This was another in a series of films in which difficult subjects are tried to be approached in a somewhat bitter – sweet, humorous way, “The Starling” or “Cvorak” would be a film that is not only stuck in rather stereotypical situations, but also quite superficial. even stupidity. The focus is on Lilly (Melissa McCarthy) and Jack (Chris O’Dowd), a couple who lost their daughter a year ago. While the teacher Jack could not deal with it and after trying to take his own life ended up in a psychiatric institution, Lilly tries to live on. She still works in a local store, takes care of the house and garden, and regularly visits her husband, who is increasingly withdrawn into himself and does not want anyone’s company.
And as if that wasn’t enough, there is a family of starlings that will build a nest in Lilly’s yard and in an attempt to symbolize family and care for her, she will start a confrontation with them and will try to get rid of them in every way. Meanwhile, she will start hanging out and talking with psychotherapist-turned-veterinarian Dr. Larry Fine (Kevin Kline), a somewhat cynical guy who switched from humans to animals because he apparently couldn’t take all the stories and analysis that have usually resulted in failures. Nevertheless, he will become Lilly’s atypical adviser, but this whole story seemed quite artificial, artificial, and no matter how hard the actors tried to bring life into their characters and get them out of the cliché zone, thanks to the emotionally manipulative and stereotypical script, they failed.
The whole story with the starling, the bird that moved into Lilly’s yard, seemed to me completely missed and unnecessary for some reason inserted into this whole story, probably for the reason of trying to use humor to break the heavy colors that the film deals with. But it didn’t work out the way writer Matt Harris and director Theodore Melfi envisioned (a much, much better St. Vincent that still had an inspired Bill Murray in a role that was made for him). Of course, it’s not so bad or stupid now, but “The Starling” is a typical American lemonade, a melodrama in which some important and difficult topics are approached in a rather superficial and obvious way and which elevates the audience and somehow artificially aims for an emotional reaction.