Birds of America (2007)
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44% of users liked it
(2,407 ratings)
Director Craig Lucas teams with screenwriter Elyse Friedman for this sociologically-slanted comedy drama concerning three eccentric siblings who were forced to grow up in an environment with no actual grown ups. In a typical family, the pattern usually goes something like this: Parents have… More Director Craig Lucas teams with screenwriter Elyse Friedman for this sociologically-slanted comedy drama concerning three eccentric siblings who were forced to grow up in an environment with no actual grown ups. In a typical family, the pattern usually goes something like this: Parents have children, children grow up, children move out, and family comes together for visits on holidays and special occasions. Unfortunately for Morrie Tanager, any concept of normalcy was thrown out the window when his parents died, and he was left to raise his two siblings Ida and Jay in the family home. These days Morrie shares the home with his wife Betty, Ida is a promiscuous artist who's always traveling despite the fact that she's perpetually broke, and Jay is a reclusive weirdo who frequently conducts antisocial experiments. All that the perpetually constipated Morrie wants out of life is to please his wife Betty. While it's been quite a while since siblings Morrie, Ida, and Jay have all been together under one roof, those familiar childhood dynamics quickly return when Ida comes knocking at the exact moment Jay goes supernova. As neurosis and instability suddenly cascades through the home like a dysfunctional Niagara Falls, Morrie and Betty suddenly find their delicate attempts to secure Morrie's tenure washed down the river right towards the big drop. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Craig Lucas
- Written By
- Elyse Friedman
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 24, 2008 Wide
- Studio
- First Look Studio
Critic Reviews
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James Greenberg, Hollywood Reporter
Not very convincing or funny.
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Dennis Harvey, Variety
Ends up feeling more like the season finale of a fairly interesting, somewhat derivative HBO series than stand-alone screen fare.
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Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com
A stunningly short (79 minutes) experience, but nevertheless a crushing one, exploring hackneyed suburban woe elements with a decidedly detached tone that alleviates any need to pay close attention.
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Joly Herman, Common Sense Media
Dark comedy has shining moments, adult themes.
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Kim Voynar, Cinematical
It's not quite funny enough to appeal as a rom-com, nor quite darkly comedic enough to satisfy ...
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Cast
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Matthew Perry
as Morrie
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Ginnifer Goodwin
as Ida
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Ben Foster
as Jay
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Hilary Swank
as Laura
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Lauren Graham
as Betty
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Zöe Kravitz
as Gillian
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Gary Wilmes
as Paul
