Paulie (1998)

Paulie poster

DreamWorks
Starring: Jay Mohr, Hallie Eisenberg
Directed by: John Roberts

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: A parrot named Paulie (voiced by Jay Mohr) becomes the beloved pet of a girl named Marie (Hallie Eisenberg) but when they are separated Paulie goes to great lengths to find her again.

Featured Feline: Marie’s parents are concerned about their daughter’s strong attachment to Paulie, especially when she insists the bird not only talks but understands her (which, of course, he does). Paulie is thrown for a loop when Marie’s father (Matt Craven) brings home a ginger tabby kitten for Marie one day.

Paulie - Marie's father Matt Craven holding up ginger tabby kitten

There is a bit of product placement when the kitten is introduced along with a box of Little Friskie’s cat food.

Paulie - Marie Hallie Eisenberg holding ginger tabby kitten with box of Friskies cat food

The cat (who is never mentioned by name) is next seen full grown (and long-haired). Paulie has to sit up high on a coat rack to avoid the cat.

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat meowing

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat on couch

Paulie calls down to the cat and tells it to go outside. But instead of going out the door, the cat focuses on the bird.

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat looking up

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat standing on floor looking up

The cat climbs up on a chair next to a set table and finally leaps at Paulie on the coat rack, knocking it down and throwing them both onto the table.

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat on chair by table

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat meowing on chair by table

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat leaping towards coat

There is a bit of cartoonish business here where the cat flies across the table under a salad bowl (a fake cat tail was used for this). Jumping off the table, the cat takes chase after Paulie and ends up slipping on a rug and hitting a plate glass door. This action is not extremely harsh, though, and it would appear the cat just lightly bumped against the glass.

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat about to jump off table with onion on ear

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat bumping into glass door

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat turning from glass door

The cat manages to place a paw on Paulie’s tail when Marie arrives and rescues the bird, scolding the cat and telling it to shoo. This scene was achieved by using blue screen to replace the bird trainer’s hand with the cat actor’s paw.

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat with paw on Paulie parrot's tail

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat sitting and looking up

Later the cat is seen beneath Marie’s window as she is trying to coach Paulie to fly. Paulie suggests Marie show him how and as she crawls out of the window she knocks a flower pot down. The cat scurries out of the way as the pot hits the ground. Paulie congratulates Marie on almost hitting the cat.

Paulie - long-haired ginger tabby cat far below window