The Starling
Netflix | Release Date: September 17, 2021 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
31
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
10
Negative:
12
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
70
Film ThreatAndy HowellSep 15, 2021
The Starling is trying to be a feel-good movie about finding hope in dark times. That’s admirable, but the main problem is that it does it in such a down-the-middle, straightforward way. As a result, there aren’t any surprises and at least a few missed opportunities. Still, Melissa McCarthy and Kevin Kline are worth the price of admission alone. Read full review
58
IndieWireKate ErblandSep 12, 2021
While the film attempts to thread a tricky needle between absolute drama and wacky comedy — dramedy! — Harris’ script is actually at its best when leaning more into the story’s tougher stuff. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneNina MetzSep 27, 2021
McCarthy’s open-faced performance is reason enough to give it your time, even if nearly everything surrounding her feels unworthy. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubKatie RifeSep 16, 2021
The saddest thing about all of this is that McCarthy and O’Dowd make a convincing onscreen couple, and both of them are strong enough actors to find the real, defeated people in this phony script. Read full review
42
The PlaylistMarya E. GatesSep 13, 2021
It’s nice to see McCarthy and O’Dowd in roles that showcase their emotional range; one just wishes it were in a project worthy of their talents. Read full review
40
IGNMatt FowlerSep 27, 2021
The Starling contains themes of grief and guilt that are worth exploration, but finds itself unable to delve deep into these elements, instead relying on bad bird effects and a needlessly quirky and eccentric tone to gloss over most of the uncomfortable elements. Read full review
40
Paste MagazineTara Bennett Sep 20, 2021
With all the elements on hand to achieve something of note, The Starling disappointingly reduces the complexity of loss, grief and forgiveness into a birdbrained fairy tale that is more than happy to bypass reality in order to make a featherlight point. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinSep 17, 2021
It may seem churlish to knock a film that works so hard to present everyday, well-meaning folks facing unspeakable, real-life pain. But between the picture’s uncertain tone, quirky-for-quirk’s-sake elements and such self-conscious dialogue as “What color is the sky in your world, kemo sabe?” it’s tough to be all that supportive. Read full review
40
VarietyGuy LodgeSep 12, 2021
Suffice it to say that The Starling’s emotional arcs are as narratively complete as they are psychologically dashed-off. Read full review
40
Screen DailyTim GriersonSep 12, 2021
The actors lend sincerity to the proceedings, but the film keeps cheating to achieve its dramatic payoffs. Read full review
40
TheWrapElizabeth WeitzmanSep 12, 2021
The smooth professionalism of so many outstanding participants can’t help but elevate a very ordinary film a little bit higher. Despite the best efforts of both McCarthy and O’Dowd, though, there’s never a moment where it truly takes flight. Read full review
38
Movie NationRoger MooreSep 24, 2021
The performances are as deflated as the subject matter, which, considering the caliber of the players and the track record of the director, points back to the script. Read full review
38
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperSep 22, 2021
So much talent — and everyone goes down with the ship in one of the worst movies of 2021. Read full review
38
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Johanna SchnellerSep 15, 2021
Kline and McCarthy are lovely in their few scenes together (they’re the reason for that extra half-star) and for those brief moments, you see the film the actors thought they were making. Read full review
38
RogerEbert.comBrian TallericoSep 12, 2021
While this kind of manipulative melodrama is often easy to dismiss, what makes The Starling even more frustrating is the amount of talented people who got sucked into its spin cycle of sadness. Read full review
33
The Film StageMichael FrankSep 17, 2021
It will provide a fun discussion on what went wrong, rather than what went right, and that conversation will give more joy, story, and clarity than the film itself. Read full review
30
Screen RantMae AbdulbakiSep 13, 2021
What could have been a thoughtful, poignant story about loss ended up being an unfortunate misfire. Read full review
30
The Hollywood ReporterCaryn JamesSep 12, 2021
With a predictable trajectory and cringeworthy metaphors, The Starling is so slushily sentimental it makes the typical tearjerker look like a noir. Despite the lived-in performances from its three high-profile stars, this attempt at heartfelt drama is hopelessly by-the-numbers. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleCarla MeyerSep 14, 2021
McCarthy is one of our finest physical comedians. Every moment of physical comedy she performs here is cringey. Read full review
20
The IndependentClarisse LoughreyOct 1, 2021
A wrong turn was taken. And The Starling has come out the other side an utterly bizarre, tonal misfire that fumbles through several ideas before implying that it’s perfectly OK to berate the suicidal for being so suicidal. Read full review
20
The Irish TimesDonald ClarkeSep 27, 2021
There are plenty of reasons to yell at The Starling. The pile-up of dreary sub-country songs eventually takes on the quality of something the CIA would have played outside General Noriega’s compound. Read full review
20
The New York TimesBen KenigsbergSep 23, 2021
Blatant product placement, unconvincing bird effects and awful soundtrack selections all undermine a potentially wrenching, difficult premise with utter bogusness. Read full review
20
The GuardianPeter BradshawSep 12, 2021
Every implausible scene, every unconvincing character, every contrived dollop of symbolism, every toe-curlingly misjudged and unearned emotional climax seems as if it has been concocted in some secret bio-warfare lab for assaulting your mind with pure, toxic nonsense. Read full review
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