsense.
Why are there so many bad reviews about this film? Jesus Christ! It's a feel-good movie. Sometimes the plot is predictable but there are plenty of funny moments to compensate for that. The music is fine. The acting is also fine. And the emotional moments are, you guessed it... also fine. So if you're going to black out a great movie, then you first have to learn that movies also remain movies.
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Es una película de Netflix con Melissa McCarthy; la trama es simple y las actuaciones son decentes; es bastante olvidable.
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For a film that in a way is trying to instill optimism, its very nature transforms it into a story in which its entire emotional arc is based on the sentimental manipulation that it can provoke in the viewer.
That's not new, hundreds of dramas do it, but when you're doing it with a comedic tone that also includes a lead actress who's recognized for her work in comedy, you provoke that a storyline dealing with depression after the death of a son, feels like many things, except genuine.
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The concept of this film is as absurd as you’d expect…healing thru an avian friendship. Melissa McCarthy and Chris O’Dowd play a happy couple until an unfortunate event devastates their lives. While he struggles in a psychiatric facility, she starts to face her grief with the help of an especially aggressive bird in her garden. Although their performances are acceptable, the only bright spot is the veterinarian, played by a charmingly amusing Kevin Kline. Otherwise, the narrative is painfully predictable, while the dialogue doesn’t add any depth. The hokey symbolism that parallels her relationship with the bird is a contrived and downright dumb attempt that feels like it’s dragging the bottom of Hallmark Channel rejects.
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bad
[ bad ]
adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.
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Production Company
Boies Schiller Entertainment,
Culmination Productions,
Entertainment One,
Goldenlight Films,
Limelight
Release Date Sep 17, 2021
Duration 1 h 42 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline Hope. Starts. Small.
Awards
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Humanitas Prize
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
