The Big Year (2011)

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

"The Big Year" is a subtle gem of a film. More importantly though, it's a lesson in why one should never let expectations color perception. If I told you there was a film with Steve Martin, Jack Black, John Cleese, and Owen Wilson, odds are good that you'd expect a film which afforded you an abundance of laughs. While "The Big Year" does have its humorous moments, and abundance of the film is quite morose. Each character is written with a sense of desperation, an almost oppressive level of depression, and an air of unavoidable failure. Those moments of laughter then resonate as genuine, as if humor is employed as a defense mechanism. However, if we set aside our expectations, what remains is a well-crafted film with a lot of heart. One in which every viewer can recognize a little of themselves somewhere. I highly recommend this film, to anyone who view it with an objective eye.

I'm convinced that anyone reviewing this movie poorly just hates being happy after watching a movie. Sure, it's not exactly the type of movie you'd see win an Oscar, but I prefer to watch movies that leave me feeling good! There are so many times the plot could take a turn for the worse, so it still manages to keep you on your toes, but you're always pleasantly surprised that it remains lighthearted. Bonus - you don't need to know a thing about birding to enjoy this relaxed, joyful comedy! Watch this movie and be happy!

The Big Year (2011): Dir: David Frankel / Cast: Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Brian Dennehy, Rashida Jones: This is a film for every nature, and especially, bird lover. It regards one's passion as three males compete in bird watching for an entire year. Steve Martin is anticipating retirement even though his employees restrain him with business demands but his heart is away from work and into sighting the most birds. Jack Black feels discouraged by his father when he pursues bird watching over a career. Owen Wilson is the champion bird watcher who is having commitment issues when his wife desires a baby. This film is not as funny as perhaps it could be, but it sustains a likable cast and great shots of nature and various bird species. Director David Frankel scored with The Devil Wears Prada, and even though this film is inferior, it goes opposite to its characters being career motivated. Martin's character befriends Black while anticipating becoming a grandfather back home. At one point he misses one of the flights out but ultimately scores big in other areas. Black longs to be a birding champion but he hasn't lost his passion for it. Wilson uses distracting methods to sway both parties away from breaking his record. Supporting roles are unfortunately cardboard including Brian Dennehy as Black's father suffering through heart issues. Rashida Jones is featured as an amateur bird watcher who strikes up a friendship with Black. We are never sure who wins until the end, and the winner only wins by losing elsewhere. It proves that hobbies can suffice when they do not dominate your life. Score: 8 ½ / 10

The idea for THE BIG YEAR sounds fascinating; the fact that people spend most of their time and energy trying to spot as many birds as possible during a calendar year offers fascinating possibilities for the exploration of obsession, as well as including some wonderful footage of the birds themselves.While David Frankel's film manages to fulfill the second requirement, it fails notably on the first. Rather than exploring the characters of its three protagonists (Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Steve Martin), it relapses into a familiar tale of the ugly duckling with little money (Black) taking on the big boys (Wilson, Martin) in the Big Year competition. No one is initially prepared to admit that they are actually participating; but when they do, Black and Martin form an alliance against the cocky, arrogant Wilson, who believes that he is obviously the best, his position unchallengeable.THE BIG YEAR includes some stunning photography - by Lawrence Sher - as well as some picture-postcard views of various locations in the United States. On the whole, however, the picture descends into sentimentality, especially in its depiction of the relationship between Black's character and his crusty father (Brian Dennehy), or the way in which Martin's character becomes so human that he is prepared to give up an opportunity to become the president of 3M worldwide. The ending is wearily predictable, although there are a few incidental laughs along the way.