Love Birds
Encyclopedia
Love Birds is a New Zealand
romantic comedy film starring New Zealand stand up comedian Rhys Darby
and Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins
. It was directed by Paul Murphy and written by Nick Ward. The film was released on 24 February 2011.
) lives in the perfect no worry world but his life shatters when long term girlfriend Susan (Faye Smythe
) dumps him. Though Doug discovers an injured duck and starts to nurse it better. This new found motivation propels Doug into a new journey in his life which causes him to fall in love with veterinarian Holly (Sally Hawkins
). Though the path to love is never easy and just when you think you've got a handle on it, it takes flight. Susan comes back into his life, and Doug must learn a valuable lesson, lean on his friends and follow his heart.
The film also includes cameo appearances by former International Cricketers Allan Border
and Ian Smith
saying the story "feels a little laboured, as does the humour" and giving it 2 and a half stars out of five. However Russell Baillie of the New Zealand Herald praised the film giving it 4 out of 5, calling it an "endearingly funny, if sugar-coated local romantic comedy." Graeme Tuckett of the Dominion Post also gave the film 4 out of 5 saying: "Love Birds does what it does just fine. There is Queen on the soundtrack, love in the air, and quite probably a smile on your face as the credits roll."
Despite the films overall mixed reviews, Rhys Darby received an overwhelmingly positive reception with reviewers quoted as saying; "Rhys Darby steals the show again, but in a very different role to what we are used to seeing him play. He plays the relatively straight role of a typical Kiwi bloke, but there is no hiding the charm and likeability he brings to the big screen." and "He's an affable, believable and extremely convincing lead - and based on this alone, he's destined for even greater things."
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
romantic comedy film starring New Zealand stand up comedian Rhys Darby
Rhys Darby
Rhys Montague Darby is an actor and stand-up comedian from New Zealand, known for his energetic physical comedy routines, telling stories accompanied with mime and sound effects of things such as machinery and animals...
and Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins
Sally Hawkins
Sally Cecilia Hawkins is an English actress. Her performance as Poppy in the 2008 film Happy-Go-Lucky won her several international awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy...
. It was directed by Paul Murphy and written by Nick Ward. The film was released on 24 February 2011.
Plot
Doug (Rhys DarbyRhys Darby
Rhys Montague Darby is an actor and stand-up comedian from New Zealand, known for his energetic physical comedy routines, telling stories accompanied with mime and sound effects of things such as machinery and animals...
) lives in the perfect no worry world but his life shatters when long term girlfriend Susan (Faye Smythe
Faye Smythe
Faye Smythe is a New Zealand television actor, best known for her role in Shortland Street as Nurse Tania Jeffries.-Early life:...
) dumps him. Though Doug discovers an injured duck and starts to nurse it better. This new found motivation propels Doug into a new journey in his life which causes him to fall in love with veterinarian Holly (Sally Hawkins
Sally Hawkins
Sally Cecilia Hawkins is an English actress. Her performance as Poppy in the 2008 film Happy-Go-Lucky won her several international awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy...
). Though the path to love is never easy and just when you think you've got a handle on it, it takes flight. Susan comes back into his life, and Doug must learn a valuable lesson, lean on his friends and follow his heart.
Cast
- Rhys DarbyRhys DarbyRhys Montague Darby is an actor and stand-up comedian from New Zealand, known for his energetic physical comedy routines, telling stories accompanied with mime and sound effects of things such as machinery and animals...
as Doug - Sally HawkinsSally HawkinsSally Cecilia Hawkins is an English actress. Her performance as Poppy in the 2008 film Happy-Go-Lucky won her several international awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy...
as Holly - Emily BarclayEmily BarclayEmily Barclay is an English-born, New Zealand AFI award winning actress.-Career:Emily Barclay has performed in a wide variety of film and television roles...
as Brenda - Craig HallCraig Hall (actor)-Film:* Siren as Soldier* Savage Honeymoon as Dean Savage* The World's Fastest Indian as Antarctic Angel* King Kong as Mike* Perfect Creature as Dominic* Knife Shift as Shane...
as Craig - Bryan BrownBryan BrownBryan Neathway Brown, AM is an Australian actor.-Early life:Brown was born in Sydney, the son of John Brown and Molly Brown, a house cleaner who worked as a pianist in the early days of the Langshaw School of Ballet. He grew up in the south-western Sydney suburb of Bankstown and began working at...
as Dr. Buster - Dave Fane as Kanga
- Faye SmytheFaye SmytheFaye Smythe is a New Zealand television actor, best known for her role in Shortland Street as Nurse Tania Jeffries.-Early life:...
as Susan - Wesley Dowdell as Brett
- Alvin Maharaj as Gurneesh
The film also includes cameo appearances by former International Cricketers Allan Border
Allan Border
Allan Robert Border AO is a former Australian cricketer. A batsman, Border was for many years the captain of the Australian team. His playing nickname was "A.B.". He played 156 Test matches in his career, a record until it was passed by fellow Australian Steve Waugh...
and Ian Smith
Critical Reception
Love Birds received mixed reviews upon release with Kate Rodger of TV3TV3 (New Zealand)
TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...
saying the story "feels a little laboured, as does the humour" and giving it 2 and a half stars out of five. However Russell Baillie of the New Zealand Herald praised the film giving it 4 out of 5, calling it an "endearingly funny, if sugar-coated local romantic comedy." Graeme Tuckett of the Dominion Post also gave the film 4 out of 5 saying: "Love Birds does what it does just fine. There is Queen on the soundtrack, love in the air, and quite probably a smile on your face as the credits roll."
Despite the films overall mixed reviews, Rhys Darby received an overwhelmingly positive reception with reviewers quoted as saying; "Rhys Darby steals the show again, but in a very different role to what we are used to seeing him play. He plays the relatively straight role of a typical Kiwi bloke, but there is no hiding the charm and likeability he brings to the big screen." and "He's an affable, believable and extremely convincing lead - and based on this alone, he's destined for even greater things."