The Starling (2021) User Reviews

Quite a nice surprise this one...

[paul_haakonsen · 7/10 · 19 January 2022]

"The Starling" is definitely not your average run-of-the-mill comedy from actress Melissa McCarthy. And I have to admit that when I sat down to watch this 2021 Netflix comedy drama then I was expecting it to be another archetypical McCarthy comedy.

I am glad that I opted to sit down and watch "The Starling", from writer Matt Harris and director Theodore Melfi, because this movie was enjoyable. Not only was it an enjoyable movie to watch, but it also had a very well-written and beautiful storyline. And the movie also showcase that Melissa McCarthy is more than just your average comedian, because she really puts on a strong and memorable performance in this movie.

The storyline told in "The Starling" wasn't really a comedy as per se. Sure, there were some pseudo-funny moments here and there, but the movie had its focus on the drama aspect of the story, and that panned out quite well, especially since it was a rather emotional and well-written storyline.

"The Starling" has a great cast ensemble with some rather impressive names on the list, with the likes of Melissa McCarthy - obviously. But also with the likes of Kevin Kline, Timothy Olyphant, Chris O'Dowd, Rosalind Chao and Loretta Devine.

I was genuinely entertained by "The Starling", and it is a movie that I will recommend you to sit down and watch. If you haven't already seen "The Starling", and if you get the chance to do so, you should, because this is a rather good movie and a nice chance of pace from Melissa McCarthy.

My rating of "The Starling" lands on a seven out of ten stars.

Original

[Zhivagommii · 7/10 · 26 September 2021]

My husband and I watched this movie tonight. It was very charming and fresh. It moved along swiftly. So sensitive with a touch of very dry humor. The performances by everyone were excellent.

A good example of a movie made by a good script.

I have no idea why movie critics trashed this. Movie critics are no longer relevant in my esteem. I think they are desperate to be relevant.

Feeling their pain and grief

[Gordon-11 · 18 October 2021]

"The Starling" is not a comedy, but a film for viewers to feel that characters' pain and grief. It is a nice surprise to see how the comedians could portray these deep feelings effectively.

Find your light

[T2TLED · 7/10 · 26 September 2021]

Not horrible. Quite inspirational in finding your light. Great soundtrack. Very sweet movie.

McCarthy's softer Side

[jeroduptown · 7/10 · 6 November 2021]

McCarthy and her husband experience great loss and are on journeys to find themselves and each other again. And even though The Starling is chocked full of not so subtle symbolism and typical drama, it's still a well-acted, solid story.

A Solid Movie. Worth Watching.

[ruadhcaileag · 7/10 · 30 October 2021]

While the storyline is a little thin on the full impact or the loss of someone and sorting out mental health, it does a good job of showing different sides. Just the right mix of sad and happy to have an impact. Mental health is no joke and there should continue to be more light shone on the struggle. Great choice on actors.

Solid Parts, Not So Solid Results

[daoldiges · 5/10 · 3 October 2021]

I saw a clip from The Starling and it piqued my interest enough to give it a viewing. O'Dowd and McCarthy both give worthy performances. Kline who's often very good underperforms and his performance is really lacking here. The premise does sound promising but it just doesn't quite work for me. I wanted to like it, and some parts did kind of work but just not enough of them. Glancing through some of the reviews many folks clearly enjoyed this film a lot, and I'm happy others were able to enjoy it. Unfortunately, I just wasn't one of them.

Realistic Masterpiece! -Rating from someone who has experienced this in real life

[brockbrenner · 10/10 · 25 September 2021]

As a wife who has been through a husband who was committed to a mental facility for suicide attempt...I absolutely loved the realistic depiction. This was accurate. I am happy that finally someone created a film so beautiful and so accurate. It's a very tough subject. I read the other reviews and it seems people cannot relate (because they have not been through it) and they said it was too sad! Well for the spouses of people with severe depression and suicide attempt...there is nothing happy or funny about this. Thank you Melissa McCarthy for playing your role correctly...it was fantastic! And yes... her character was realistic... a woman who was lost in her head and tried to distract herself and pretend that everything was ok, when indeed she is broken inside. In this era its horrible for people who are still portraying women as weaklings and they think it's unrealistic to see a woman who is trying to be mentally stronger. Yes we women can be capable of this! I think if the roles were reversed more critics would have liked it... I can't believe in a time of "Me Too," that this is still happening! Thank you to the actors and Netflix for such a beautiful and real movie.

A gentle way to look at grief and depression

[eunique-233-530163 · 7/10 · 13 October 2021]

Melissa McCarthy, Chris ODowd and Kevin Kline are perfectly cast to add a touch of humor, and the acting chops to carry off the depth of what grief and depression can do to relationships. This is done without a lot of schmaltz or cliches, the blend of anger, sadness and helplessness are really well done, without preaching and with the hard edges softened with just enough humor to soften it, Is it the best movie ever? No? But I think this movie will resonate with those that have dealt with different aspects of heartbreak and depression. I think that's why there is such a wide range of ratings.

Grief Counciling from a CG Bird.

[faolanredwolf · 5/10 · 25 September 2021]

I wouldn't call this movie terrible. The cast is too good for that. But, it's not good either.

The story of a grieving couple trying to make sence of a world without sence is a touching and relatable one. Finding something to help you get past the pain, in this case a territorial bird, is also relatable. Wacky slapstick humour, clashing with dark sad themes, well... isn't.

It also becomes hard for me to connect to a CGI bird and a dead child we never got too meet. The biggest problem though, is that no one is particularly likable, nor do they really act like real people would. I do believe that the movies heart is in the right place, but the writing isn't great and it's very hard to connect to anyone.

From the heart

[marydm-43470 · 9/10 · 31 October 2021]

What a sweet, authentic, gorgeous flick, full of heart.

So many hard boiled critics out there who don't like it, cos it's simple and real and not some pretentious and cynical piece of cinematic art.

Beautiful heartbreak story, people grieving and healing in their own way and time each, with some unlikely but awesome help, the ex-therapist vet who still helps heal the emotions of the human owners of the pets; and some predictable but nevertheless effective help: nature: gardening and caring for the wild creatures around us, symbolised by the eponymous starling, as sources of emotional recovery from human tragedy.

Kevin Kline is delicious as the ex-therapist vet, Chris O'Dowd is a most convincing emotionally hurting big Teddy Bear, and the fabulous Melissa McCarthy just about owns the entire thing. All three put in scintillating performances, a masterclass in the art of under rather than overacting.

A sweet, genuine, human story without unnecessary frills that cuts to the chase, cos it comes straight from the heart.

Full marks for everything in it, and hats off too to the starling special effects crew.

Just a gorgeous flick all round.

Simple but good

[tariqma2002 · 7/10 · 5 February 2022]

The story line and cinematography are simple but good .. the dramatic aspect deserves watching and I think this movie can attract you till the end .. It is a symbol of the clean cinema.

Well-meant but dreary comedy drama

[witra_as · 5/10 · 28 September 2021]

Well-meant comedy drama but riddled with dismal writing and dreary execution. Theodore Melfi lingered too long on few interesting metaphors including weak CGI starling itself. McCarthy & O'Dowd gave nice efforts to sluggishly wrapped such purposeful conclusion.

fair story

[Kirpianuscus · 3 April 2022]

Special seems the fair term to define it. Because sensitive themes are just fair used and driven, because Mellissa McCarthy proposes a beautiful crafted character, because it is a drama in which the humor, in different forms, becomes the axis, because it is one of that films about life, telling, in simple- honest way a story who you know because, in some measure, it is one who you feel so well. A loss , a family, a therapist and a starling. And few lines as suggestions about meaning of life at basic levels.

Okay

[DVK1234 · 6/10 · 28 September 2021]

Movie was okay because it had a great cast. I wish the story was better developed. Jack quit on life, Lilly didn't. Okay, so what? Why did Larry leave psychiatry, really? I didn't find the reason he gave to be satisfactory. Didn't find the ending to be believable. The bird segments were cringey, super unrealistic.

Just okay.

Chris O'Dowd for the win

[rrrrrrruby · 6/10 · 25 September 2021]

I watched for Melissa but Chris O'Dowd is the one who steals this movie. I was impressed by his acting & he was the one that made me cry. It was still a slow movie.

Great Movie

[sharonolivier-62439 · 10/10 · 25 September 2021]

I'm so glad I ignored the 5.8 star rating and watched this. It was exactly what I felt like watching and I cried a bit and laughed a bit and just really enjoyed this movie.

Starts off strong, then looses its momentum and direction around midpoint, trying to smooth over with too much piano music and occasional comedy

[me_on_quality · 5/10 · 28 September 2021]

With a serious theme at heart, this film, after an omittable prologue, opens visually appealing, and at first manages to add the necessary lightness while still staying sincere. However, it then regrettably gets lost along the way, with an unfortunate mix of comedic and sad scenes without true depth, like stirring oil and water and letting the confused onlooker watch them separate too many times. The metaphor of the starling is a good start, but just doesn't carry this picture along, leaving the viewer emptier at the end than the beginning would have suggested. Also, a totally miscast couple without any screen connection.

You can't judge the book by the cover

[studioginger · 8/10 · 25 September 2021]

A very different movie for what you can expect from the cast, but it does not mean that it is s a bad movie, the comedy drama movies are the most difficult to play right, but if you really want to see this movie properly, you will realise that it is very deep and full emotions.... And also once in a while.. Funny too... Because every rose comes with a few spikes and fragrances....... Just enjoy the characters and stop moaning about what you expected... That is pointless.

Not a comedy. It's a great movie

[jrwren · 6/10 · 29 July 2023]

The amount of comedy relief even for a drama is so little that this should not be tagged comedy like it is.

The cast is amazing.

The music is overused but only a little.

You might not laugh at all because this is not a comedy.

The amount of comedy relief even for a drama is so little that this should not be tagged comedy like it is.

The cast is amazing.

The music is overused but only a little.

You might not laugh at all because this is not a comedy.

The amount of comedy relief even for a drama is so little that this should not be tagged comedy like it is.

The cast is amazing.

The music is overused but only a little.

You might not laugh at all because this is not a comedy.

Trigger warning

[tod-06414 · 7/10 · 27 December 2021]

If you are prone to bouts of sadness do not watch this movie. It made me so sad. It's not really a sad movie it just made me sad. It also skims around the idea of suicide. I thought with Melissa McCarthy in it it would be a comedy of sorts. Any attempt at humour is overshadowed by the sadness it invokes.

Best without the fake bird

[shojill19 · 7/10 · 1 October 2021]

Really good film with excellent performances by the humans, but the terrible animated starling ruined it.

Emotions run high

[jackiefitzgerald-64282 · 7/10 · 12 October 2021]

I was moved by this movie on many levels. The acting was superb and they seem to understand the dynamics of human emotion and what fuels our complicated lives. These are the scripts that people like. They are genuine.

Quite pathetic

[PedroPires90 · 3/10 · 26 September 2021]

I finished The Starling not knowing what this one wants to be, but with the certainty that it is not good. It's almost incomprehensible how a film that deals with a theme as strong and rich as mourning, manages to give us something so empty and, at times, bordering on the ridiculous.

Melissa McCarthy convinces me more as an actress than as a comedian, but even that doesn't save this film from utter vulgarity.

A heartfelt gem

[Mars-3038 · 10/10 · 25 September 2021]

This is a realistic portrayal of grief, of losing a love one. I thought it was wonderfully made and definitely deserves a much higher rating!!