The Starling

Name: The Starling
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy
Released: September 17, 2021
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 31
Cast: Chris O'Dowd, Daveed Diggs, Elisabeth Röhm, Emily Tremaine, Jesse Garcia

2021

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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4.8

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4.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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The Starling

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: September 17, 2021 | PG-13

Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Daveed Diggs, Elisabeth Röhm, Emily Tremaine, Jesse Garcia, Kevin Kline, Kimberly Quinn, Laura Harrier, Loretta Devine, Melissa McCarthy, Rosalind Chao, Scott MacArthur, Skyler Gisondo, Timothy Olyphant, Veronica Falcón

Movie Facts:

Debuts on Netflix on September 24, 2021.

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.

Director: Theodore Melfi

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 102 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Andy Howell

Sep 15, 2021

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. Read full review

Nina Metz

Sep 27, 2021

McCarthy’s open-faced performance is reason enough to give it your time, even if nearly everything surrounding her feels unworthy. Read full review

The Playlist Marya E. Gates

Sep 13, 2021

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. Read full review

Johanna Schneller

Sep 15, 2021

Kline and McCarthy are lovely in their few scenes together (they’re the reason for that extra half-star) and for those brief moments, you see the film the actors thought they were making. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Sep 24, 2021

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. Read full review

The Film Stage Michael Frank

Sep 17, 2021

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. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Sep 12, 2021

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. Read full review

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User Reviews

KHMTosa

Sep 24, 2021

We need more movies like this. It deals with loss and how difficult it can be to continue daily living and yet still maintain hope. Well acted. Great music. Moments of laughter. Highly recommend.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Trilobietman

Jan 21, 2022

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. SoWhy 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DuckySpooky02

Oct 26, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Esta muy bonita, obviamente chille, tanto así que ya ni la quise acabar de ver… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DogeGamer2015

Oct 2, 2021

Es una película de Netflix con Melissa McCarthy; la trama es simple y las actuaciones son decentes; es bastante olvidable.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Oct 18, 2021

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 comedicFor 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MetacriticOnur

Sep 24, 2021

bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

TVJerry

Sep 27, 2021

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 anThe 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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