Little Wing (1 Hour, 39 Minute Film, Directed by Dean Israelite/Script by John Gatins, 2024).
This is essentially a sweet coming-of-age flick, set in the unusual world of pigeon racing. Kaitlyn (Brooklynn Paine) is a 13-year-old from Portland, Oregon whose life is in turmoil. Her parents divorced 9 months ago and, although her police officer Mom (Kelly Reilly) got the house in the settlement, she lacks the money for the mortgage. In an effort to cheer her up, friends of the family have got her a present. She hoped it would be a new phone and is more than crestfallen when she receives a pair of racing pigeons.
Her longtime best pal Adam (Che Tafari) tries to put the best face on this odd development. Researching the sport, he discovers that a Portland man breeds champion birds and his prized possession is The Granger, a pigeon reportedly worth $100,000. Together, the 2 youngsters hatch a plot to break into the man’s rooftop rookery and kidnap the expensive pigeon–although they’re not sure what they’ll do afterward (ransom The Granger back to Mr. Vari or sell it on the black market–assuming there even is a black market in racing pigeons). Hey, we are talking a pair of barely teenaged kids–maybe we can give them a pass for not being criminal masterminds.
Their break in includes a comedy of errors, not the least of which is Kaitlyn leaving her backpack (complete with her name) behind and Adam fracturing his arm in their frantic escape from the understandably angry John Vari (solidly craggy character actor Brian Cox–the only cast member who I recognize).
It turns out there IS an underground of pigeon racing enthusiasts–including a bunch of Russians who call themselves the Pigeon Mafia and are willing to pay for the bird. They only offer up $25,000–but it’s a start. Then Vari tracks Kaitlyn down, he doesn’t immediately inform Mom about the crime. After much huffing and puffing, he and Kaitlyn plot to steal The Granger back from the Russian tough-guys.
Injured and scared, Adam refuses to help. But her older brother Matt (Simon Khan) surprises Kaitlyn by joining the midnight mission. Till then he’s been a silent specter as a character, but he plays a key role of freeing the bird after a way-over-the-top bit of daring-do. The Granger takes flight and the Russians, while seriously unhappy, are in no mood for violent revenge (Kaitlyn returning the $25,000 undoubtedly helps).
The aged man and young girl have bonded, and Kaitlyn also learns that Vari is terminally ill. Cue repeated heartfelt hugging sessions.
Anyway, all expect the bird to return to Vari’s nest (racing pigeons’ devotion to their homes is a key aspect of the plot–in addition to how the races are run). But it’s not Mr. Vari’s place that he flies to, it’s Kaitlyn’s less imposing backyard roost–the bird now considers that it’s home.
And previously cipher-like Matt come through again–convincing Dad to loan Mom the money to keep the house. It all ends with Kaitlyn’s last visit to the dying John Vari, who has become a mentor and a close friend, teaching her about life in all its painful glory.
No, this isn’t an earth-shatteringly brilliant little movie. But it isn’t terrible, either.
The acting is very decent and the youngsters’ teen-aged alternation between wild impulsiveness and sullen despair actually feels pretty real. Cox delivers his work with dignity, keeping it from being overly maudlin. The direction and script strike me as adequate–though again, nothing outstanding. And the pigeon racing world is a fresh topic that proves pretty darn interesting.
An okay Paramount+ original movie, overall.
jimleeauthor 