A tragedy spins a couples’ lives out of control in The Starling, the latest from director Theodore Melfi.
Lilly and Jack were looking forward to welcoming their first child, but it turns out the addition wasn’t meant to be. The loss is devastating for both of them, and Jack seeks inpatient treatment to recover. Lilly, meanwhile, tries to soldier on, but even she, usually tough as nails, shows cracks. A friend recommends a doctor to talk to, but it turns out the doc prefers four-legged patients now. He senses Lilly’s need, though, and takes her on anyway, helping her put her life back together (and get rid of a pesky starling).
The sheen on this dramatic tale is thick, but that’s the kind of lens Melfi thrives looking through. He previously made the crowd-pleasers Hidden Figures and St. Vincent, which defied their gooey centers to be critical and commercial successes.
Melfi reteams here with Melissa McCarthy and Chris O’Dowd as the central couple, who both appeared in St. Vincent. That means they know how to make this sort of movie work, as does seasoned co-star Kevin Kline, who plays the reluctant doctor.
With so many big, proven names attached, it’s a bit surprising to see this drop on Netflix worldwide. But that’s good news for viewers, as it should be an easily accessible bit of feel-good energy.
The Starling is directed by Theodore Melfi and stars Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd, and Kevin Kline. It will receive a limited theatrical run in the US starting September 17th and will release worldwide on Netflix on September 24th.
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