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Why so much hype?

Pretty Good

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This is a bad movie. I say this despite the fact that 1) I am a birdwatcher, 2) I think Wm. Hurt is a fine actor, 3) I love redheads, 4) the Newfoundland coast is quite striking, and 5) all the acting is generally pretty good. But actors can't do anything with a script this bad, and direction this witless.The movie really, really wants to be endearingly quirky, and it tries really, really hard to be quirky. The problem is, you can't force quirkiness; you have to be genuinely quirky. Forcing it just reveals the desperation behind a lame script with barely a laugh through the whole thing. (The one exception: "Who's going to come after us? The International Bird Police? The IBP?" Not an exact quote but close enough.) All the many subplots seem meant to give a kind of madcap atmosphere to the events, but none is fleshed out and they seem, to put it kindly, implausible.Telling is the fact that the writer didn't even bother to do basic research on birds and birdwatching. If you can't do the little things right, you aren't going to do the big things right.Hurt seemed faintly embarrassed at times to have to do what he was asked to do. The one single convincing scene in the movie---when Hurt silently rubs Parker's tired foot---was probably made up on the spot, because it's too real to be part of the rest of this contrived mess.

I just finished reading all the other comments and am confounded by the ones that say this is a funny movie. I maybe shouldn't comment on the movie as a whole, as I was unable to finish watching it, it was so boring. So, I'll limit my comments to the birder perspective: As a birder, I am insulted by the made up bird names (red-breasted grebe? Give me a break), and the use of an extinct bird for title character. Birders do rush to see rarities when possible, but it wouldn't have had to be something that esoteric to bring "us" in. And, while I admit I am not at all conversant with Newfoundland nuance, I'm hard pressed to understand how anything else about this movie could be redeeming, except for the scenery which was awesome.

very enjoyable film, although one has to detach one's brain to enjoy the ending. Hurt and Parker are terrific, especially the latter. I can see why some have likened this film to _Waking Ned Devine_; however, the village as a whole plays a key role in _Waking Ned Devine_, while _Rare Birds_ is essentially individualistic. Still -- the tin whistles, desolate North Atlantic landscapes, funky characters and bizarre plot lines tie these films together. If you like one, you'll like the other. I rated _Waking Ned Devine_ a 9, I think; _Rare Birds_ gets an 8 from me.

"Rare Birds" tells of a hapless Newfoundland restaurant owner/cook (Hurt) whose remote seaside restaurant is suffering from insufficient patronage due to a lack of advertising. A quirky friend (Jones) hatches a plot suggesting Hurt report the sighting of a nearly extinct duck to encourage bird watchers to flock to his eatery thereby stimulating his business while he's being stimulated by thoughts of his comely waitress (Parker)...etc. A fun and earnest flick which trudges through it's wry tale relying on understated tongue-in-cheek humor and quirkiness for entertainment, the film includes other salients such as a home made submarine, 22 pounds of cocaine, some much coveted sheet lights, and an RCMP SWAT team for additional substance. Overall, "RB" is a warm hearted little flick for those who don't mind off-kilteredness and the absence of the usual Hollyweird appurtenances. (B-)