User Reviews

Not a great movie, and certainly not as funny as the people who made it seem to think it is, but it still creeps up on you, and you find yourself rooting for these characters, even while you're getting slightly annoyed by them. Pulling together a really terrific cast is a triumph in itself, and if the end result isn't a home run, it's still a decent double, maybe even a triple. I grabbed this off the Hollywood Video shelf based totally on the cast, especially Ben Foster (LOVED him in Barry Levinson's Liberty Heights, and of course Six Feet Under). While I thought it could have been more, especially with Craig Lucas at the helm (and I was surprised that there was no gay characters at all), it wasn't a terrible way to spend a dreary Monday night when there was nothing to watch on TV.

BIRDS OF America is not a cinematic version of Lorrie Moore's best selling collection of short stories by the same name. This little tale of a dysfunctional family was written by Elyse Friedman, a Canadian novelist and screenwriter (Then Again, Long Short Story, Waking Beauty) whose works are summed up by the author: "If I had to sum up my characters in one word, I'd say 'outsiders.' There's not one particular source from where I get my inspiration. It comes from different places. I get it from life, and ideas pop into my head. I file them away and sooner or later it's time to deal with them, whether in screenplay, book, or poem or whatever it happens to be." Craig Lucas (Longtime Companion, Prelude to a Kiss, The Dying Gaul) joins Friedman in bringing this strange little story about outsiders and insiders, all living together under one bizarre roof.

Morrie (Matthew Perry) is the older brother who raised his free-spirited siblings Jay (Ben Foster) and Ida (Ginnifer Goodwin) after the death of their parents. Their lives have gone in different directions: Morrie is a professor in line for tenure that happens to be at the mercy of his fellow academician Paul (Gary Wilmes) who lives next door to Morrie and his sturdy but 'it's time to start a family' wife Betty (Lauren Graham). Paul and his obsessive compulsive gardening wife-new-mother Laura (Hilary Swank) do all the right things, a trait Morrie and Betty try to emulate to assure Morrie's getting tenured, a move that will assure Betty that motherhood can be approached.

Into this strained atmosphere drops Jay recovering from an accident (he lay on the freeway and was hit but not killed). Alone (he is married to a young girl Gillian (Zoë Kravitz) but does not share this information at first) Jay moves into Morrie's attic and continues his strange life pattern, imposing his Vegan style on the family and eventually inviting his equally looney sister Ida to move in, too: Ida takes the basement. The two siblings proceed to cause minor crises and dilemmas for Morrie, more or less resulting in Morrie's being alienated from his 'important' neighbors. How Morrie and Betty adjust to their new found way of life and its consequences provides an ending to the story.

The film is slight and begs indulgence in some of the sidebars that are less than contributing to the film as a whole, but the cast is very good: Ben Foster and Ginnifer Goodwin continue to impress as they polish their acting skills. The story is a little on the crazy side, but it does provide another way of viewing a dysfunctional family.

Grady Harp

Though the title is derived from Audubon's priceless book and there are several references within the film corresponding to the title, it also serves as a metaphor. The film centres around a dysfunctional family and each member is like a bird. Morrie (Matthew Perry) is a bird who's lived in a cage for so long that he's finding it difficult to break free. His wife Bettie is like a bird who desperately wants to create a nest and nurture children. His brother Jay is a gentle young bird who keeps flying. And, similarly, his sister too keeps flying, only that she's flying away from having to deal with her problems.

While movies about dysfunctional families are becoming redundant these days (though they haven't tired me), 'Birds Of America' feels refreshing. It's a funny, at times hilariously outrageous, heartwarming, whimsical, poetic and humane little film. While these siblings, who have grown up without stable parents, have their own problems, their unconditional love for one another is strong and genuine it is sensitively demonstrated by the actors with compassion. They do feel like a real family.

Friedman's writing is superb as the dialogues are authentic, symbolic and humorous and the poetry of the story comes across very well. The characters are very real with a gentle touch of humour. Lucas's direction is equally good as he stays focused on the main story, telling it with sincerity and clarity. In addition, Yaron Orbach's playful cinematography and Ahrin Mishan's whimsical score are excellent and they beautifully enhance the mood. Eric Kissack's editing is crisp. It is a very short film but it's rounded up well.

The performances are outstanding. It was great to see Matthew Perry in a serious role (with a comic touch). He just proves what a versatile actor he is and his effective portrayal comes across as very genuine. Lauren Graham is just as fantastic as the desperate housewife desperate to have kids with the husband she loves. Ben Foster is brilliantly restrained and very likable. He does not have to rely on overt gimmicks to draw laughter. Ginnifer Goodwin too is excellent as the promiscuous, carefree and addictive sister Ida. Hilary Swank springs a pleasant surprise as the pompous 'perfect' neighbour. It's a role that any star of her caliber would turn down without second thought and it's not a role that one would expect an accomplished actress to play but Swank does a fine job nonetheless and it was great to see her as part of an already magnificent cast.

It's a light hearted film and it's basically about lightening up and not to take every single thing in life so seriously but at the same time to respect other's boundaries. To quote a friend, 'it's about the invisible boundaries of social norms: both breaking and respecting them and it's about the importance of loving and respecting people who care for you (family and real friends) versus sucking up to others only because they might give you a promotion or a 'better' social status'.

The film means well at times. Matthew Perry played Morrie, the older sibling, husband and non-tenured professor at a Connecticut college or university. Matthew Perry brings life to Morrie's character. He is the responsible accomplished sibling while his brother and sister aren't. There is a lot of family blame to go around when they re-enter each other life in this film. Lauren Graham played his wife, Betty, who wants a family. Hillary Swank is sorely underused as a neighbor. The film was shot on location in Norwalk, Connecticut. Ben Foster and Ginnifer Goodwin play the siblings

Morrie is a school teacher who's married to Betty. Things aren't going his way whether be the professional or personal life. They get worse when his younger brother & sister are back in his life whom he has raised by himself after early demise of his parents. Siblings played by Perry, Foster and Goodwin are a treat to watch. Morrie being the eldest is a responsible husband and brother who despite all his problems would do anything for his family while his younglings are free-spirited and trouble seeking brats causing all kinds of chaos throughout Morrie's life.

You'll find this a funny watch with some adorable scenes showcasing the bonding between the three of them. Perry as usual doesn't disappoints by giving one fine performance. Foster's character seems creepy but in a good way. Also you'll find glimpses of Jennifer Garner playing a role quite opposite to what is usually portrays.

If you've watched other sibling's movies like Rachel getting married or This is where I leave you, you'll find some similarities among these films. Still one can spare 80 mins for this one in particular.

"Birds of America" is a quiet independent film that managed to get big names to star in it. I'm not sure what drew Matthew Perry, Lauren Graham, Ginnifer Goodwin, and (last but definitely not least) two-time Academy Award Winner Hillary Swank to star in this film, because the story went from taking plots and characters similar to movies I've seen before, to going in weird and confusing directions that make you go "huh?". Such directions are aided by random subplots.

Matthew Perry plays Morrie, a college professor who had inherited his parents' house after his father fell out a window and his mother died from cancer. The problem was, he was just completing high school when it happened, and he still had two younger siblings to take care of. Those siblings grow up to be Jay (Ben Foster) a borderline psychotic who likes laying his head on concrete waiting for cars to come by, and Ida (Ginnifer Goodwin), a promiscuous party girl who is a little less crazy than her brother, but still hard to handle.

The movie doesn't bother to even begin to explain how they got this way. All we know is that Morrie is still living in that house, is married to Betty (Lauren Graham, playing yet another distraught housewife), and (random subplot alert) has not had a bowel movement in a few months. When this point is revealed, the next scene you see is Perry sitting on a toilet seat with a Microsoft laptop in front of him and a MacBook on his left side. When seeing this scene, I thought to myself, "Why, movie, why?". It's a good thing Morrie isn't a germaphobe.

Things get messy when Jay and Ida have nowhere to go, move into the old house, and continue to test both Morrie and Betty's patience. Morrie can't just dump them on the street because, I guess, they're family. However, the character of Jay, to me, seemed to be better off in a mental institution given his suicidal tendencies. Why that option never occurred to Matthew Perry's character at any point in this film is beyond me. Goodwin was good in her role as a misfit, and the film could have easily just kept her. It's not that Ben Foster didn't do a good job in his role. He did. Jay just seemed too heavy a character for this movie to handle, and could have been utilized better in another movie.

It also surprises me that Hillary Swank took on such a thankless role as the suburban débutante next door to Morrie and Betty who happens to be married to Morrie's boss, Paul (Gary Wilmes). Swank turns in a one-dimensional performance here that could really have been played by anyone. In fact, for some reason, her character reminded me of a less over- the-top Babs ("That boy is a P-I-G Pig!") from "Animal House" (1978). Since she's not only a two-time Oscar winner, but an A-lister at that, it surprises me that she played a role this small. They could have gotten a no-name actress, and it would have cost a lot less.

This movie suffers greatest from being a hodgepodge of subplots, all of which don't tie together well or resolve originally. In fact, the title of the movie, "Birds of America", comes from a first edition book Morrie also inherited from his father. In the beginning of the film, it's revealed that Jay ripped it to shreds for reasons the movie never explains. Is the book referred to again? Not until the closing credits, where you see L.L. Bean-esque pictures of birds from this aforementioned book. These credits only remind you that the movie could have made a metaphor that made sense using this book, but didn't even try to do so.

And speaking of useless subplots with shifty solutions, remember the bowel trouble Morrie has? If you've seen "Me, Myself, and Irene" (2000), you can probably guess how it's going to resolve itself. This movie tried, but the plot felt messy, unrealistic, and forgettable at the same time. I can't give it a stronger recommendation.

You might be getting a little tired of movies about dysfunctional families. I know I am. I think I've seen at least three at Sundance this year. But Birds of America manages to break the mold and feel fresh and alive from the outset, delivering a warm, funny, zany, tender and compassionate film that left the audience smiling and satisfied.

Morrie (Matthew Perry) is an uptight university professor anxiously seeking tenure, which requires the approval of his department head, who lives next door. Morrie and his wife Betty (Lauren Graham—Gilmore Girls) live in a house he inherited at 18 years old after his mother died and his father committed suicide. As a result, Morrie raised his brother Jay (Ben Foster) and sister Ida (Ginnifer Goodwin), both of which grew into their problems. Ida is substance-abusing and promiscuous, and Jay a deeply gentle and sensitive soul whose actions are almost completely unfettered by advanced thought. They reunite in the family home when Jay gets run over by a car (he was laying in the road) and Morrie, who still feels more parent than brother, asks him to move in for a while. Without asking permission, Jay invites Ida to join them, stressing Morrie and Betty's relationship and jeopardizing his career with their outrageous behavior.

Matthew Perry is surprisingly good in his deadpan portrayal of an overwrought brother who cares deeply for his siblings, often at his own expense. Goodwin is a pleasure as well, as the addictive personality with the carefree spirit. But Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma) is great, and despite having such a naturally funny role, manages to never play Jay for laughs, creating an endearing and memorable character. Growing up without parents, these three have formed an unbreakable bond, with unconditional love and acceptance, and a tenderness and compassion unlike any I can remember in movies. Elyse Friedman has crafted a remarkable script, and Sundance veteran director Craig Lucas (Secret Lives of Dentists, The Dying Gaul) brings it to life with a funny but light-hearted and gentle touch.

The movie has really good actors (even Hillary Swank in a very small role, which might come as a surprise to some, because it really does not have really value to it) and some would compare it to movies like Sunshine Cleaning, Little Miss Sunshine and others. If you like those you'll probably feel that this movie might be something for you.

I actually would like to compare it to the TV Show "Six Feet Under". And if I (and you) do that, than in comparison this lacks quite a bit. The dysfunctional, but still kinda working family thing has worked better there. And almost every episode is better than the movie is as a whole. So if you want good drama, watch Six Feet Under if you haven't already.

The movie itself isn't bad, but a few things just don't work out. Like the relationship between Matthew Perry and his wife. While things are being said and shown, there is nothing to ground those things. On the other hand there are a few scenes that are genuine and very good. Like the "foot" thing. That is very good observation. Or an ad-lib from Matthew Perry, where he's doing the exact same thing his brother did 3 or 4 times. And while it could have been an annoying and plain stupid scene, Matthew elevates it with his choice and adds an extra flavour to it.

Those scenes are few and far between though and cannot entirely save the movie. Still not a complete waste of course

Boring attempt at a quirky indie feature with mainstream actors playing anxious wimps or pathological sibs prone to embarrassing their responsible (but loving!) caretakers, including a long suffering wife who wants to conceive but whose dream is perpetually postponed by her husband's, yes, you got it, anxiety about his ambition, and which fails to exploit the college town atmosphere it's trying so hard to contextualize (sacrilege in an indie), and ultimately we get stuck with some unpleasant (and not in a schadenfreudy kind of way either) characters and unfortunately for us passive viewers this 'feature' features a protagonist (Chandler Bing - who seems to be specializing in wimpy-bois now and even into middle age) whose only goal at this stage in his life is to someday enjoy a nice steamy dump (Begelman would be shocked SHOCKED! at such a wuss wanting to flush away such valuable treats); in fact rather than waste any more of the few seconds I have remaining in this life I decided to pull the plug, cinematus-interruptus style, so you should surmise by now I am not so sad to report this fillum is a misfire from the get-go since I get to take revenge out via IMDb, so you should take it from me- a compassionate conservationist- I don't think you or anyone else should waste what precious few remaining seconds on this planet.

Would you pay good money(tm) had to spend some time (say 90 mins) alone with the person(s) you most dislike in this world ("in-laws") and sit passively while they go about flailing their crazy unorthodox manners and peccadilloes right under your nose?

Yes?

Then by all means, "enjoy."

I gave it a two ("2") because at least they all showed up to work knowing they had a time bomb ticking away, and still managed to record it for posterity.

Come to think, no THAT might have made a better movie, everyone obliterated in the end by a mad bomber movie patron. Maybe I should have stuck around to see... hmmm.

Honestly I found this movie to be a very enjoyable experience. The pacing was fantastic, the whole time I wanted a character to do this or that, but they didn't, so I'd get frustrated. But then a half hour later they'd do something twice as satisfying then what I had wanted them to do and with perfect timing. The movie starts off a little slow but let yourself get to know the characters, try to understand their points of view and guess how they became this way. By the end of the film everything is understood and it makes those first few scenes even better now that you understand why the characters where acting the way they were.

Elyse Friedman's writing feels genuine. The characters are rich, and the story plays out very well in getting to know those characters. At times you think you have one figured out and then you learn something new that changes who they are in your eyes. I love when a film can do that affectively and this one does. It feels like a character piece, but unlike most who overdo the story, this film is entertaining enough just getting to know the characters.

Craig Lucas does a great job directing the camera to support the performances. This film has a genuine indie feel. It's not forced it just fits.

The performances are also very appropriate for the feel of the film. Matthew Parry was a fantastic choice for his role. He acts by not overdoing it. He keeps his performance inside and in turn it seems more real on the outside. Ben Foster is perfect. He nails the character in a way that few actors could have pulled it off. He makes me want to meet Jay and have a conversation with him. I want to hang out with him and ask him about his perspectives on life. Lastly but certainly not least, was Ginnifer Goodwin. I want you Ginnifer, I want you so bad. She delivers a performance that is fantastic in its combination of both subtle and not so subtle moments. At times you have to look closely into her eyes to figure out what the character is feeling, other times it's displayed in her every expression and gesture.

I really am a tough critic most of the time, but I was just so surprised by this film that it sold me. I love it. I won't recommend it to all my friends because it is a film for people who love film and don't just want to see car chaises and sex scenes.

Birds of America is a decent enough film without ever being great. It has all the heart and humour that was expected when you consider the cast involved and yet it seemed to be lacking that vital ingredient that perhaps would have improved this film.

I think a major problem is that there are just too many subplots going on for the audience to really connect with all of them. It feels like the director Craig Lucas is trying to insert every cliché of independent films into this one picture but when all these elements come together it doesn't make a great film.

Matthew Perry and Lauren Graham are there normal great selves but their story is only one of many that are linked in this film.

Overall an enjoyable enough film that doesn't really do enough to make you want to watch it again.

I watched this movie and i enjoyed it, I really did. But I've read some comments after watching it and I found that within that movie you shouldn't do that (reading comments), they are too much disturbing. So I got a small warning/advice for people who are intending to watch this fine movie: don't read the comments, just watch it. I can guarantee that you will see a great performance of M. Perry and rest of the "team". But hey, how can you see this comment when you shouldn't supposed to read it ? I hope you gonna read it anyway, and maybe you enjoy this movie as much as I did. Thats all what i want to say about this thing, but i cant post mine text cause its too short. I didn't want to write a science work considering "Birds of America", just a note that will encourage somebody to see this movie.

I know a nine is going to seem high. But after a slow start, this movie begins to grab at you. There are moments you feel the boundaries of realism have been touched upon, but somehow it all meshes together and becomes the heartfelt story it's meant to be.

At times, you might suspect the actors were learning improvisational skills on the job, as they most definitely improved scene after scene.

Give this movie the half hour investment of boredom you might endure, and you'll be grateful for the half hour you "suffered" through.

Matthew Perry hasn't had the best of luck in reviews of his movies. I think this movie should certainly help to redeem any sagging career thoughts swirling is his head.

This is one of the best movies I've seen this year. Surprisingly so, because it is habitually rated just average on the various sites like Amazon and IMDb. People don't seem to understand the very deep and beautiful psychology of this movie, which ultimately culminates in discovering what and where a person's real freedom is. Not in a political way, but in a liberating, "life's journey" kind of way. This movie is beautifully written, which is a tricky matter when dealing with this level of intellectualism. It stops short of being preachy or over-written. It is perfect! The casting is excellent too. Each character has great depth (or shallowness) that is magnificently represented by the actors chosen for each role. The pacing is also very well done, as is the score and the camera work. All in all, when it was over, I was ready to start watching it all over again. I really actually wish the whole story would have stretched much longer. It was sheer delight.

A movie about recognizing the chains that bind you and the love that frees you.

After I watched The Ron Clark Story and Numb, I started to think Matthew Perry is a really good actor besides Friends. This movie is another proof to my hypothesis. I really enjoyed the movie. Ben Foster portrayed an odd guy who has some type of sentiments about life and people. His character reminds me Frank Ginsberg in Little Miss Sunshine played by Steve Carrel. Lauren Graham annoyed me while the whole movie. First she acts like a good, tolerant wife who wants a better life and more money. Then at the end of the movie, she changed, and just wanted to be a mother and a real good wife. However, what are the reasons that changes her, I really don't know. Hillary Swank has a role which is not a great role considering an Oscar winner. I think anybody can play her role. I give 8/10 to this movie. The only thing that I did not like in this movie, Betty Tanager character was not well written. Ben Foster and Matthew Perry are great in acting. My suggestion, if you liked Little Miss Sunshine, you will love this movie.