True family entertainment that caters for grown-ups as much as for kids.
Paulie (1998)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:35
Fresh:22
Rotten:13
Average Rating:6.1/10
Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins
Genre: Childrens
Synopsis: When a little bird wih a big personality sets out to find the living girl who raised him, he discovers his way with words has a way of landing him in big trouble. But as fast as he can talk... When a little bird wih a big personality sets out to find the living girl who raised him, he discovers his way with words has a way of landing him in big trouble. But as fast as he can talk himself into a fix, he finds his gift of gab, a heart full of hope, and an odd menagerie of human friends can help him realize his most important dream: to be home at last. [More]
Starring: Gena Rowlands, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Bruce Davison
Starring: Gena Rowlands, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Bruce Davison, Jay Mohr
Director: John Roberts
Director: John Roberts
Screenwriter: Laurie Craig
Producer: Allison Lyon Segan, Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn
Composer: John Debney
Reviews for Paulie
There is a bland quality to the storytelling with little of the drama, comedy or sentiment really taking off.
Director John Roberts is abetted by some good acting, particularly from the always outstanding Rowlands.
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 developed character.
Celebrates the deep ties of love and loyalty between human beings and animals.
Its star is a very appealing little guy. Parents will be mildly amused, too.
The film is aimed at children, I suppose, although I don't think they'll like Paulie all that much. I didn't.
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.
Given the merits of the production, which is debut-directed by John Roberts from a script by Laurie Craig, this bird deserves to fly.
Paulie has moments of minor charm but lacks the magic to fully capture the imaginations of either children or adults.
The story is rooted in real feelings and relationships, and parents will find as much to enjoy as children.
It features smart, emotional storytelling, skillful filmmaking and solid, yuk-worthy jokes.
A movie that never quite lives up to its promise but manages to charm nevertheless.
A convenient, unprepossessing time-waster for Saturday afternoon kiddies.
Latest News for Paulie
May 14, 2008:
Total Recall: Our Favorite Talking Animals
Now that the second film in Disney/Walden's big-budget reimagining of the Narnia series, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, is heading to theaters, we here at RT thought... More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Paulie at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.



Top Critic

