User Reviews

Starbuck (2011)

This might look like a bad movie—a silly idea and a goofy promo photo. And it's in French, so American audiences south of Canada are relatively small. But it's far more genuine than it portends. It's funny and warm. It's clever. It's improbable and impossible, sure, but that's part of the joyous fantasy of this weirdly feel-good film.

The premise starts pretty simply—an eager sperm donor (for money) finds out his sperm was used a lot. And with great success. Hundreds of babies were conceived. And now a group of over a hundred have banded together as a class- action group to demand his identity be released.

Because of the suit, he finds all this out and is shocked. Then, because the court has all the plaintiffs listed in detail, he is able to find the people, one by one. And so it goes. He meets. He does good deeds. He keeps his mouth shut. And in the process he begins to see the situation from the point of view of these 20 year old kids.

In this country you could picture Ben Stiller or similar comic actor taking the role. Here it is Patrick Huard, a Canadian French-speaking actor. And it turned into a hit (the most popular film in Quebec in 2011). Huard makes his character compelling, even as all these ridiculous things are happening around him. Watch it for his performance alone.

Or watch it for the warm and fuzzy aspects that are really a surprise given the comic plot. Fun and well done!

The feel-good movie is somewhat of an enigma when it comes to the end result. Collectively, so many share the same exact elements: ample schmaltz, the odd contrivance and an ending born straight out of a Disney cartoon. Yet while some work remarkably well, others simply come off as manipulative, pandering tripe. Thankfully in the case of Starbuck, its earnest nature, winning performances and wry humour assemble in a hugely palatable way, which helps it to become one of the more charming films I've seen in recent memory.

The title Starbuck comes from a pseudonym used by 40-something slacker David Wozniak (Patrick Huard). However, it just so happens that this particular alias was constructed for purposes of the professional self- pleasuring variety. That is to say it's the name he put down on the paperwork at the sperm donor clinic. Years after his sordid activities, broke and expecting a child, he learns that he may in fact already have some offspring. In fact, he may have 533 spawn, 142 of whom have just filed a class action lawsuit against him to find their father's true identity. Though he sprints to his friend and lawyer Avocat (Antoine Bertrand) in an attempt to quash the suit, he foolishly peaks inside the folder containing the identity of his children and a redemptive journey begins.

Starbuck successfully encompasses a number of tropes found in films of this nature, though thanks to its unique (if silly) premise, it makes them feel new again. For instance, the "guardian angel" device where a recently deceased character rights wrongs from beyond the grave becomes David stealthily interacting with a number of his kids when they need a helping hand. Likewise, the film as a whole could be considered a romantic comedy with the brood replacing the male or female love interest that is commonly found. However, the kinks that are ultimately thrown between David revealing himself to his extended family are both more potentially life-altering and grounded in some semblance of reality.

Much of Starbuck's success can be attributed to the lead performance from Huard who strikes the perfect balance between good-natured loser, sarcastic rouge and eventually a troubled man trying to do the right thing. His delivery and mannerisms fit the somewhat sardonic material immensely well and simply put he's just damn charming. Even more cynical and ironic is the Avocat character who is the film's purest form of comic relief (not that it really needed it). Every scene with him and David works wonderfully and a final climactic scene which finds him in a moment of (short lived) triumph will have you in stitches.

Unfortunately as is the case with most schmaltzy material, Starbuck indulges in clichés, occasional bloat and contrivance. A subplot involving David owing $80,000 to some unscrupulous folks is utterly unnecessary and is resolved with very little bearing on the overarching story. The film also hammers home our protagonist's slacker status a tad too heavily early on and it's thanks mainly to Huard's talents that we believe his ultimate transformation.

Then there are his children who are comparative (and thinly written) angels when put up against their father and even those who fall into bad habits are set on the right path by their guardian by the next scene. Or perhaps I'm mistaken and a heroin addiction actually can be kicked overnight.

It's the earnest nature and winning humour that ultimately make Starbuck work though, as even when it descends into sentimentality the film keeps its wits and maintains its credibility. Take for instance a late scene where David's many offshoots show up for the birth of his baby – that is to say their sister – and indulge in a group hug. Cheesy to the hilt, yes, but writer-director Ken Scott has the good sense to toss in the line "that was weird" immediately following.

Those generally uninterested in a subtitled, French Canadian lark won't have long to wait as an American remake called Delivery Man has already been completed with Vince Vaughan taking on the David role and Chris Pratt that of Avocat. I actually cringe at the thought of this venture. Starbuck itself walked a thin line between charm and mauldlinism and with the removal of Huard and the French style of humour I can't see it being duplicated with much success. The only ray of hope is that Scott will return as scribe and director so perhaps he sees the potential. But I digress, and will simply say check out this original before the remake lands.

All of the sincerity on display in this comedy is certainly infectious and while not groundbreaking by any means, it's constructed with enough of an identity to stand apart. With appealing leads and some scenes that will tug at the heartstrings and poke at the tear ducts (often in a surprisingly non-manipulative manner) it's hard to imagine most audiences leaving Starbuck without a grin.

I liked "Starbuck" very much. My main advice would be to watch it before the American version is out. It's not that I don't believe in Hollywood, but I don't. This movie is heartwarming, the characters are lovable and the story is fairly original. It has moments which will make you laugh, but its true strength is in those moments which will make you smile. The acting is good, the music is very suitable and the director has managed to produce a sotry which dodges clichés. "Starbuck"is a movie which would make you feel better if you are in a bad mood, and even if you are feeling good it would elevate your spirit even more. It is not a movie to change your view on life or something, but you'll have a real fun watching it and that's what going to the movies is all about.

My friends and I went to the theater to see another movie tonight but arrived too late, so on a whim we decided to check out Starbuck and it was actually so good.

It was so funny, my friends and I were cracking up. It's also very character driven and there are a ton of lovely moments that make you love the characters as they struggle to make decisions. Starbuck is totally heart warming as you start to see the altruistic spirit rise from his funny pathetic starting point.

I can't wait to recommend it to my friends and family, so that's why i am writing this review at one in the morning... so... check it out.

A really good central performance by the lead actor. The story itself, well it does contain a lot of clichés and stuff you'll be expecting when watching a movie like this. Plot holes can be found as easy as holes in swiss cheese. But maybe we started off the wrong foot here. Be aware, that the only really "adult" scene (if you want to call it that), is right at the beginning. Let's call that scene, the "shot that made everything happen" (it's more than one shot of course).

There was actually a man in the news last year, who did father quite a lot of children. This news came out in America in 2012 and was received like a big shock. Of course the man who did donate his sperm, is not entirely to blame here. Pretty sure he needed the money, and if he could get it, by doing nothing that he wouldn't do anyways ...

So here we have a case of a comedy, that has a lot of heart (and meat, but not story wise), but lacks a bit on the big drama. And some other minor failings. Overall a more than decent effort, that probably will be remade in America sometime soon

Remember Vince Vaughns enjoyable comedy Delivery Man (2013)? Well this is where it all began, a French Canadian movie that got remade multiple times including the aforementioned title.

It tells the story of a lovable loser who donates heavily to the sperm bank. One day he discovers he has fathered over 500 children and that over 100 of them are fighting through legal means to have his identity revealed.

A powerful, moral, thought provoking tale I actually enjoyed the Vince Vaughn effort but certainly didn't expect the original to be this much better. I know generally US remakes are inferior but it was loyal to this, the original however is just a complete tour-de-force.

I was just talking recently about how many movies have made folks cry and that my number was just 4. Not too bad considering I've now seen over 8000 films! Starbuck almost made it a 5th, it crushed me and choked me up!

No Vaughn here, no Chris Pratt but it does have the same director as the Hollywood remake. No familiar faces helped the film no end as I saw characters instead of actors.

This is the best film I've seen in a longtime and heartily recommend it. Even if you don't like subtitles or sappy movies, but your bias aside and give Starbuck a chance. I'd be very surprised if you regret it.

Outstanding stuff.

The Good:

Great soundtrack

Heartfelt

Thought provoking

The Bad:

Nothing springs to mind

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Some people really do read the articles in porn magazines

Threat of drowning isn't taken into consideration on a bank loan application

I too cannot look at a child for more than 10 seconds without wanting to smack it

Sperm donation is prostitution

In Montreal , an immature man in his forties has many troubles including dealing with loan sharks. Then he must deal with the past when he was a sperm bank donor and learns he has hundreds of biological children many of whom are in a lawsuit to reveal his identity. He has the files on these children, now young adults, and has a transformation as he connects with some of them without revealing who he is.

The film has a lot of heart even though many situations seem implausible. One such implausible situation is the number of biological children. While it may be possible to suspend logic on this count, there are other situations that don't seem right including the story of a far-gone addict.

One of the film's stronger assets is the acting which is great overall. Even the brief roles are well played with much of that wonderful Québecois passion. The acting helps prevent some weaker elements of the storyline from falling into weak territory.

The subject matter of sperm banks is getting mileage now that so many children conceived this way are adults and seeking their paternal heritage. "The Kids are All Right" did a slightly better job than "Starbuck". But nothing on this subject could ever beat the best "Golden Girls" episode ever when Blanche's daughter arranged artificial insemination. - dbamateurcritic

David Wozniack has quite the problem. As a man who doesn't have many responsibilities aside from driving his dad's delivery truck for the butcher shop, he's the father of 533 children. He's got commitment issues with his girlfriend, and gets ragged on for not being dependable enough. So how did this happen?

All the children were conceived thanks to his donations to the fertility clinic, registered under 'Starbuck' - and it's twenty years later - 142 of the kids want to know his identity. Class action lawsuit time!

I heard about this premise from a friend, and it sounded absolutely hilarious. What would anyone even do in this situation? It's absurd! I went in, expecting plenty of laughs, but walked out with a genuine love for this film. It's a wonderful surprise. What could have been a mere gimmick for comedy turned out to be a starting point for something much more. When we first see David, he isn't doing well. Nothing is expected of him, he seems to be a disappointment with everyone he knows, except for his best friend, and the news of this children can only be a headache. However, he decides to take a more active approach and gets to know his children, as scary as the idea seems. One step at a time, one child at a time. The result is an effective mix of silly and sweet, some great lines, and genuine emotion.

I don't think this film will get a wide a distribution as it deserves, which is a real shame. I suspect the fact that it being in French will deter some audience members from the film. Personally, I saw it with subs and it wasn't hard to follow. It's well worth the effort to do a bit of reading. Starbuck has piqued my interest to see more Canadian films in hopes of more gems like this one. All I can do is spread the word, and hopefully the word of mouth will help it along. This film is a crowd-pleaser and I was caught between laughing and crying during some parts, I can't praise it enough. Give it a chance if it happens to be playing your local theatre - it might just blow you away!

A very refreshing film. I honestly wouldn't mind seeing it again in theatres.

When deciding to give this movie a go, I was skeptical since I've been pretty disappointed with most films coming out of Canada, however, after watching Starbuck, it renewed my faith in Canadian Cinema. The movie is about a middle-aged man who hasn't had much luck in his life. In his 20's, he lived above a sperm clinic and was a frequent donor which comes back to haunt him 20 years later. The story revolves around the children fathered by the anonymous donor named "Starbuck" and their wish to find who the anonymous donor is. Starbuck is my favourite comedy of the year and probably one of my favourite films. The premise of the movie is very unique and heart warming and the actors are wonderfully casted. Starbuck hasn't received much press, however, word is going around and a remake is being rumored. Watch it now before someone else ruins it.

But i believe if you donate your sperm this many times in the real life, you must be needing a lot of money, which means that you're not a stable person, to utter the kindest word. An unstable person cannot guarantee that he will have a stable sexual life. What if 20 Years later, he casually did it with a girl? What if she turned out to be his biological daughter? This extreme idea could be explored in the movie like it was explored in old boy. Then it wouldn't be a comedy any more. But when i am discussing about donating your sperm, all i can think about is these coincidences. The more biological daughters you have, the more likely the coincidences happen. I'd never donate my sperms because you can never know what'll happen in the future. I'm glad I'm not a male and I won't have to worry about the financial issues of mine vs trying to remain as a stable man. Hope this comment sounds okay because i know that I'm commenting on a controversial topic like "can you sacrifice one person in order to save 5 people before they die in a train accident?". In short, this movie deserves an average point like 6.

I saw this French Canadian film on a KLM flight. I have not heard of it, and the title was not catchy, however when I read in the information that there will be an American version to be done, I became curious so I went on to watch it. I did not regret it.

For a movie that began with the uncomfortable scene of a guy donating sperm in a sperm bank. From such an inauspicious beginning, what unfolds is actually a heartwarming story of David Wozniak (Patrick Huard), a middle-aged man whose life of non-commitment changes radically when he discovers that he had actually fathered more than 500 kids via his multiple sperm donations done when he was a young man. When 143 of these kids file a class suit against the anonymous donor "Starbuck," will David reveal his secret identity? If he does, how will he face all of these newly-arisen paternal responsibilities?

Of course, there are scenes which may look cheesy for some, but viewed with the proper attitude without cynicism, these scenes are actually quite nice and even touching. Since David's kids are all young adults already with individual personalities and problems, his approach to each one would have to be different based on the situation each kid is in. The public controversy and discussion that arose when the news of the "Starbuck" case hit the tabloids is also very thought-provoking.

This film was an unexpected delight. It was good to know afterward that this movie actually received multiple nominations and even won awards at the Genie and various film festivals. I am glad I caught it before the American version. It would be interesting to compare the treatment of the story.

I watched this movie with high expectations after checking that it was rated 7.4 on IMDb. To my dismay, I found this movie to be corny and just plain boring. The acting is good, but the story line left me yawning half-way, and I was kicking myself for wasting my money and time watching it.

It was predictable, and some parts just made me cringe - too far fetched to be real. The movie started off interesting, but went down hill quite soon after the first biological child was discovered. Whilst this movie attempts to be a feel-good movie, it just doesn't deliver enough punches and surprises along the way. Its attempts at humour was also rather lame.

Shame as I was hoping for more, it was but a disappointment!

In this feel-good movie the viewer is transported to the world of David Wozniak, a French-speaking Polish-Canadian who lives in Montreal, where he works in a family business as a meat deliveryman. He's an average Joe without much ambition or money. He is amiable and has a good heart, but his girlfriend Valérie is ready to dump him because of his aimlessness.

It turns out that he has a secret. Because of a screw-up at a fertility clinic, he is actually the biological father of hundreds of children. There are so many of them they have organised to find out the identity of "Starbuck", their common father. This diverse, interesting group of young people have formed a rather large club that socialises together. After all, they have the same father.

The plot of the movie has two threads based on David's attempts to cope with this situation: David getting caught up (secretly) in the world of these children; but at the same time David trying to hide his identity from them, Valérie and the world. I was drawn into this scenario and was curious to see where it would go.

The movie had a lot of fast dialogue in French, but it was easy to follow because of the English subtitles. The film is filled with gentle humour. The interesting world of the Wozniak family was portrayed realistically. Montreal life is the quiet backdrop to this movie. However, you have to wonder where the snow was!

One thing that wasn't really explained was how these sperm-donor children all found each other. Clearly there was a massive problem with the clinic, but this aspect is not dwelt on in the film.

Final word: a good movie.

Life is a stage and where else could you meet so many characters but in your own family!

David Wozniack's 539 sperm donor children were as different as Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot at The Last Supper!

I loved them all ...the severely autistic, the prescription drug addict, the unemployed actor, the soccer star, the neurotic, and the gay!

We often learn the most from those who are most unlike ourselves.

The labyrinth of sperm donor children that surround the birth of his first newborn child is heart warming! It feels like agape love much like Quebec film "The Barbarian Invasion"

However, Quebec has a way of romanticizing the trivialization and the minimization of having accountability for actions. (such as the fertility Clinic that donated 500 sperm donor donations under the name Starbuck)

I almost fell in love with this film!

Leave it to the Indie's to create a one-of-a-kind 9-star film. Starbuck takes the cake, or maybe puts the icing On the cake - sorry. High kudos to director Ken Scott.

This film stars Patrick Huard as David Wozniak, aka Starbuck. When David was in his early 20s, he became a professional sperm donor. In fact, he made 655 donations, collected nearly $25,000 in fees and sired 533 children. Hence the movie's theme.

David, now in his early 40s, works as a delivery man in his father's butcher shop. Always tardy but a terrifically likable fellow.

142 of his children band together and launch a class action lawsuit to force David to reveal his identity. Along with the summons and complaint, the sperm collection agency receives a packet that contains a one-sheet from each of the 142. A one-sheet is a one-pager that contains the person's picture and a brief bio. Professional speakers create these for their sales pitch.

Curious David meets a few of his children in his quest to find meaning and make a contribution. He helps three or four of them.

So the debate begins. Should he reveal his identity? What does he owe these now 20-something people? What are his privacy rights? Do children put up for adoption have the right to meet their natural parents? Lots of social issues presented in a truly endearing and entertaining way. . .

David's close friend Avocat, played by Antoine Bertrand is his aspiring lawyer.

Oh and David's girlfriend Valerie, played by Julie LeBreton is pregnant so he contends with that too.

One ding though. The folks that made the movie put the English subtitles in white font and a number of the backgrounds are light colors. So some of the text is difficult to read. Boo! But...

Without revealing any more details because that might spoil the movie, see Starbuck - a Delightfully Wonderful Movie. Loaded with great stuff! Enjoy.

9 stars!!!

Arthur VanDam, film critic and author

With great expectation, I started to watch this film only to disappoint myself.

Honestly, the whole thing's terrible, too terrible to remark.Nothing but hackneyed subjects and second-handed laughing stock.

Well I might miss the point if it has a point.Somehow I did caught enough glimpes of Addidas, coats and shoes and everything you need to know about that brand.This made me doubt whether this film is but a insidious commercial.

It has a very neat start, but more often than not we find that "well begun isn't half done". It goes straight downhill after about 12min! phony IS too weak a word for this movie, the play & actor & all!!!

Better not waste your time.

As a Canadian, I am truly proud of this film. I am a film fanatic and watch both American and "Foreign Films" with passion. Lately, I have become somewhat cynical of Hollywood movies. We all need to realize that the world is larger than Hollywood. There are amazing foreign films that are truly amazing. And many that are so good that they are picked up for a re-make in Hollywood. Think of recent movies such as the Girl with Dragon Tattoo,Headhunters, and now this one (and there are so many more, especially Korean ones). All are amazing original movies that deserve to be seen in their original state, regardless of how Hollywood changes them. No disrespect to Hollywood. Often, Hollywood can even sweeten the plot and make the movie even better. However, there is something to be said about seeing the original movie (even if it has to be subtitled) to appreciate the initial efforts by the cast, director and crew. This one stands out as one of the best that Canada has ever produced and worthy of your time and consideration.

The French-Canadian comedy 'Starbuck', though at times faltering to age-old conventions and slow pacing, is undeniably a feel-good movie with no lack of charm or geniality.

When the audience first meets David Wozniak (Patrick Huard), a 42-year-old man living in Montreal, we witness his uncanny capacity to screw up just about everything in his life: his simple job as a delivery driver for his father's butcher shop, his relationship with his long- time girlfriend (Julie Le Breton), and most of all his personal finances. Amidst all of these troubles, David is further informed that, due to his constant presence at a fertility clinic during his 20's, he is now an unsuspecting father to several children. 533, to be exact. And now as 142 of his children file a class-action suit in the hope that he will shed his anonymity, David must decide how best to approach his unexpected role in these young people's lives.

Director and writer Ken Scott constructs the plot from a premise that is as ridiculous as it is promisingly original. When this is combined with the affable charm that leading man Patrick Huard exudes so effortlessly, the movie works itself into a sweet-spot that comedies rarely land on (indeed, not many comedies aim for it to start with): while the scenarios are far-fetched and distant enough to elicit laughter from the audience, the human connection is nevertheless always present, as we tirelessly root for the lovable slacker David Wozniak in whatever quirky situation he finds himself in. This attribute is most apparent in the middle section of the film, as we see David's various encounters with several of his newfound children in what may be arguably the most enjoyable sequence in the movie.

However, as the plot attempts to work itself towards some coherent resolution later on, the movie becomes slower and borrows heavily and predictably from formula at times. Despite this the movie does not at any point relinquish the viewer's interest. If you are not particularly averse to a hearty dose of sentimentality, and if you are up for a good laugh, then 'Starbuck' should be at the top of your list.

Starbuck was brought to my attention having seen trailers for Vince Vaughn's Delivery Man. I decided to see the original French (Canadian) version first and I'm so glad I did. This film is superb! Magnifique! Edifying, uplifting, funny, touching and beautiful. It is such an original premise that there was no clue how it would end; it could have gone in a number of different directions. The actors were all so good that you didn't feel that you are watching a film, rather you were following a true life documentary. Every actor was flawless. I cannot fault this film, other than watching it with English subtitles I'm sure it lost a bit in translation as I was aware that not everything was translated verbatim. Eminently lovable characters and a wonderful social commentary. WATCH THIS FILM!! Un film tres fantastique!!

Starbuck is labelled as a comedy and apparently it was sold that way, however nothing is funny in this movie that tends more towards a drama. But a poor drama because the stakes on which the script relies on aren't convincing. The movie just glances over things, moreover in a very predictable and unsubtle way, and remains very superficial on every level. But the most annoying thing is that it's overly sentimental and melodramatic, it tries so hard to make the viewer sad that it becomes sickening by the time it reaches the happy ending. The direction, the characters lack depth as the story itself and the actors seem more ordinary one from another.

David is deeply in debt, bullied by thugs, inept at his job, ineffectual with women, capricious and awkward. Basically, he cannot do anything right. So it comes as a surprise, especially to David, that he is the father of 533 children. Evidently, he is popular at the local Montreal sperm bank. True to form, David is not sure whether to be proud or threatened. Operating on the assumptions that any respectable parent should know their children well and that his fortunes will improve, David sets his sights on spending more time with his kids, all 533 of them.

Starbuck is whimsical, upbeat, charming and funny. This original Quebec version is much better than the later Hollywood rip-off. The Quebec roots and flavor have a lot to do with it. The story is so much more authentic and intriguing with Patrick Huard as David. Huard is perfectly cast. The film might have benefited by an infusion of cash and depth, but as Hollywood proved, you can also screw up a good thing. French language film with English subtitles. Seen at the Miami International Film Festival.

It's 2024 now and I got this recommended as a video on demand. Usually, those recommendations are watchable but that's about it.

This time was so very different. Starbuck from 2011 is such a good movie. So incredibly superior to any of the Hollywood crap that's out there. I can't even imagine one single Hollywood actor that would be capable to replace Starbuck in this movie. No way. He's perfect for the role and so are the other actors.

To be fair, I have to say one thing. You probably have to be a parent to give this a 10/10. I don't think it would have been the same experience for me if I was - hmm - let's say 20 years old watching this movie.

Of course there are certain things that you can say could be different and better, but that's by far not enough to deduct even 1 star. It's so heart warming and brilliant. I loved it.

If you are uncertain whether you should watch this movie or not, and you are a parent yourself - don't hesitate and watch it. You won't be disappointed, I promise!