Review! The Big Year

Will: Have you ever seen a bird and thought, “Huh, that’s kind of cool”?  Now, have you ever thought of dedicating a year or more of your life and tens of thousands of dollars to “birding”? No.  Of course you didn’t, because it’s silly.  Billed as one of the best comedy films of the year, The Big Year chronicles the lives of three men of wildly different backgrounds pursuing their single common desire, Birding.  If, at this point you aren’t already on the edge of your seat thinking, “wow, birding! That sounds awesome” then I have some bad news for you, it only goes down hill from here.

A “big year” is a year in which an individual attempts to see as many different species of birds as possible in that single year.  Now let me add that I use the word “see” loosely.  You see, to add a bird to your list, you don’t need to record or photograph it.  In fact, you don’t even have to actually see it.  Simply hearing the sound it makes will suffice.  Our most attentive readers will note that in last years “bird quarterly” it was inaccurately reported that I had seen 987 birds.  The actual number was 994 but back to the movie.

Owens is an established birder and the reigning birding champion.  Jack Black has a more than reasonable desk job at a power plant.  And, Steve Martin recently retired (for the third time) as CEO of a major corporation which he founded.  Martin and Black have always dreamed of doing their own big year and Owens is determined to hold onto his title as the champion birder.  The only real plot elements of note, other than the race to “see” as many birds as possible are the frequent and repetitive attempts by those close to the characters to stop them from birding.  Luke Owens wife tries to get him to spend more time with her and father a child.  Jack Black’s parents (whom he lives with) want him to grow up and do something serious with his life. Steve Martin’s family is totally supportive of his endeavor but his former employees just won’t let him out the door.

If you’re looking for comedy, you won’t find it here.  Drama? Nope.  Deep emotional impact? Not even close.  The movie doesn’t really affect the viewer at all, and that’s what is most disappointing.  In fact, the only bit of the movie that the audience seemed to react to was Jack Black’s ringtone.  The acting was not terrible, but not great.  The screenplay was horrendous, literally nothing happened at any point in the film.  There are no twists, no character development, not even clever bird puns, and let’s be honest there was plenty of opportunity.

Ultimately, there is no reason to see this movie.  I’ll even go so far as to suggest you actively try to avoid it.  You may be tempted one day to see it, perhaps If someone offers you free tickets, but don’t.  Seeing the movie for free is a good deal in the same way that breaking your leg falling out of your chair is a good deal.  On second thought, you’re better off falling out of your chair than dedicating over an hour of your life to this flighty film.

Lindsay: The Big Year is such an ambiguous movie title. If I had to aptly rename it I think I would go with “First World Bird Problems.” This awful crime of a film is all about well-off white dudes whose main struggle in life is trying to make their loved ones understand why the love to bird watch. I swear to you, that is the movie. A ‘big year’ is a challenge in the bird watching community where you strive to see as many birds as possible in one year. This might be interesting if you had to get photographic or video evidence of all these birds, but guess what? Not only can you just SEE a bird, but it also counts if you just HEAR the bird and recognize it’s sound. The whole thing goes off the honor system. Quick sidenote, I myself did a big year last year and saw 923 birds! Tell me I’m lying, I dare you.

On to the white whines. You have Stu (Martin) who is a super successful ex-CEO that is finally going to retire, even though everyone in the company just wants him to stick around oh-so-badly! He has a loving wife and a great (douchey)kid with a grandson on the way. Life is basically perfect but poor Stu just doesn’t want to be hassled by those suits at his company, he just wants TO WATCH BIRDS! Come on guys! Leave him alone!!  Then there’s Brad (Black) who has a decent desk job at a power plant but has much bigger dreams of being the best birder in the world. Of course, all the reasonable people around him think he’s a little to nutty about birds. His dad is reluctant to give him $5,000 for his travels but Brad… he just wants TO WATCH BIRDS! Come on dad! Leave him alone!!  It also should be noted that at one point during the film Brad mentions he maxed out six of his and his parents credit cards including one with a $6,000 limit. Credit card debt is for the birds! Alright lastly we have Bostick (Wilson). He is crafty and the best damn birder in the world, honest! He also sets out on a big year to keep his record in place, much to the dismay of his pretty and fertile wife. She really wants him to be around to help start a family but he just wants TO WATCH BIRDS! Come on lady! Leave him alone!!