Paulie, an intelligent parrot who actually talks, relates the story of his struggle to a Russian immigrant who works as a janitor at the research institute where he is housed and neglected. Paulie's story begins many years earlier when he is given as a gift to a little girl who stutters. Eventually, he teaches the girl to speak correctly but is taken away by her father because he believes the girl cannot distinguish fantasy from reality because she believes the bird can talk. Paulie goes through a series of adventures with a pawn shop owner, an aging widow, a Mexican-American troubadour and a would be thief before being taken to the institute where he now lives. starring Gena Rowlands, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Bruce Davison, Trini Alvarado, and Jay Mohr as "Paulie"; also starring Buddy Hackett, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Matt Craven, Bill Cobbs, Tia Texada, Laura Harrington. John Roberts directs from the script by Laurie Craig. Produced by Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn and Allison Lyon Segan; Executive Producer: Ginny Nugent. Music by John Debney. Animals by Boone's Animals for Hollywood. Animatronic Effects by Stan Winston Studio. a Mutual Film Company production for DreamWorks Pictures. Filmed with Panavision® cameras & lenses. Edited on Avid® in Dolby® Digital/dts™/SDDS™ Approved [No. 35931]/rated PG (brief mild language). Copyright ©1998 DreamWorks LLC All Rights Reserved No birds was harmed in the making of this film.