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Author Topic: Free Birds Stu Jamieson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 524 From: Buccan, Qld, Australia Registered: Jan 2008 posted 01-11-2014 06:40 PM                     A pair of turkeys hijack a US government time machine to travel back to 1621 with a mission to interrupt the first thanksgiving celebration and thereby forever remove turkey from the Thanksgiving menu. Yep, it's a wacky plot alright and it speaks to the thoroughly silly fun which follows. It's strange that Free Birds has arrived on Australian shores with practically zero promotion (I think I saw a trailer once), especially given the cast which includes Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler, George Takei and Colm Meaney. Perhaps it's critical drubbing in the US had something to do with this. But US critics need to lighten up. If they left their Thanksgiving/colonialism/vegetarianism pretentiousness at the door in favour of having some fun they'd find that Free Birds is actually a chortle-fest from start to finish. As is the fashion there's plenty of adult humour intermixed with the kiddie sight gags. Plentiful references to films such as Contact, Back To The Future and Raiders Of The Lost Ark abound and help to keep the "big" kids amused. The characters are likeable and funny and the references to colonialism, whilst there, are kept on the lite side so as not to bog down the fun. Free Birds is solid, non-serious entertainment that is perfect holiday fodder for adults and kids alike. And it has one of the funniest post credit codas in a good long while. 8 out of 10  |  IP: Logged Jock Blakley Expert Film Handler Posts: 218 From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Registered: Oct 2011 posted 01-12-2014 05:26 PM                     I've seen it advertised on bus/tram shelters here. I'm not so sure about the choice of tagline ("THE GREATEST TURKEY MOVIE OF ALL TIME") flying with Australian audiences, but I suppose the distributor must be happy with it.  |  IP: Logged Frank Cox Film God Posts: 2234 From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada Registered: Apr 2011 posted 01-12-2014 08:32 PM                        My one-sheet said "Hold onto your nuggets!"  |  IP: Logged Jonathan Goeldner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1360 From: Washington, District of Columbia Registered: Jun 2008 posted 01-12-2014 10:41 PM                     ^ ... and squeeze REAL hard. RT score 18 from critics / 48 from audiences - "ouch"  |  IP: Logged Stu Jamieson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 524 From: Buccan, Qld, Australia Registered: Jan 2008 posted 01-12-2014 11:22 PM                     Yep, the critic response is brutal alright.  |  IP: Logged

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