Customer Reviews

The Big Year

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

LOVED IT! LAUGHED! Admittedly I feed backyard birds year-round. That does not deter the facts that this is a beautifully documented birding film with enough outdoor vistas to fill anyone's nest. Great music too, even from a couple of those old Beetles guys. The story ("true story, only the facts were changed") is birds, and how many can one count in a year, i.e. A Big Year. It turns into an avid confrontational race between Brad (Jack Black) a nuclear power plant techie, Kenny (Owen Wilson) reining champ, & Stu (Steve Martin) corporate head who's trying to retire from success. Brad needs financial help from parents (Dianne Wiest & Brian Dennehy) since this quest is ultra expensive. Brad also, along the trail, gets the hots for peacock gorgeous Ellie (Rashida Jones). So did I.

Other family matters become sub-plots and drama in this comic race for the feather count. Kenny's wife Jessica (Rosamund Pike) makes any guy look the fool with her beautiful display as the beautiful birdhouse mate. Kenny dumbly leaves her home alone. Kenny tells her he's the "Mozart" of birders. Stu gets a bit more moral support from wife Edith (Jo Beth Williams) and he does have a consciousness about business and family and occasionally falls from the hunt. There are some slapstick adventures in the rugged areas of North America due to the gung-ho style of the trio on their "Big Year" quests. Also enjoy the in-your-face bird tour boat captain, Annie Auklet (Angelica Huston) in a rare performance of a different specie. Plenty of other stars too. Not to mention hundreds of beautiful birds.

This is a FOWL film, but not fouled with lots of bad language, nudity, or other lower intellect modes often used to get comedy to work. Expect humor in wholesomeness, and the great outdoors. John Audubon would have loved to serve as an extra in this film. It is society endorsed. Makes one want to eat sunflower seeds with a grin.

There is some ending philosophy to the story. What is a win? Win at what cost? Even though 2 men lost, they seem to feel they were the ultimate winners. Biggest winner of The Big Year is birding fans. Raise those binoculars high, like a trophy.

At first I considered 4 ½ stars, because the last 2 films I theater viewed was "The Help" and "Courageous", both being 5 ½. The Big Year is not as deep in theme as those two, but just as entertaining, thus my 5 stars. Enjoy with a ticket or DVD. My plan is to do both.

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First of all, I enjoyed the other two reviews, they've got it right on. My wife and I saw this on the big screen and loved it. The matinee we attended only had about 2 other couples in it, which was terribly disappointing. We enjoyed this film and the DVD is already purchased, awaiting arrival on release.

It is refreshing to go to a movie and not have your ears assaulted by too loud music or special effects. This film doesn't need either, it's a good story on it's own. I think anyone that gives it a viewing will say it was worth it.

I love birds, and thanks to my mom, my family has no less than a half dozen pairs of binoculars and bird books; we subscribe to Birds &Blooms, Wild Bird, etc. I saw a grand total of two previews for this movie, and got the book from the library after the first. It was a great book. The movie was better: a few details changed for a perfect ending, almost as many shots of the birds as the cast, who were wonderful in this film. My children enjoyed it, and I can hardly wait for my husband to see it. Had it stayed in theaters long enough, I would have gone to see it on a weekly basis. It is sad that there was so little buzz about this movie, because it was absolutely perfect in every way! The whole family can watch together, unlike so many movies released these days, and it is the perfect encouragement for backyard birders.

You'd think a movie, based on something as low key as birdwatching, would be a tough sell to Hollywood. Folks tramping around remote areas, waiting, watching, sipping from thermoses to catch a glimpse of a single bird, yeah, not real up there on the excitement meter. This film delivers a whole lot of laid back moments and not a single high speed chase. Well... maybe I need to rephrase that, there are no hostage situations or shoot outs.

Scenery and quirky characters abound. Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson are perfectly cast and the acting is spot on. The interaction between characters is stellar and there is a bitter sweetness as each man comes to grip with the uniquely similar obsession to catch sight of elusive birds. Drama, depth of character, quirky editing, this story about men's secret passions and the lengths they will travel to plant a flag on a mountaintop, or a feather on a cap, is entertaining and inspiring. I loved this quirky, charming and character rich film.

So, let's look at what we have... three HUGE celebrities appearing in a title that most of us didn't even know existed! Here's the deal; if you are looking for a zany Jack Black, slapstick Steve Martin, comically smug Owen Wilson type all rolled up into a big ball of gut-busting, knee slapping laughs then this movie is not for you. Truth is, this movie is a great film, so long as you know what to expect (a task that the film's marketing team obviously dropped the ball on; dropped it and then stabbed it repeatedly with a sharp object until it's deflated rubbery carcass lay abandoned in the tall uncut grass). The Big Year is a charming story of three men determined to win a competition that consists of spotting as many rare birds in North America within a year. Owne Wilson plays the record-holding champion hell-bent on protecting his title from two newcomers played by Martin and Black. In all honesty, the movie will make you chuckle and... get ready for this; smile. It will literally make you smile as you are drawn into the lives of these characters with a refreshing sense of realism. And another bonus; the makes a great family night movie simply because it is not your typical profanity-laced, awkward situation movie that we have come to expect from Hollywood. Outside of, maybe 2 or 3, curse words that can normally be heard on network television, you can watch this with the kiddies. If you would like a feel-good story that will even make you reflect on aspects of your own life, then you won't be disappointed with The Big Year. After all, finding a movie that feels as real as this one, well... it's like spotting something rare.

If I had known that this movie's plot essentially centered around bird-watching, I would have expected it to be "kinda funny" at best. But oh were my expectations (which were quite high) blown away, in a good way.

The acting and script of this movie, as well as the directing, are all very high quality. Jack Black always makes me laugh, but beyond being funny, I feel that he is a dedicated, convicted, and experienced actor, that always takes his roles seriously, even if it looks like he is just goofing off. That is his role, it makes him fun to watch. I believe he works really hard to achieve and maintain this image, while still remaining kid friendly, this movie falls under that category, by the way.

Other than Jack Black, the film boasts an all star cast, filled with actors who have earned big reputations for their previous works. There are several noticeable B-listers in there as well. The supporting cast is perfect, well, support, to a main cast that is, well, perfect.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys comedy films, or just likes a good laugh every once in a while. You don't want to miss it, as good quality films of this ilk are much fewer than the bulk of "comedies" that are really just dramas in disguise. When I watch a comedy, I want to laugh, not cry, and this movie really delivers just that, the laughs that is.

I think people expected this movie to be non-stop cornball comedy, a reasonable assumption given the 3 main actors. In fact, I almost didn't see it because I prefer other types of movies. However, we loved it! We thought it was funny, and a light-hearted drama, and, most of all, interesting. After the movie we looked up the information they gave in the movie, and it appears that the basic facts are true, such as there being a "Big Year" birdwatching contest, and the birds on the Attu Island (which I'd never heard of). Although we enjoy nature, we are by no means bird-watching enthusiasts, but we got a kick out of seeing people take "enjoyment of birds" to a whole new level. Ultimately, the movie is about life and the choices you make, and that a life without Regrets is one lived with Balance.

This movie should have flown up the box office lists. Sure, it's about birds, *and*, really, it's about what lengths people go to when they are crazy for something. Could be birds, could be comic books, could be orchids. Everybody has something in their lives this film could relate to, if the marketing had been more astute.

Besides, the birds are gorgeous, and the three stars are all great comedians. They chose to do these roles for a reason!

Tip -- if you don't want to buy it, rent it. But do see the closing credits for one of the most beautiful sequences in movies.

I am a big Steve Martin fan and I think this ranks up with Planes Trains and Automobiles and that is saying something.

Now this was a fully entertaining movie, grown up without being boring, whimsical as three men could be, and certainly worth seeing again. No one stole the show or over-did anything. Just an allstar cast, oddly great story, and humor interlaced throughout without becoming the entire purpose.