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The Big Year

The Big Year (2011)

tomatometer

40

Average Rating: 5/10
Reviews Counted: 103
Fresh: 41 | Rotten: 62

Though made with care and affection for its characters, The Big Year plods along, rarely reaching any comedic heights.

52

Average Rating: 5.7/10
Critic Reviews: 31
Fresh: 16 | Rotten: 15

Though made with care and affection for its characters, The Big Year plods along, rarely reaching any comedic heights.

audience

40

liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 15,279

My Rating

Movie Info

Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson are at a crossroads -- one is experiencing a mid-life crisis, another a late-life crisis, and the third, a far from ordinary no-life crisis. From David Frankel, the director of The Devil Wears Prada and Marley & Me, comes a sophisticated comedy about three friendly rivals who, tired of being ruled by obligations and responsibilities, dedicate a year of their lives to following their dreams. Their big year takes them on a cross-country journey of wild and

PG, 1 hr. 40 min.

Comedy

Howard Franklin, Mark Obmascik

Jan 31, 2012

$7.2M

20th Century Fox

The Big Year Trailer & Photos

More Photos (14)
More Trailers and Videos (11)

Cast

Critic Reviews for The Big Year

All Critics (104) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (63) | DVD (5)

David Frankel's 'The Big Year': 'There is no there there'

October 26, 2011 Full Review Source: Passionate Moviegoer | Comment
Joe Baltake
Passionate Moviegoer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The result is an offence-free, mild entertainment in which everyone from cast to scriptwriter seems to be winging it.

October 21, 2011 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Failing even to attempt genuinely humorous gags or scenarios, and incapable of conveying the thrill of its obsessive pastime or the majesty of the animals themselves, this feel-good male weepie remains comedically and dramatically grounded.

October 17, 2011 Full Review Source: Village Voice | Comment
Nick Schager
Village Voice
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Unfortunately, these comic geniuses are kept caged by the wan script and direction. The best gag in the film is the opening title card; the best joke, a throwaway by a day player.

October 17, 2011 Full Review Source: New Yorker | Comment (1)
Richard Brody
New Yorker
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A very mild movie, but in the nicest sense of the word.

October 17, 2011 Full Review Source: Film.com | Comment
Laremy Legel
Film.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

What a waste that three of our finest actors are utilized as glorified bit players in such an instantly disposable comedy.

October 14, 2011 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comments (2)
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Big Year is completely predictable and full of way too many bird-watching montages set to inspiring music, but it's such an upbeat, cheery film that it's pretty hard to resist.

February 23, 2012 Full Review Source: Scene-Stealers.com | Comment
Eric Melin
Scene-Stealers.com

If you can get past the obviously obscure subject matter, you'll find a really sweet film beneath.

February 13, 2012 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | Comment
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

If you go into it not expecting big comedy, "The Big Year" can be an enjoyable diversion for an evening. But it helps if you like nature.

February 5, 2012 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
James Plath
Movie Metropolis

Seemingly out of nowhere, "The Big Year" gently flies onto the big screen to become one of the most enjoyable and smartest movies of the year.

December 22, 2011 Full Review Source: KWQC-TV (Iowa) | Comment
Linda Cook
KWQC-TV (Iowa)

Frankel and co might have taken a bolder step into the darkly comedic look of the birder's psyche and added more of a gust of air into this film's feathers ...

December 8, 2011 Full Review Source: Real.com | Comment
Lisa Giles-Keddie
Real.com

If you are stuck in a rut and really want to follow your dreams, try this gentle, light-hearted comedy.

December 8, 2011 Full Review Source: Birmingham Post | Comment
Graham Young
Birmingham Post

The opposite of the quiet, contemplative activity ornithology is supposed to be, this may well be the joke, in which case it's the only one.

December 4, 2011 Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | Comment
Philip French
Observer [UK]

A charming little narrative movie that is so amiably ridiculous that you're sure it must have been invented... The three stars bring their most satisfying games, their comedy small and human-scaled rather than broad and slapsticky..

December 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | Comment
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

A comedy with fewer laughs than measles.

December 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | Comment
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

A feather-light tale that never really takes off.

December 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Radio Times | Comment
David Aldridge
Radio Times

It's theoretically possible for laughs to be gouged out of this scenario, but you won't find them here: every move, every joke, every emotion is heaved lumberingly into place.

December 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | Comment
Andrew Pulver
Guardian [UK]

The Big Year is as glossy and inert as Martin's face, which these days seems to require more foundation than the Burj Khalifa.

December 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | Comment
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph

Even though it's rather corny and sentimental, this colourful comedy-drama holds our interest mainly because it's about a subject we'd never imagine watching a film about.

December 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | Comment
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Just a load of planes, cranes and Himalayan snowcocks.

November 30, 2011 Full Review Source: Sky Movies | Comment
Elliott Noble
Sky Movies

Engaging, low-key comedy enlivened by likeable characters, strong performances and an original central premise, though it's slightly undone by an overwritten script and a grating, ever-present voiceover.

November 30, 2011 Full Review Source: ViewLondon | Comment
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steve Martin find a formula for blandness

November 14, 2011 Full Review Source: Movie Habit | Comment
Robert Denerstein
Movie Habit

Veers close to being The Bucketful-of-Birds List. So pleasantly decent and hesitant to be complex that it's rather simple-minded; it just doesn't make an obsession sing to us.

November 11, 2011 Full Review Source: Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada) | Comment
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Big Year

View All

This film is nice. Now, there is nothing wrong with the word nice, it may not be the most exciting adjective in the world but there is nothing wrong with what it represents. Ok, I'll try to go one better, this film is pleasant. I'm not trying to be funny, it's just one of those non-offencive and just down-right nice

May 1, 2012
SirPant
Anthony Lawrie

Super Reviewer

I didn't know what to expect. I love Steve Martin, I will watch anything with him in it. Jack Black on the other hand.. I'm a little more selective. But this movie was really fun and kinda heartwarming in a way.

April 6, 2012
theylovealexis
Alexis Nomm

Super Reviewer

The Big Year Quotes

View All

    1. Brad Harris: There is going to be a major fallout in a few hours!
    2. Bill Clemont: Nuclear fallout?
    3. Brad Harris: Bird fallout.
    – Submitted by Brian C (54 days ago)
    1. Kenny Bostick: The trick is to keep your eyes on the horizon.
    – Submitted by Brian C (56 days ago)
    1. Kenny Bostick: The birds wait for no man.
    – Submitted by william b (2 months ago)
    1. Brad Harris: Of all courtship rituals in the animal kingdom, the most spectacular by far is that of the bald eagle. The male and female climb to dizzying heights and then ...join in free fall, plummeting toward earth, locked in each others embrace, separating only at the very last moment.
    2. Stu Preissler: God, I miss Edith.
    3. Kenny Bostick: Yeah, I kind of miss Jess.
    – Submitted by Jayathra L (4 months ago)
    1. Kenny Bostick: Cookie?
    2. Brad Harris: Yeah okay.
    – Submitted by Austin G (4 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Ein Jahr vogelfrei! (DE)
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