![The Starling Is A Major (& Expensive) Backfire For Netflix [MINI]](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/The-Starling-Is-A-Major-Expensive-Backfire-For-Netflix-MINI.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5)
Netflix's comedy-drama The Starling is proving to be a major (and expensive) mistake for the streaming giant. The film stars Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd, and Kevin Kline, and follows Lilly (McCarthy) as she attempts to deal with a loss, all while contending with the eponymous bird that takes over her garden. The script, written by Matt Harris, was featured on 2005's Black List of the most popular unproduced screenplays. There were rumors in 2017 that the film was being made with Keanu Reeves and Isla Fisher attached, but production officially began in 2019, directed by Theodore Melfi with McCarthy and O'Dowd in the lead roles.
The Starling premiered at 2021's Toronto International Film Festival and was even pegged early on as a potential Best Actress Award contender for McCarthy's performance. This seemed to be in line with the actor's impressive ability, but, sadly, it seems that The Starling has only provided further evidence that Melissa McCarthy has a bad movie problem. Despite the considerable buzz, The Starling has failed to impress. Reviews cite the film's inability to engage with its own characters, lack of any meaning depth, and heavy-handed melodrama as particular problem areas.
On the basis of the film's script and a short promo reel, Netflix spent $20 million to win distribution rights for The Starling, according to Deadline. As far as big-budget Hollywood films go, $20 million isn't the largest amount shelled out in order to win distribution rights, but it's a whopping sum of money for a film that - at that point in time, at least - was yet to be made. Buying into an unfinished film is inherently risky, and it seems that the risk has backfired for Netflix in this instance.
General critical consensus is that the film is a dud, seemingly continuing Melissa McCarthy's losing streak of films. Netflix should themselves be familiar with McCarthy's inconsistent track record, having earlier this year released Thunder Force, a McCarthy-led superhero comedy that entirely failed to impress. However, the actress has also been met with critical acclaim in her more dramatic roles, and The Starling's critical reception has little to do with McCarthy's ability.
In fact, the blame for this blunder falls squarely on Netflix's shoulders. The streaming platform may have changed the way society consumes media, but it's not without its detractors, as its most recent slew of original releases has been less than impressive by critical standards. Patty Jenkins' recent comments pointed out that movies released straight to streaming aren't often given much buzz before release, and The Starling is yet another example of exactly that. The small amount of buzz created by its screening at TIFF 2021 was quickly ousted by early reviews, and it seems that the film is destined to sit sadly in Netflix's catalog among various other less-than-stellar releases.
Ultimately, Netflix forking out $20 million for distribution rights turned out to spectacularly backfire given the film's unenthusiastic reception. Even for pockets as deep as Netflix's, $20 million is a lot of money to blow on a film that critics immediately dubbed a "turkey." Regardless of how well The Starling performs on the platform, it might just be that Netflix is a little more cautious with their cash in the future.