A Bird of the Air (2011)

30% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(108 ratings)

A sassy parrot and a free-spirited librarian upend the well-ordered life of a solitary man. Lyman (Jackson Hurst) is a loner, working the graveyard shift for the Courtesy Patrol. When a green parrot flies in to his trailer he becomes obsessed with finding its owner, which leads him to Fiona(Rachel… More A sassy parrot and a free-spirited librarian upend the well-ordered life of a solitary man. Lyman (Jackson Hurst) is a loner, working the graveyard shift for the Courtesy Patrol. When a green parrot flies in to his trailer he becomes obsessed with finding its owner, which leads him to Fiona(Rachel Nichols). She has been eyeing Lyman from a distance and decides to help with his parrot search, whether he wants her to or not. Along with her basset hound, they set out on a quest to find the bird's previous owners and Fiona begins to unravel the mysteries of Lyman's past. But when Fiona joins Lyman on his nightly rounds, she witnesses a reality more intense than the romantic version she had envisioned. -- (C) Paladin

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13,
Directed By: Margaret Whitton
Written By: Roger Towne, Joe Coomer
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 23, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Apr 10, 2012
Studio: Paladin Films

Critic Reviews

Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
Though you could fit its story on the head of a pin, "A Bird of the Air" is a gently involving character dramedy with a pair of appealing leads who help give this offbeat movie flight.
Sara Stewart, New York Post
At its most entertaining when the parrot does the talking.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
An offbeat romance fueled by pets and pithy aphorisms.
Mark Holcomb, Village Voice
Not a bad premise, but first-time director Margaret Whitton fails to temper the sappiness with real human crustiness.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Unfortunately, the film itself never quite feeds off the quirkiness or the energy, and so it remains a pleasant but not a profound film.
Nora Lee Mandel, Film-Forward.com
A lovely little modern screwball comedy that only hard-hearted cynics will resist. An unexpected bonus comes with the delightful stream of old pro's as...master storytellers.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Quirky screwball romance has many original points of interest, but is marred by fatal miscasting of a lead.
Nick Schager, Time Out New York
Its lethargic plotting and quirky affectation are -- wait for it -- strictly for the birds.
Andrew Schenker, Slant Magazine
Margaret Whitton's A Bird of the Air traffics in a sort of vague, half-defined spiritual questing.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Story of a beautiful and talkative parrot who proves to be a miracle worker bringing two lonely souls together for a quest that changes them both.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Cast

            Rachel Nichols as Fiona

            Jackson Hurst as Lyman

            Anjanette Comer as Ella Weber

            Buck Henry as Duncan Weber

            Linda Emond as Margie

            Todd Latourrette as Tom

            Bernardo P. Saracino as Neil

            Kevin Skousen as Frank

            Genia Michaela as Amber

            Carmela Rappazo as Professor Paquet

            Erik Jensen as Mustang Man

            Matte Osian as Trucker

            Judith Ivey as Eleanor Reeves

            Kaiulani Lee as Mrs. Blair

            Rocco Sisto as Campus Security Guard

            Michael Sheets as John

            Paul Twitchell as Paul

            Carrie Fleming as Reference Librarian

            Jessamyn Blakeslee as Dying Woman

            Gary Farmer as Charles Ballard

            Louis Zorich as Eli Stowalski

            Juliet Lopez as Dr. Reynosa

            Kat Sawyer as Billy Weber

            Jocelyn Towne as Sue Weber

            Phyllis Somerville as Ivy Campbell

            Stephanie Jones as Dr. Dougherty

            Oscar and Meyer as Mr. Roosevelt/Zane

            Meyer as Mr. Roosevelt/Zane

            George as Floyd

            Brandy Norwood as Eleanor Reeves' Dog
See full cast

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