Movie Review: ‘The Big Year’

“The Big Year” is for bird lovers and those who like a movie with depth, sentiment, some light-hearted laughs, and a dash of poetic justice.
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Movie Review: ‘The Big Year’
10/13/2011
Updated:
10/1/2015


<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/The23432big29.jpg" alt="(L-R) Owen Wilson as a successful contractor, Steve Martin as a wealthy industrialist, and Jack Black as a computer code writer race across the continent to see who can spot the most species of bird in a year, in the comedy 'The Big Year.' (Courtesy of 20th Century Fox)" title="(L-R) Owen Wilson as a successful contractor, Steve Martin as a wealthy industrialist, and Jack Black as a computer code writer race across the continent to see who can spot the most species of bird in a year, in the comedy 'The Big Year.' (Courtesy of 20th Century Fox)" width="575" class="size-medium wp-image-1796442"/></a>
(L-R) Owen Wilson as a successful contractor, Steve Martin as a wealthy industrialist, and Jack Black as a computer code writer race across the continent to see who can spot the most species of bird in a year, in the comedy 'The Big Year.' (Courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

The Big Year is for bird lovers and those who like a movie with depth, sentiment, some light-hearted laughs, and a dash of poetic justice. And if you’re not into birds, this film may make you consider taking bird-watching up as your next hobby.

The story is about three men from different walks of life competing as avid bird-watchers against each other. Following a long historical tradition, to win the competition, one must spot the greatest number of bird species within a one-year period—all measured on the honor system.

The film leads us into the personal lives and internal conflicts throughout their “Big Year” as they venture to various parts of the world, sometimes to far-off places on a whim because of a freak storm that gathers an extraordinary number of birds into one geographical location.

The story is character-driven, with the bird-watching competition used as a plot device to humorously deep-dive on these three rival competitors’ lives, each with their own problems blocking them from happiness.

<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/The23432feild29.jpg" alt="Jack Black as a computer code writer and Steve Martin as a wealthy industrialist compete to see who can view the most species of bird in a year, in the comedy 'The Big Year.' (Courtesy of 20th Century Fox)" title="Jack Black as a computer code writer and Steve Martin as a wealthy industrialist compete to see who can view the most species of bird in a year, in the comedy 'The Big Year.' (Courtesy of 20th Century Fox)" width="575" class="size-medium wp-image-1796444"/></a>
Jack Black as a computer code writer and Steve Martin as a wealthy industrialist compete to see who can view the most species of bird in a year, in the comedy 'The Big Year.' (Courtesy of 20th Century Fox)
The actors are cast well and the chemistry works fine. Steve Martin is very convincing as Stu Preissler, a self-made man who’s built himself a business empire but struggles to let go of his business life in order to focus on his family, new grandson, and bird-watching.

Jack Black as Brad Harris gives some clumsy comedy and boyhood innocence, as he usually does. Brad’s a mediocre, middle-aged divorcee with an inner desire to achieve something great in his life, but his father disapproves of his newfound quest to achieve the award for best bird-watcher in the world.
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Owen Wilson plays Kenny Bostick, the defending champion, who is forced to ponder whether being the best bird-watcher in the world is more important than family.

The movie set travels to beautiful locales, and the cinematography provides nice aerial shots in far-off, exotic places such as Attu Island, Alaska.

Along with the landscapes come diverse and magnificent bird species, like the owl Brad and his father spot. The movie makes a nice parallel about how the beauty and uniqueness of each bird is similar to each of us as unique individuals complete with characteristics and habits.

The film is a comedy that connects nicely into a poetic message. It’s not the year’s top movie, but it’s creative and fresh with heart and soul.

[etRating value=“ 3”]