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Due to the absence of the film's actual plot in the trailers, 20th Century Fox must have known that the general public would have no desire to shell out ten dollars to see a movie about birders. What are birders? They are people who travel the world and count the different species of birds that they find. It wouldn't be such a big deal if birding wasn't such a large part of the film. Unfortunately it's the whole movie and "The Big Year" only barely gets by due to its extremely likable cast.
"The Big Year" follows three fellow birders. The first is Brad (Jack Black), a lonely guy who hates his job and has nothing going in his life aside from the dream of birding. Next comes Stu (Steve Martin), a successful CEO who wants to retire and pursue his dream of birding. Finally we have Kenny (Owen Wilson), a married man who neglects his wife in favor of keeping his status at the world's best birder. The only thing these three men have in common is their pursuit of The Big Year, an event in which the person who spots the largest number of bird species wins, even though there is no actual prize for winning. As a matter of fact, proof of actually spotting the birds is not required. Everything is based on the honor system. If a birder wanted to cheat and make up a high number, they actually could.
The biggest problem with 
"The Big Year" is that bird watching is just not interesting and following people around the country to watch them watch birds is even less interesting. On the plus side, it does help that the people you are following are Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson. Wilson delivers the same fast-talking performance that we get from him time and again, but it's Martin and Black, both of whom are more laid back than usual, who are the film’s real stars. Martin also gets the film's few decent lines, my favorite being when Stu spots two of his top executives (played by Joel McHale & Kevin Pollak) in a landfill while everyone is looking for birds, and he points at the execs and yells, "look everyone, vulchers." I think that was one of the only times I laughed out loud during the film.
Director David Frankel ("Marley & Me") tries to deliver a sophisticated comedy, shows us some beautiful locations and gives us a great cast that also includes supporting players like Rosamund Pike, Rashida Jones, Tim Blake Nelson, Anjelica Houston, Brian Dennehy, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Anderson, & more. The story just falls flat.
"The Big Year" is not a bad movie per se -- it's probably the best movie about bird watchers that I have ever seen (it's the only one, actually) -- but your enjoyment of the film will probably rely on how much you are into birds. I can't recommend that you go out to the theater to see "The Big Year," but if you are a fan of the Martin, Black, and Wilson, then it's good enough to check out on DVD at home or on cable.
After all, it could have been worse: They could have cast Brendan Fraser and Kevin James in the film and had all the birds find a way to throw things at their testicles.
Marc Ferman lives in Miami. You can read more of his work at keepitclassic.com.
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just a florida girl
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... With the all star cast you would THINK it's funny. It's really more silly than funny!! A few laughs. I did enjoy it Of course I did enjoy the birds- more than the STARS!!! |
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