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.
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.
[etRating value=“ 3”]