The Big Year (2011)

The Big Year (2011)

3/10

Starring:
Steve Martin
Owen Wilson
Jack Black

Directed by David Frankel

A movie cast of Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black may seem like a sure thing for a laugh and a cool comedy for the weekend, but I have to disappoint you. Not even a smile can be gotten from this. The movie just keeps on dragging and still doesn't break a comedic sweat at all.

These three comedians were tied down to a script that just didn’t break the ice when it comes to A-movies. If this movie was a B-movie, it would have been better because much would not be expected. But with top-class actors like this, you expect nothing more than laughs all around. What you get is laughs on a lack.

Although the whole bird hunting scenery is quite captivating, the bird hunting thing itself was not.

Lacking in fun, the movie is about who will win the big year. Yes, the plot is that simple and the main cast are the chief contestants, we have Stu (Steve Martin), a CEO on the verge of retirement, Kenny (Owen Wilson), the reigning world record holder for bird-siting who is willing to risk everything, even his marriage, to defend his world record, and Brad (Jack Black), an office attendant whose obsession sparks conflict with his father.

The movie does have nice sights. As you follow the bird siting, you get to see nice views, if for one thing, the movie boasts of that. When it comes to acting, I felt the actors tried, but their performances did not matter, the script was dull and there was no form of chemistry between them that could have even helped movie things along.

Directed by David Frankel, who directed The Devil Wears Prada and Marley and Me, the movie is about a nonfiction book by Mark Obmascik and it refers to the annual bird-watching, or “birding” as the movie calls it.

I don’t know if such games really exist where people go bird-siting and you take down the birds that you have seen, and the person with the most wins. Because to me, to cheat is just so easy, but again, it's my opinion. The Big Year as of now holds a 41% approval rating from critics and audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Well, the movie has nothing to offer but an hour of yawning. All three characters are woven around family, deceit, love and sacrifice, but what it teaches you can be learnt in a good Sunday school class. So don’t bother watching, go to church instead if you need to hear this.