The Big Year (2011)
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.
Average Rating: 5.7/10
Critic Reviews: 34
Fresh: 18 | Rotten: 16
Though made with care and affection for its characters, The Big Year plods along, rarely reaching any comedic heights.
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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
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Cast
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Steve Martin
Stu, Stu Preissler -
Jack Black
Brad Harris -
Owen Wilson
Kenny Bostick -
Brian Dennehy
Martin Harris, Raymond -
Anjelica Huston
Annie Auklet, Debi Shea... -
Rashida Jones
Carol, Ellie -
Rosamund Pike
Barbara, Jessica -
Dianne Wiest
Brenda, Marie Jones -
JoBeth Williams
Edith -
Anthony Anderson
Bill Clemens, Bill Clem... -
Joel McHale
Barry Loomis, Skeeter -
Tim Blake Nelson
Fuchs, Phil -
Jim Parsons
Crane -
Kevin Pollak
Jim Gittleson, Kendall -
John Cleese
Historical Montage Narr... -
Zahf Paroo
Prasad -
Paul Campbell VIII
Tony -
Cindy Busby
Susie -
Greg Kean
Computer Birder -
Eva Allan
Birder's Daughter -
Bill Dow
Dr. Paul Elkin -
June Squibb
Old Lady -
Craig Bockhorn
Lawyer -
Joey Aresco
Frank Falucci -
Ryan Caltagirone
Frank Jr. -
Corbin Bernsen
Gil Gordon -
Barry Shabaka Henley
Dr. Neil Kramer -
Al Roker
New York Weatherman -
Christopher Mann
Security Guard -
Jan Bos
Local Newsman (High Isl... -
Kate Gajdosik
Local Newswoman (High I... -
William Samples
British Tourist -
Nate Torrence
Ted Simpkin -
Scott Patey
Birder (High Island) -
Marci T. House
Troop Leader -
Steven Weber
Rick McIntire -
Michael Bean
Waiter -
Christopher Redman
Scott -
Devon Weigel
Karen -
Andrew Wilson
Mike Shin -
Gabrielle Rose
Mary Swit -
Calum Worthy
Colin Debs -
Doreem Ramus
CB Announcer -
Terence Kelly
Pete Shackelford -
Steve Darling
Anchorage Weatherman -
Jon Frankel
Anchorage Anchorman -
David Lewis
Lanky Birder -
Kath Dugray
Motel Manager -
Jesse Moss
Darren -
Morgan Brayton
Ferry Ticket Seller -
Sheelah Megill
Nurse -
Veena Sood
Nurse Katie -
Deejay Jackson
Parking Attendant -
Calvin Lee
Chinese Waiter -
Tshering Garie
Chinese Waitress
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The Big Year Trailer & Photos
All Critics (104) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (63) | DVD (5)
David Frankel's 'The Big Year': 'There is no there there'
Top CriticThe result is an offence-free, mild entertainment in which everyone from cast to scriptwriter seems to be winging it.
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.
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.
A very mild movie, but in the nicest sense of the word.
What a waste that three of our finest actors are utilized as glorified bit players in such an instantly disposable comedy.
Faintly amusing, not wacky at all, considering this cast.
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.
If you can get past the obviously obscure subject matter, you'll find a really sweet film beneath.
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.
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 ...
If you are stuck in a rut and really want to follow your dreams, try this gentle, light-hearted comedy.
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.
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..
A comedy with fewer laughs than measles.
A feather-light tale that never really takes off.
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.
The Big Year is as glossy and inert as Martin's face, which these days seems to require more foundation than the Burj Khalifa.
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.
Just a load of planes, cranes and Himalayan snowcocks.
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.
Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steve Martin find a formula for blandness
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.
Audience Reviews for The Big Year
Super Reviewer
Apparently, the goal for major 'birders' is to see the most bird species in one year (on the honor system, you don't actually need to produce evidence!). This lame film is about three characters going head to head to achieve this. Steve Martin, looking strangely beaten throughout the film, seems to have the most screen time. I'd go along with him almost in any film, so intelligent and warm a comic presence, but I stayed with him here out of train wreck empathy. (I wish there was an actual train wreck!! Here his saddest moment is missing a plane). He plays a successful New York mogul on verge of retirement.
Jack Black, a divorced office drone who lives with his parents (Brian Dennehy and Diane Wiest, even the most minor characters are accomplished!!) is his competition. Finally, Owen Wilson is the most arrogant and successful bird watcher in the world, and he's the villain.
Wilson and Martin have beautiful long suffering wives (Rosamund Pike and Jobeth Williams) and Black has his eyes on fellow birdwatcher Rashida Jones. I won't waste your time with more plot description. This film has lovely locations (B.C. standing in for various U.S. birding meccas, like the Aleutian islands and the New Mexico desert) and wonderful shots of birds.
Screenwriter and director David Frankel has made a career out of successful low key comedies (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley and Me). For example, Marley and Me was about a couple who adopt a dog. Their marriage is framed by the relationship with the dog and somehow, it's very moving and you care. This film doesn't care enough to raise any stakes. Everyone is so nice and has very little to lose. He tries to make us care whether Owen Wilson's wife will leave him because she's trying to get pregnant and he ignores her to have his 'big year'. She eventually leaves, and he doesn't change or care at all, due to a poor script and Owen Wilson acting limitations. Why should we give a damn?
If you are falling asleep and would prefer to watch something that you won't care enough to rewind to catch up when you wake up, this is your movie. I marvel at the waste of money and talent.
Super Reviewer
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- Kenny Bostick: Only he knew the price he paid, to become the greatest birder of all time.
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- Fuchs: I think I broke my arm.
- Kenny Bostick: Shhhhh... Shut up.
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- Brad Harris: There is going to be a major fallout in a few hours!
- Bill Clemont: Nuclear fallout?
- Brad Harris: Bird fallout.
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- Kenny Bostick: The trick is to keep your eyes on the horizon.
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- Kenny Bostick: The birds wait for no man.
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- 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.
- Stu Preissler: God, I miss Edith.
- Kenny Bostick: Yeah, I kind of miss Jess.
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Foreign Titles
- Ein Jahr vogelfrei! (DE)
- El gran año (ES)
