Chicken People (2016) User Reviews

Surprisingly entertaining look at U.S. competitive chicken breeding

[ladybug2535 · 7/10 · 10 February 2018]

Yes, this really is about "Chicken People". Not scared people, or cowards, but about people who love and raise chickens. Most of the focus on this short documentary focuses on those who raise and breed chickens for show (though some do indeed find themselves on the dinner menu after a time) and competition, hoping--just like people who breed and show cats or dogs, hoping to win not only "Best in Breed" but "Best in Show". It's interesting to see the variety of breeds involved and (superficially) the techniques these breeders use to bring out their desired characteristics.

Filled with interviews, the film affectionately follows these self-acknowldged "Chicken People" as they care for--feed, bathe and even groom their chickens and prepare for competition. Some treat their chickens like members of the family--like true pets, while others love them but keep them as barn fowl. There is a sense of self-depecrating humor thorughout the interviews as these people seeem to be self-aware enough to recognize that their love--even self-described "obsession" of chickens is seen as a bit unusual. Still, they smile and never apologize for how they feel.

This is not the most lively of documentaries, nor the most scintillating or instructive. To me it spend just a little too much time on the breeder's outside interests (in a dicumentary this short it matters). However, if you are an animal lover, or a breeder of any sort, or even just curious about chickens, you should enjoy it. It also can servie as a breif introduction to the world of chicken breeding and competition.

Touching

[The_Boxing_Cat · 8/10 · 15 September 2018]

I thought of this film as a metaphor...especially regarding the young man who said he was constantly being bullied in school -felt as though he had been judged his whole life. Now his chickens are constantly being judged, but they don't give a rat's a$$ Yet, they continue to be loved even when they don't win, but it seems to me they're all winners.

Enjoyable movie. I have new found respect for these people and those around them who willingly give their time. It was a fun watch. Who would've thunk!!!

They put so much love into the chickens, but honestly I cannot fathom how someone could eat one of them!

Very watchable....mostly because the competitions seemed so very nice.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 6 May 2019]

Long, long ago, my wife and I showed dogs...briefly. We stopped mostly because, believe it or not, the dog show world is filled with angry, ultra-competitive people who just aren't very nice. And, the mockumentary "Best in Show" actually is pretty accurate in many ways! In light of this, I found myself really enjoying "Chicken People" because most of the folks the documentary highlights are genuinely nice and it was NOT all about winning. In particular, when one of the featured folks narrowly beat out another featured breeder, the man was congratulatory AND said his loss meant he just needed to work to breed even better birds. Now I am NOT saying every person in the film is wonderful...one of them seemed pretty odd...but in general they seemed like relatively normal folks who you couldn't help but like. Because of this, a seemingly dull topic turned out to be pretty interesting and worth seeing.

LOVED THE CHICKENS

[jewelch · 7/10 · 16 February 2021]

I had a big smile on my face during most of this great documentary. The stories of the people/breeders who love their chickens are interesting to hear. And the chickens are beautiful. When I volunteered at a zoo, we could take out various breeds of chicken and I was in awe at the intricate patterns and colors of their feathers. I learned a lot from this film about how different breeds look and on what they are judged. Like a fun dog show but with chickens. This is a feel-good film about love of animals and nature and the folks who have passion for them. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 2/15/2021

Clucky

[carolethecatlover · 9/10 · 15 June 2017]

Hilarious but true, as someone has spent the whole of the Royal Easter Show in the Poultry Shed, it is all true, true! This is an affectionate look at chicken love in the US of A. (Not enough Australorps, as an Aussie). So they picked the prettiest, cutest breeds and then found the most obsessed owners, not hard, as all are like this, those who win. The chickens are cute, the people funny, the tightly held cameraman has to be congratulated on getting close to the action, and between the cages. Those chickens have a nice life. Pampered, washed, and manicured, their own homes and lots of outdoor range. Do you eat chicken? Do I eat my kids? Telling. This is a true documentary, not a mockumentary as was 'best of breed'. But you would be forgiven for thinking so. A little more information would be nice. Like an egg takes 21 days to hatch, like all chickens have the same basic genes and all come from one type of wild chicken. Documentaries need to teach us something as well as amuse. This falls a little short in the information supply category. But delightful.

More than just chickens

[parasolspetticoats · 9/10 · 26 February 2022]

What I loved about this documentary, and many like it, is the fact that the focal point (in this case chicken competitions) is really just an entry point into the human condition. Yes, there are chickens. Thousands, possibly. But the three characters followed through their own respective journeys to a big competition, as well as their lives both past and present, is what the story is really about.

A young, kind hearted man who struggled to find acceptance. A middle-aged man who thrives on problem-solving and analytical pursuits. And a woman simply trying to find peace in life, peace in herself and learning to work through trauma. It's certainly an easy assessment to make, but it works: sometimes people need chickens more than the chickens need them.

This doc is organically endearing, interesting and I fell in love with the contestants, and the contestants', contestants.

9/10.

Excellent in so many ways

[jackbaratta · 9/10 · 5 December 2021]

The people are sweet & real, the birds are beautiful and this was a brand new world to a city/suburban dweller. I found this to be a completely enjoyable documentary!

Plate 'Em Up

[saint_brett · 8/10 · 8 July 2023]

My movie collection is so dire that I was forced to buy this "Chicken People" documentary a long time ago.

What was that telling you while I was browsing in the music shop and trying to select something to choose from?

That there was nothing else enticing to purchase and that it was all crap!

Every time I walk past the music shop nowadays, I notice that there's never anyone in there buying movies anymore.

It's a shame this documentary wasn't R-rated.

This is a CMT production.

The country and western music channel? You mean there was a chance this was on that very channel and I didn't have to buy it?

What have we got here? An opera solo to accompany chickens? If you say so.

Only one minute and 55 seconds into this, and I say we've got a winner already! The Red Pye Modern Game: talk about legs 11. Sexy. Sexy bird.

My ribbon goes to that gangly-legged weirdo. It looks like a dinosaur bird.

It's a shame that only 5 seconds are dedicated to the Grand Champion at the end of this documentary. Indeed an immaculate bird it was.

We were eating KFC only two days ago, and I said out loud, "We're eating Spatchcock, you know?" A fully grown chicken breast can't be the size KFC serves up. Perhaps it's a pigeon?

According to this documentary, the goal is apparently to create the perfect chicken.

Well, work on their odor first, as holey moley do they smell.

They have these chicken judging fairs in the halls of those strawberry festivals down in Florida.

So, these people go to great lengths to rear these poultry just to be judged as the best in show - The Super Grand Champion - then what? They eat them?

Why do people strive for perfection? It just leads to obsession and disappointment.

I always question these judges who determine the grading of the chickens. They remind me of those wine connoisseur yuppies who hold the glass in two fingers and swirl it, then take delicate sips while acting all high and mighty and superior. They'll find fault with anything.

Ask me, and I'd say every one of these chickens looks like a winner.

The documentary takes place in Ohio until it's canceled and moved to Tennessee.

The goal is to attend either The All Valley Tournament or an Over The Top showdown and have a face-off between rival states.

But first, they have to qualify in some provincial division.

Was that Teddy Atlas?

Bird owner Shari McCollough just came in second out of 45 other contenders and is much displeased. As they say, nobody remembers the runners-up.

Or, second sucks. Grizzly's words, not mine. Or was it Bull Hurley who said that? I forget. It was one of those two.

This whole chicken judging business is just like kids in school: they award the smartest with praise, distinctions, and accolades while the rest brood and stew in misery, thinking it's the end of the world.

A cancellation in Columbus sees the combat tournament swapped to Knoxville on short notice due to equine influenza or some other man-made airborne disease.

So, let me get this straight: they're only judged on presentation, not taste? Wouldn't it be better to judge them on their flavor?

"Animals enrich people's lives." Yeah, they also destroy your property, too. Every blind in our joint has been destroyed by Bungus, my cat.

Personally, I'm not a chicken person, as my only encounters with chickens resulted in them attacking me with their spurs. They were always violent.

"Chicken People" is good, clean fun compared to all the other crap I subject myself to.

It was refreshing to watch something that wasn't hate-filled or laden with violence and swearing.

Call this documentary a lighter shade of Brown Leghorn. That's an attempt at humor right there. Get it?

Never mind.

I won't disrespect anyone in this documentary, as I admire their dedication and passion.

In my eyes, there are no winners or losers in this. Everyone in this documentary was down-to-earth and had a heart.

It's good to see. Good stuff from all involved.

Unfortunately, there are no recipes for deep-fried crispy-skin chicken in this documentary.

A segment should have been dedicated to cooking the tasty morsels.

A story about humans, not chickens

[JustHavingALook · 8/10 · 29 October 2022]

Well put together documentary. It's about people who love chickens, not cowards hey.

Jokes apart the whole subject is tremendously serious for the characters we follow. And that's the whole point: the chickens provide great visuals (the competitions scenes are very well filmed and edited) but the train of the documentary is about people. (hence the title)

so if you go watch it expecting to understand a bit about the different kinds of chickens, well you'll be disappointed. It's about humanity at its finest: the struggle to make it happen, the pursuit of fame and recognition, wanting to belong and to exceed expectations , the maniacs and what it means to support and to love.

Splendid documentary.

some really pretty birds. who knew ?

[ksf-2 · 8/10 · 28 February 2022]

It's the world of show chickens. Really! As of today, no cast or trivia is listed on imdb, but several of the peoples' names are shown on the screen. Brian caraker is indeed a performing singer in a show. And sings to his birds to calm them. One lady is a wife and a mom. We actually get to watch the chicks bust out of their shells, something most of us have probably never seen. For me, that was more exciting than watching the events at the shows. This is listed as a documentary, and while they all take the shows and appearance standards seriously, they all seem to have a sense of humor about it. Bless the turkey, and damn the skin, open your mouth and cram it in! Discussion of the avian bird flu, when shows were cancelled and many birds were destroyed. There's some reality that brought things to a halt. Very entertaining film. At times, it sounds like a christopher guest film, but these are just everyday folks, like you and me. Who knew there were that many kinds of chicken ?

The story of people trying to create the most perfect chicken.

[yasananlarim · 8/10 · 27 December 2022]

The documentary tells the story of a group of people who raise chickens and other poultry that best meet the standards of excellence set by the American Poultry Association. It describes the psychology, life and relationship with chickens of people who dedicate their lives to creating the most perfect chicken.

The documentary was good. It makes me happy to see these beautiful chickens. But it's sad to see owners love their chickens and other poultry sometimes just for reward. It is a pity that they are seen only as ornamental animals and prize-winning poultry.

I love poultry, I did not get bored watching this documentary. I wish there was more talk about chicken love.