The Big Year

This film has been slated by critics, but maybe it was because it was billed (excuse the tenuous pun) wrong.  Fair enough it has Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin, three names that would normally be associated with comedy performances.  However this was not a comedy, yes it was mildly amusing in places, but it was NOT a comedy so don’t go expecting one else you’ll be joining the 80% of audience that walked out!  Fair enough a bog standard film regarding bird watching may not drawer in the audiences as much as a comedy, so it was a clever marketing technique. 

Yet miss selling it this way seems to not give it the justice it deserves; as it was a very captivating story. Even if you are not into birding, you do genuinely want to find out what happens in “The Big Year”.  Also the characters and friendships are developed really well, which does not often happen in a traditional comedy.  It is also mightily educational you will definitely come away knowing more about birds than when you went in and not have been bored stupid.

Although it does not conclude satisfactorily, don’t stay till the end of the credits as you will not find out who comes in 3^rd even though you really want it to be that girl from The Office US (not that anyone would be sad enough to actually do that).