Love Birds (2011 film)

Last updated

Love Birds
Love Birds (2011 film) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPaul Murphy
Written byNick Ward
Produced byAlan Harris
Matthew Metcalfe
Starring Rhys Darby
Sally Hawkins
Bryan Brown
Cinematography Alun Bollinger
Edited by Chris Plummer
Music byTim Prebble
Production
company
Distributed by Hoyts Distribution
Release date
  • 24 February 2011 (2011-02-24)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish

Love Birds is a 2011 New Zealand romantic comedy film starring the New Zealand stand-up comedian Rhys Darby and the Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins. It was directed by Paul Murphy and written by Nick Ward. It was released on 24 February 2011.

Contents

Plot

Doug (Rhys Darby) lives in the perfect no worry world but his life shatters when long-term girlfriend Susan (Faye Smythe) dumps him. Doug discovers an injured paradise shelduck and starts to nurse it back to health. This new found motivation propels him into a new journey in his life which causes him to fall in love with veterinarian Holly (Sally Hawkins). The path to love is never easy and just when you think you have a handle on it, it takes flight. Susan comes back into Doug's life, and he must learn a valuable lesson: lean on his friends and follow his heart.

Cast

Critical reception

Love Birds received mixed reviews on release with Kate Rodger of TV3 saying the story "feels a little laboured, as does the humour" and giving it 2½ stars out of five. [1] However, Russell Baillie of the New Zealand Herald praised the film, giving it 4 out of 5, and calling it an "endearingly funny, if sugar-coated local romantic comedy". [2] Graeme Tuckett of The Dominion Post also gave the film 4 out of 5 writing, "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." [3]

Despite the film's overall mixed reviews, 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." [4] and "He's an affable, believable and extremely convincing lead - and based on this alone, he's destined for even greater things." [5]

Notes

The film is accompanied by the music of the rock band Queen (including "Somebody to love", "Who Wants to Live Forever", "Bicycle Race" and "Flash"). In the credits, all of the actors from the film dance, sing and play music to the playback of the Queen song "Princes of the Universe", title song for the film Highlander and the television series of the same name.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Morrison</span> New Zealand entertainer (1935–2009)

Sir Howard Leslie Morrison was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009, he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cliff Curtis</span> New Zealand actor (born 1968)

Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis is a New Zealand actor and film producer. After working in theatre, he made his film debut in Jane Campion's Oscar-winning film The Piano (1993), followed by a breakout role in the drama Once Were Warriors (1994). He has won four New Zealand Film Awards, Best Actor for Jubilee (2000) and The Dark Horse (2014) - which also earned him the Asia Pacific Screen Award - and Best Supporting Actor for Desperate Remedies (1993) and Whale Rider (2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys Darby</span> New Zealand actor and comedian (born 1974)

Rhys Montague Darby is a New Zealand actor and comedian. He is known for his energetic physical comedy routines, telling stories accompanied with mime, and sound effects of things such as machinery and animals. He was nominated for the Billy T Award in 2001 and 2002 and won the 2012 Fred (Dagg) Award for best NZ show at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yvonne Jeffries</span> Soap opera character

Yvonne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Alison Quigan in a guest stint in 2004, before returning in a regular role the following year. She remained on the show until 2011 and returned as part of the shows 20th anniversary in May 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maia Jeffries</span> Soap opera character

Maia Anne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Anna Jullienne from mid-2004 to early-2011, with the character starring in numerous high-profile storylines alongside her on screen family. The character returned as part of the show's 20th anniversary in May 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rotorua Airport</span> Airport in Rotorua, New Zealand

Rotorua Airport is an airport in Rotorua, New Zealand. It is located on Te Ngae Road (SH30) in the suburb of Rotokawa, approximately 6 km north east of Rotorua CBD. The terminal consists of a two-storey building with six tarmac gates and is home to a cafe, book store and conference room. There are general aviation hangars located to both the north and the south of the main terminal, as well as an avgas pump at the southern end of the apron. The airport's main runway (18R/36L) is 2114m long and is sealed with asphalt. There is also a shorter grass runway (18L/36R) which runs parallel to the main runway, although the proximity of the two runways means that they can't be used simultaneously.

<i>Flight of the Conchords</i> (TV series) American sitcom

Flight of the Conchords is an American sitcom that was first shown on HBO on June 17, 2007. The show follows the adventures of a struggling two-man band from New Zealand, as its members seek fame and success in New York City. The show stars the duo of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, who also perform as real-life musical comedy act Flight of the Conchords. In the series, they play fictionalised versions of themselves and their band. A second season was announced on August 17, 2007 and shown from January 18, 2009. On December 11, 2009, the duo announced that the series was not going to be returning for a third season.

Sally (<i>Flight of the Conchords</i>) 1st episode of the 1st season of Flight of the Conchords

"Sally" is the pilot episode of the American television sitcom Flight of the Conchords. It first aired on HBO on June 17, 2007. In this episode, New Zealanders Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie of the band Flight of the Conchords have moved to New York City to try to make it in the United States. At a party, Jemaine falls for, and subsequently begins dating, Sally—Bret's former girlfriend. As Jemaine's attentions focus on Sally, a lonely Bret is forced to deal with the advances of Mel, the band's obsessed—and only—fan. Meanwhile, Murray, the band's manager, helps the band film their first music video, although they cannot afford decent costumes or proper video equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Paul College, Rotorua</span> State integrated secondary school in Rotorua West, New Zealand

John Paul College is a Catholic secondary school in Rotorua, New Zealand. The co-educational school enrolls students in years 7 to 13. It was opened in 1987 and combined two existing schools, Edmund Rice College and MacKillop College. The school was founded to serve the Catholic families of Rotorua. John Paul College is named for Pope John Paul II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Callen</span> English-born New Zealand actor and director

John Callen is an English-born New Zealand actor and director. He portrayed Óin, brother of Glóin in the 2012-2014 The Hobbit film trilogy.

<i>Siones 2: Unfinished Business</i> 2012 New Zealand comedy film

Sione's 2: Unfinished Business is a 2012 New Zealand comedy film and the sequel to the hugely successful 2006 film Sione's Wedding. It was produced by John Barnett and Paul Davis, directed by Simon Bennett, co-produced by South Pacific Pictures and New Zealand Film Commission with music by Don McGlashan and written by Oscar Kightley and James Griffin. The film stars Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Robbie Magasiva, Iaheto Ah Hi, Dave Fane, Teuila Blakely, Madeleine Sami, Pua Magasiva, Mario Gaoa, Nathaniel Lees, David Van Horn, Ayşe Tezel, Dimitri Baveas, Kirk Torrance and Te Kohe Tuhaka. Sione's 2: Unfinished Business was filmed at Auckland, New Zealand. The film was theatrically released on 19 January 2012, by Sony Pictures and was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 13 June 2012, by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film has received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $723,000 in New Zealand. This was Pua Magasiva's final film appearance seven years before his death on 11 May 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tania Jeffries</span> Soap opera character

Tania Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Faye Smythe from 2005 to 2010, with the character starring in numerous high-profile storylines alongside her on screen family. The character returned in May 2012 as part of the show's 20th anniversary.

<i>Mahana</i> (film) 2016 film by Lee Tamahori

Mahana is a 2016 New Zealand drama film directed by Lee Tamahori, and written by John Collee, based on the novel Bulibasha: King of the Gypsies by Witi Ihimaera. It was released as The Patriarch outside New Zealand.

Ryan O'Kane is a New Zealand actor. His roles include Rhys Levitt in the Australian police drama City Homicide, Prince Frederik in the telemovie Mary: The Making of a Princess, and Riley Hawkins in Home and Away. In 2018 and 2019, O'Kane portrayed Dylan Reinhart and his twin brother Daniel Reinhart in Shortland Street.

The 2018 New Year Honours in New Zealand were appointments by Elizabeth II in her right as Queen of New Zealand, on the advice of the New Zealand government, to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders, and to celebrate the passing of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. They were announced on 30 December 2017.

The 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, were appointments made by the Queen in her right as Queen of New Zealand, on the advice of the New Zealand government, to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. They were announced on 3 June 2013.

<i>Mosley</i> (film) 2019 New Zealand film

Mosley is a 2019 animated fantasy adventure drama film produced by Huhu Studios. It was written and directed by Kirby Atkins, co-directed by Jun Huang, and co-written by Ge Jing. The film stars Atkins and his daughter Leah as Mosley and Rue respectively, with Rhys Darby, Lucy Lawless, Temuera Morrison, and John Rhys-Davies in supporting roles. The film was released in New Zealand on 10 October 2019 by Rialto Distribution. It is the first New Zealand–Chinese co-production.

Witarina Te Miriarangi Parewahaika Harris was a New Zealand film actress, Māori language advocate, entertainer and public servant. She featured in the 1929 Universal Pictures silent film Under the Southern Cross as the heroine Princess Miro in her only film credit.

Max Currie is a New Zealand film director and screenwriter, most noted for his 2020 film Rūrangi.

References

  1. ↑ "Love Birds review". 3 News . 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Baillie, Russell (24 February 2011). "Movie review: Love Birds". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Tuckett, Graeme (3 March 2011). "Film review: Lovebirds". The Dominion Post . Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  4. ↑ "Local, latest and breaking news from the Rotorua region - Rotorua Daily Post". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  5. ↑ Darren Bevan (17 February 2011). "Love Birds: Movie Review". Television New Zealand . Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.