It’s a sad and familiar tale, huh? Teen’s parents get divorced … Teen retreats into sullen and depressing introspection … Teen steals champion racing pigeon and sells it to the Russian pigeon mafia. Boy, if I had a nickel.
The troubled teen in question is Kaitlyn McKay (Brooklynn Prince). Lacking an anchor, she has identified her house as the consistency in her life. But divorcing mom can’t afford it, so unless 13-year-old Kaitlynn can figure out how to acquire a substantial mortgage lien, they’re going to lose the house.
Maybe this is something you should talk about, Kaitlyn. You know, like with a parent … or a counselor … or a sibling. No? You’re right; I’m sure your strategy of doing something incredibly stupid is better. Given two pet pigeons by someone who clearly hates their family, Kaitlyn focuses on an obscure hobby and discovers that right in downtown Portland there’s a bird, “The Granger,” a racing pigeon worth $120k, which would go a substantial way towards paying off the mortgage.
And, well, we all know how lucrative the underground pigeon black market is … and how easy it is to access the same. So Kaitlyn collects her boytoy, Adam (Che Tafari), and together they steal the bird while accidentally planting more evidence than Mark Fuhrman – don’t take that joke as a sign I think OJ was innocent. He wasn’t. But, yes, I think Fuhrman planted evidence to bolster their case. This, of course, is where Brian Cox gets 
involved and decides it’s his film. Well, he’s not wrong. He’s the only actor here I take seriously.
I will conclude the potential spoilers with the hint of the Russian pigeon mafia and a tie to a kid playing “U Can’t Touch This” on cello – personally, my favorite part of Little Wing. What did that have to do with the pigeon racing game? Almost nothing, but the film was far worse without it.
Little Wing sought to wed the concepts of pigeon habitation with disaffected children of divorce. It wasn’t unsuccessful in doing so, but one has to wonder who the producers thought this metaphysical comparison might appeal to. I’m left with the idea that I respect the people who made the film for wanting to sympathize with children of divorce and educate us on pigeons. However, I cannot possibly recommend this film; it’s just not very good.
There once was a girl called Kait
Who suckered a boy into her fate
Did they get caught? Of course
And found truthful resource:
After prison, maybe you two can date
Rated PG-13, 99 Minutes
Director: Dean Israelite
Writer: John Gatins, Susan Orlean
Genre: The metaphor of pigeonry
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Pigeons? Children of divorce, perhaps?
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Huh. Who hates pigeons? Oh yeah, everybody.
