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The Sterile Cuckoo

Play trailer Poster for The Sterile Cuckoo PG Released Oct 22, 1969 1h 48m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Uptight college freshman Jerry Payne (Wendell Burton) finds a carefree friend in zany Pookie (Liza Minnelli). After an awkward meeting on the bus, where they are headed to different colleges, Pookie quickly works her way into Jerry's life. She makes an unannounced visit to Jerry's campus, and before long annoyance turns to affection, and friendship turns to romance. But with Pookie's increasingly neurotic behavior, how long can this love affair last?
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The Sterile Cuckoo

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The Sterile Cuckoo is not as good as it should have been because it lacks consistency of tone. But parts of it are awfully good, and Miss Minnelli is one hell of an actress. Rated: 3/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Age has not been particularly kind to it, but... [it's] carried off with far more competence and assurance than many directorial debuts have enjoyed. Rated: 7/10 Sep 11, 2009 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 4, 2005 Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Rated: 3/5 Feb 7, 2005 Full Review Steve Crum Kansas City Kansan If I hear "Come Saturday Morning" one more time, I will throw something at innocent Pookie! Rated: 2/5 Oct 15, 2004 Full Review Nick Davis Nick's Flick Picks Liza Minnelli starring as a free spirit named "Pookie" could get old fast--but it doesn't, and the movie is warm and engaging. Rated: 3/5 Apr 20, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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jim s The only movie via John Nichols I ever enjoyed. Roger Ebert and other elite critics completely miss the point of this movie. It is not for the common herd, sans, an appreciation of wit and intellect. Pookie (Mineli) was superb in her recall of witticisms that, probably akin to the common theatre goer, zipped right by the dim witted boyfriend. She had the goods on the sixties zeitgeist, along with its beer, toga parties, sex and inane conversation that posed as Hip. She became so thoroughly frustrated in her attempts to civilize the collegiate society; she simply signed off. Her boyfriend, dullard as he was, thought he was doing Pookie a favor which demonstrates his total misunderstanding of Pookie. I could go on. I say to all. Read some Martin Amis, his dad, Douglas Adams, et al then revisit The Sterile Cuckoo. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/09/23 Full Review Martin B Lisa Minelli's best acting performance in my view. A turbulent time. Yet this movie highlights the insecurity and angst of young people out on their own for the first time in a more tranquil setting highlighting their turmoil. A brilliant move. The plot, traditional Northeast setting, the 1950's VW Beetle, a touchstone of the times for many of us. A must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Nice, tender, inconclusive, atypical young love story, whose main strength comes in the elegance in the way it is treated, and the great work of Minelli, who expresses fragility at the same time of a irreverent sense of humour. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review steve d It hasn't aged terribly but it has become forgettable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie. Liza Minnelli does an awesome job. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member I thought for sure she was gona turn all psycho as a result on unstability, I could relate to her ability to lie so easy, having had lived with such a storey teller. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Sterile Cuckoo

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Movie Info

Synopsis Uptight college freshman Jerry Payne (Wendell Burton) finds a carefree friend in zany Pookie (Liza Minnelli). After an awkward meeting on the bus, where they are headed to different colleges, Pookie quickly works her way into Jerry's life. She makes an unannounced visit to Jerry's campus, and before long annoyance turns to affection, and friendship turns to romance. But with Pookie's increasingly neurotic behavior, how long can this love affair last?
Director
Alan J. Pakula
Producer
Alan J. Pakula
Screenwriter
Alvin Sargent
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 22, 1969, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 13, 2017
Runtime
1h 48m
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