The Big Year: Blu-Ray with Digital Copy: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM
Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson are all masters of the comedy genre who have hits galore, and many misses as well. So when discovering the teaming of these three in a movie about bird watching, this reviewer’s first thoughts were, “Oh no!” Well, consider this reviewer corrected as he is proud to recommend this as the greatest bird watching movie he has ever seen out of the huge number (1) that he can pull from. To be honest though, it is a really fun look at relationships between husband and wife, father and son, workplace relations, and budding romances as three men aspire to be the greatest ever in a niche “sport” and find out what exactly they are looking for.
Jack Black plays Brad Harris, a son in search of his own identity while still living with his parents. He truly is pursuing that which he loves, using his savings and time off on his onetime chance for greatness in the bird-watching world. Steve Martin comes from the other side of the tracks as Stu Preissler, a father approaching grandfather status and ready to retire from a company which he founded, and which also continues to drag him back into the fray. And finally there is the champion Kenny Bostick as played by Owen Wilson who seeks to maintain his hold on his perceived greatness while losing sight of everything that should be important to him.
These three and more ancillary characters take us on a trip around the country in search of the elusive birds required to take the top spot. Throw in love connections, love deconstructions, and a chance to find out who you really are and you find yourself drawn into the search for The Big Year
JAMS Ink on The Big Year
Jack Black, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson. Each of these comedic powerhouses have had their share of comedy greatness and comedy failures, yet they combine in this movie to establish a likeability and piqued interest in their characters as a whole. From the loveable paranoid loser of Jack Black’s Brad to Steve Martin’s family man torn in multiple directions trying to stay true to himself while competing for his ultimate prize to Owen Wilson’s misguided fear of being forgotten in the world if surpassed within the bird-watching community consuming him to the point of losing the one person standing strong beside him. The characters each have enough substance that the viewer can be drawn into the storylines even with a niche “sport” on which the movie is based upon.
The movie itself is an odd one. I would never have thought I would have enjoyed a movie about bird-watching but wanted to give it a chance with the big three that were involved. And I am glad I did. It had a rough run in theaters probably due to people like myself who felt that a storyline focusing on bird-watching would be impossible to hold attention, but I am man enough to admit I was wrong. Jack Black is controlled and enjoyable in this movie as you truly find yourself rooting for him, Steve Martin is sympathetic even as he comes off confused at times which way his character truly wants to lean. In the end, the good guy comes out in support of Jack’s character and his own family, but it seems to take longer than was needed. Owen Wilson is the antagonist in the movie, yet he comes off pitiable and a bit pitiful in his pursuit of perceived greatness. It is hard to watch a man that never becomes truly hateable throw away everything in his life which should have meaning, especially as his wife stands by him until the last possible moment. It makes him come off less driven and more dense. Otherwise his performance is good and his contributions to the overall movie are needed.
BLU-RAY Aspects
The visuals are amazing in this movie, especially in Blu-Ray. The heart of the movie is the visual undertaking of spotting birds in their natural habitats, so it would follow that the visual stimulation in the movie would be amazing both in the environment and the beauty of the wildlife itself. So, obviously I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Blu-ray for this movie.
EXTRAS
You have your choice of the theatrical version or an extended version which does not seem that much different at the end of it. You do have some fun deleted scenes to go with it though, and a gag reel which of course is fun with these three comedic powerhouses. Then you also have the look at the production aspects in the Big Migration which is enjoyable to watch.
Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.
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