The Big Year is a 2011 comedy film starring Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Jim Parsons, Rashida Jones, Anjelica Huston, Dianne Wiest, JoBeth Williams, Brian Dennehy, Rosamund Pike and Tim Blake Nelson. The Big Year was directed by David Frankel and written by Howard Franklin. The film was based on the book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession which was written by Mark Obmascik. The film was released on October 14, 2011, in the United States.^[4] Filming took place from May to July 2010.^[5] The film was released in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2011.^[6]

Plot[link]

Brad Harris (Jack Black), a computer programmer based in Baltimore, responds to his ex-wife's hard-to-swallow engagement announcement by telling her he's going to do a big year. The same plan is being discussed between a roofing contractor named Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) and second wife (Rosamond Pike), the current big year record holder fearing his record of 732 species is to be topped. Stu Preissler (Steve Martin), founder and CEO of a company bearing his name, sits at his Manhattan office headquarters, talking fondly of his hobby of birding, his colleagues made aware of his pressing desire to set a new big year record which is to commence after New Year's.

At his parents' house over dinner, Brad reveals to his father (Brian Dennehey) he has begun his big year and the travel costs necessary to undertake his dream have already been budgeted. His father objects, feeling his 36-year old cash-strapped son should instead focus on his career. Brad is resolute, however, encouraged by his mother (Dianne Wiest).

After receiving notification of a rare hummingbird sighting, Stu is unsuccessfully tempted by his former company colleagues to return to New York City. Unbeknownst to Stu, Bostick arrives at the same house in British Columbia. Bostick again comes into contact with Stu when the two men are aboard a birding boat. Aware he may have a fellow birder on his tail, Bostick engages in antics to worsen Stu's seasickness. Brad befriends a nauseous Stu and also meets for the first time fellow birder Ellie (Rashida Jones).

Bostick's wife attempts to gain her husband's attention back on the home front, informing him she has decided to hire out a rival contractor to begin work on remodeling their home. Stu is also pressured again by his former company, this time onsite, begging him to return to help close a deal. Reluctantly, he agrees to depart for two days.

The three birders all rush to the Gulf Coast area to view fallout of birds before a storm. Hundreds of birders flock to the area, including Ellie, much to Brad's delight. After spending the day together, Brad and Stu dine together, when Brad discloses he is currently doing a big year. Stu decides against sharing the same, fearing his new-found friend may innocently reveal to Bostick his own pursuit.

While birding in Coos Bay, a friend of Brad's comes to discover Stu's growing list and posts a picture of him to his website, which Brad comes to view and then aware Stu is pursuing a big year (and has seen a whopping 7 species to date). Feeling hurt by what Brad feels as an unreasonable omission, Brad divulges to Bostick Stu's goal while the two are aboard a plane on their way to Attu Island. Stu was booked on the same chartered flight but narrowly missed it, largely held up by his work. His disappointment only worsens watching local news anchormen stating the storm created prime birding conditions on Attu. Stu arrives days later and makes amends with Brad, wanting to remain friends. He encourages Brad in his pursuit of Ellie, who also made the trip, as well as remarking that Bostick's determination should be matched by at least one of them breaking Bostick's record.

Ellie telegraphs Brad to inform him a Pink-eyed Goose has been spotted in Boston. Any thoughts he had of pursuing her are dashed, however, when she and her boyfriend pick him up from the train station.

Stu and Brad meet up again, finding out each has totaled more than 700 species thus far, and bump into Bostick but are soon outwitted by him in their attempt to a see a Blue-footed Booby, causing the two to form an alliance, the well-heeled CEO paying for a helicopter ride to see snowcocks. Upon landing, Brad is notified his father suffered a heart attack and returns to be with him. His father comes to affectionately view his son, in part respectful of the migration efforts of Brad's favorite bird, the American Golden Plover.

Bostick's pregnant wife awaits him at the hospital, but despite their agreement, Bostick cancels on her at the last minute after being notified a Snowy Moose headed Owl, his most coveted bird, has been spotted and would also allow help him in breaking his own record. When he returns home, he finds the constant traveling has been too taxing on his wife, whom he suspects may have become involved with the contractor working on their home, despite her statements quite to the contrary.

Calling from his retirement home, Stu phones Brad with the final big year results. Bostick is first homosapien with 755. Coming in second, Brad laments "he got more birds, but we got more everything," as he looks at his new love interest, Ellie who's come for a weekend visit. Stu smiles, staring at his wife.

The film ends with the new couple gazing through binoculars, Stu hiking with his toddler grandson birding enamored by birds of the Rockies, and Bostick on a birding adventure in China, seemingly alone.

Cast[link]

Production[link]

Principal photography was done from May 3 to July 30, 2010 in Vancouver.^[7] Jack Black's fall on Attu Island was unscripted.^[8]

Reception[link]

The film has received mixed reviews from critics. It holds a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus stating: "Though made with care and affection for its characters, The Big Year plods along, rarely reaching any comedic heights". CinemaScore polls reported that the average grade moviegoers gave the film was a "B-minus" on an A+ to F scale.^[9]

The film was a box office failure, despite the established stars like Martin, Black and Wilson as the leads. Based on a budget of $41 million, it took in just $7.4 million in ticket sales worldwide according to Box Office Mojo.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• The Big Year at AllRovi
• The Big Year at Box Office Mojo
• The Big Year at the Internet Movie Database
• The Big Year at Metacritic
• The Big Year at Rotten Tomatoes