When Dave Purcell (William Hurt) finds his pathetic life slipping through the cracks, hope is not lost. His restaurant (The Awk) sits empty; his long distance marriage is on the rocks. All that remains are some vintage wines, a quirky neighbour, Alphonsus Murphy and a mystery box. Alphonse or Phonse as he's called, played by the brilliant (Andy Jones), is an oval shaped, Newfoundland McGiver, with a twinkling eye, an affinity for wild schemes and sporadic pangs of paranoia. Ed Riche the quiet and gifted author, and now screen writer throws caution adrift and drops these wonderful characters for a joyous romp on the barrens and granite of Cape Spear, Newfoundland. What emerges is 90 minutes of side splitting, burst your gut fun.
Always "over the top" and never without a plan "B", Phonse plays local birders into a ornithological frenzy. His fabricated siting of a rare duck bring hordes or bird watchers to the area and consequently sends Dave and The Awk on a wreckless path of renewal.
Don't even consider supersizing your Coke. Chances are you'll lose control and soak your long johns (one way or the other). Blending perfectly with Dave's quest for a normal life and Phonse's need for anything but, are the quirky but clever subplots of subversive Winnebagos, subterranean hideaways and submerged RSVs'. The movie never takes itself too seriously and just when you think it wanders onto some higher plane, Phonse quickly dowses the notion.
When the dumbfounded Dave "shags up" Phonse's witty plan of deception, Dave returns with a case of intestinal overload and a cinematic jewel is born. Surely, this is our worst fear. Dave's attempt to conceal his unruly odours while he stalls the beautiful Alice from entering the bathroom. The empty stare of disbelief and his infectious stutter are hilarious as the boy meets girl interlude stumble through the wafting smells. In the words of Yeats, "a terrible beauty".
With the seemingly relentless propagation of silicon bodies and bullet ridden scripts, Rare Birds fills a crying void for real characters with touten dough bellies and wrinkled arses, dialects that stand strong in a frigid cold and humour that slaps its listeners into submission. Even Dave's love interest Alice, (Molly Parker) possessed the fresh natural beauty of a "warm loaf" and of course Newfoundland itself, always the star, a stark beautiful place of rock and water with vast spaces of music, stories and kindred spirits.
The novel has always been my favourite and when purchased, sported a hand-written money back guarantee. The same guarantee should apply to the movie.
In the words of Phonse .spot on Dave spot on.
Always "over the top" and never without a plan "B", Phonse plays local birders into a ornithological frenzy. His fabricated siting of a rare duck bring hordes or bird watchers to the area and consequently sends Dave and The Awk on a wreckless path of renewal.
Don't even consider supersizing your Coke. Chances are you'll lose control and soak your long johns (one way or the other). Blending perfectly with Dave's quest for a normal life and Phonse's need for anything but, are the quirky but clever subplots of subversive Winnebagos, subterranean hideaways and submerged RSVs'. The movie never takes itself too seriously and just when you think it wanders onto some higher plane, Phonse quickly dowses the notion.
When the dumbfounded Dave "shags up" Phonse's witty plan of deception, Dave returns with a case of intestinal overload and a cinematic jewel is born. Surely, this is our worst fear. Dave's attempt to conceal his unruly odours while he stalls the beautiful Alice from entering the bathroom. The empty stare of disbelief and his infectious stutter are hilarious as the boy meets girl interlude stumble through the wafting smells. In the words of Yeats, "a terrible beauty".
With the seemingly relentless propagation of silicon bodies and bullet ridden scripts, Rare Birds fills a crying void for real characters with touten dough bellies and wrinkled arses, dialects that stand strong in a frigid cold and humour that slaps its listeners into submission. Even Dave's love interest Alice, (Molly Parker) possessed the fresh natural beauty of a "warm loaf" and of course Newfoundland itself, always the star, a stark beautiful place of rock and water with vast spaces of music, stories and kindred spirits.
The novel has always been my favourite and when purchased, sported a hand-written money back guarantee. The same guarantee should apply to the movie.
In the words of Phonse .spot on Dave spot on.