DVD Reviews

Pretty Bird – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Jul 20, 2010, 15:23 GMT

Based on a true story, this comic tale of three would-be entrepreneurs set out to invent a rocket belt. The venturesome partnership soon takes an unhealthy toll as their mismatched personalities clash and some unexpected success lead to retaliations and kidnapping in this parable of American dreams and delusions. ...more

Actor Paul Schneider makes his directorial debut in this tale of a dreamer who wants to fly ala Thunderball.

Cue Tom Jones with the Thunderball theme song. However, conflicts with his design team and lack of money threaten to keep the company on the ground.

Curtis Prentiss (Billy Crudup) has a plan for a company called Fantastic Technologies. He wants to manufacture rocket belts, just like that opening scene of the James Bond movie Thunderball. He’s recruited his friend Kenny (David Hornsby), the owner of a mattress store, to fund the project and even hits on receptionist Mandy (Kristen Wiig).

He’s also hired surly, paranoid, unemployed engineer Rick (Paul Giamatti) to build the jet pack from plans that Curtis got from the public library. Rick is a bit of a misanthropic loose cannon, but he actually gets the darn thing to work. However, Curtis can’t parlay his dream into investors and Kenny is having trouble making the accounting work.

Rick’s paranoia is in full swing as he thinks that Curtis will take all the credit for the functioning rocket belt. Just about that time Curtis hides the belt and Rick goes ballistic.

Quirky is how I would describe Pretty Bird.

We’re introduced to a company of lovable losers; well most of them are lovable. They’re underdogs who we want to see realize their dreams. Hell, according to those cartoons from the 1950s we’re all supposed to be commuting to work via rocket belts by the year 2000…. Um, I seem to have missed getting mine.

What causes Pretty Bird to fly is the performance by Billy Crudup. He portrays a lovable loser whose dreams of soaring through the clouds give him a self manufactured confidence, however that doesn’t translate into success. Rick is a blustery loser whose paranoia as to the credit for the working model is going to be taken from him causes him to take maniacal actions. Giamatti goes nutso with gusto.

Even the minor characters have quirks that make them interesting. For example, Kenny seems to have a crush on his pal Curtis that seems to fund his need to bankroll Curtis’ plan. Perhaps Wiig gets short shrift with her basic cameo since she disappears from the second half of the film, but she too does get a moment or two.

It’s an odd little film that will delight fans of independent cinema, especially if you’re looking for quirky characters.

Pretty Bird is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features are only some previews for other Paramount products. That’s a shame as certainly a director’s commentary would’ve been nice to hear.

Pretty Bird does spread its wings, but it may be an acquired taste. It’s bolstered by some wonderful performances and an odd, but interesting, storyline.

Sadly, a director’s commentary would’ve been most appreciated, but Kenny must’ve run out of money while preparing the DVD for release.