A wisecracking parrot’s journey from a stuttering girl’s companion to a scientific lab subject
In short: Released in 1998, the film Paulie tells the story of a blue-crowned conure with the uncanny ability to speak like a human. After being separated from his original owner, the bird navigates a series of owners and hardships before landing in a research institute that views him as a specimen.
The film was inspired by screenwriter Laurie Craig’s encounter with a caged parrot and her reading about Alex, an African Grey parrot known for his extensive vocabulary and deep bond with his researcher. To bring the titular character to life, the production utilized 14 trained blue-crowned conures, supported by other species like jenday and nanday conures. Filming occurred between July and October 1997 across California and Toronto, with a budget of $23 million.
The plot centers on Paulie, who is gifted to a young girl named Marie Alweather. When Marie’s father, a soldier returning from Vietnam, decides the bird is a negative influence on his daughter’s speech therapy, Paulie is sent away. His subsequent journey involves a pawn shop, a blind artist, and a life of crime under a shady handler named Benny. Eventually, Paulie is captured by a research institute where Dr. Reingold subjects him to testing, concealing the fact that he has located Marie.
Upon its April 17, 1998 release, the film was a box office disappointment, grossing roughly $26.9 million domestically. While critics offered mixed-to-positive reviews, the film found a more enduring audience through home media. In 2006, Viacom acquired the rights to the film as part of a larger library purchase, and it has since been bundled in various DVD collections and added to the Paramount+ streaming service.
The film’s production reflects a specific era of DreamWorks Pictures, predating the launch of the studio’s animation division. It was one of the initial live-action scripts developed by the studio alongside titles like Amistad and Mouse Hunt. Despite its modest theatrical performance, the story of Paulie’s quest to reunite with Marie remains a notable example of 1990s adventure comedy-drama.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Paulie (film)
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