The Big Year (2011)
Certified: PG
Duration: 101 minutes
Directed by: David Frankel
Starring: Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Jobeth Williams, Dianne West, Brian Dennehy, Rosamund Pike, Rashida Jones, Joel McHale, Kevin Pollak
KRS release
The Big Year is a story about three birdwatchers and their “Big Year” when they are supposed to spot and list the greatest number of birds.
The world record is held by the very self-assured Bostick (Owen Wilson) who will do everything to remain top birdwatcher. Stu (Steve Martin) always wanted to go on a Big Year but his job as a business executive always got in the way.
Meanwhile, Brad (Jack Black), a divorced 30-something-year-old, does not know what to do in life but knows every bird call possible.
Bostick has already had trouble in one marriage due to his Big Year commitments and this is putting a strain on his relationship with Jessica (Rosamnund Pike) who wants children.
Travel agent Brenda (Dianne Wiest) fully supports her son Brad, yet his dad Raymond (Brian Dennehy) sees the “sport” as a waste of time. Stu’s wife Edith (Jobeth Williams), however, provides him with ample support.
He tries to cope with the “Big Year” and the other executives finding trouble not closing a deal. Brad starts to get close to fellow birdwatcher Ellie (Rashida Jones), while Bostick must decide between the Big Year and his marriage.
The Big Year has underperformed so much at the box office that I was expecting a total mess of a movie. What I got instead was a relaxed comedy that will make you smile rather than laugh out loud.
Directed by David Frankel, who brought to the screen box-office hits like The Devil Wears Prada and Marley and Me, The Big Year is a film that is pleasant and unhurried in approach.
By choosing three actors all at various stages in life and popularity, the production throws its net wide, thus, there seems to be something for everyone in the audience.
The subject of bird watching (of the feathery kind!) is an odd theme in itself which further increases the film’s selective attitude. Compared with the recent wave of comedies that are increasing the risqué factor, The Big Year prefers to play on the elements of silliness combined with sweetness.
Anyone who is passionate about one’s hobby will find a lot to appreciate in the way these three characters go about what they love doing.
This is one of the attractive factors of the film. It really describes how a hobby can become so all consuming. The actors themselves seem to be genuinely involved and play their roles well. The production seems to genuinely care for the subject and for the characters.