The Big Year DVD Review

The Big Year stars Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson as birders competing in a contest as to who can spot the most species of birds in a calendar year.

The DVD offers two versions: the theatrical and an extended version. The major difference is that John Cleese does the narration in the extended version (Jack Black does most of it in the theatrical version, with just a bit of John Cleese at the beginning). I don't know what it is about John Cleese, but the man always makes me laugh. I could listen to him for hours. His voice has a strange comedic authority, and something about it simply delights me, so I definitely recommend watching the extended version. Besides, it makes more sense for an omniscient, authoritative voice to do the narration, rather than one of the competitors, who is not present at all locations.

Also, the character introductions are done in a much better way in the extended version.

Owen Wilson plays Kenny Bostick, the reigning champion, whose record is 732 different species of birds. It's established right away that his obsession with birds has destroyed at least one of his marriages, and may very likely damage his current one. But off he goes anyway. By contrast, Stu Preissler (Steve Martin's character), has a supportive wife who encourages him to follow his dream. His character is a CEO of a big company. Brad Harris (Jack Black) is not in a relationship, and lives with his parents, who are split on their support of this endeavor of his. But along the way, of course, he finds a love interest.

We learn that this contest is done on the honor system. Photographic proof of each species is not necessary. That leads to some questioning of whether Bostick hasn't cheated in the past. He's presented as being not quite the nicest guy in the competition - he deliberately exacerbates Steve Martin's natural seasickness in one scene, for example. But the film refrains from portraying him as an out-and-out villain.

This film has a lot of nice little moments. Like after a car crash, Fuchs (Tim Blake Nelson), who was riding with Bostick, says, "I think I broke my arm." Bostick hushes him because he thinks he hears a bird. That's funny right there, but the film then builds on the moment, by having Fuchs be just as excited as Bostick about the bird.

Some of the jokes are obvious, like Jack Black's cell phone playing "Surfin' Bird" every time it rings. (Yes, everyone knows that bird is the word.) And Steve Martin actually does that silly dance move he's famous for, but that pulled me right out of the film rather than amuse me. Because I was trying to remember where he originated it. Was it during the Two Wild And Crazy Guys sketch for Saturday Night Live? I'm pretty sure it was. But that's what I was thinking about for the next several moments of the film.

The characters' real lives pull them back from the competition occasionally. There is some stuff going on with Steve Martin's company. Owen Wilson's wife has hired Owen's competitor to completely redo their house. And Jack Black has what is referred to as "a full-time job" while on his quest for The Big Year (though I really can't see how he's managing it). And some of the film's best moments come in these scenes - the human moments, especially the stuff with Steve Martin and his wife. Also, the scene where Brian Dennehy and Jack Black go off into the woods looking for a particular bird is really nice.

The plot is clearly not all that complicated, and really, not a lot happens. The film picks key moments for each of the three main characters throughout the year, and occasionally shows their tallies on screen. The film has an obvious theme - follow your dreams - but also shows the consequences of doing so, which might not always be completely rosy. It's not the best of films, but it does have heart. And it's not mindless. Characters make decisions, and there are consequences.

This film has some wonderful supporting cast members, including Dianne Wiest and Brian Dennehy as Brad Harris' folks, Kevin Pollak as one of Preissler's company men, and Anjelica Huston as Annie Auklet, owner of a boat that takes birders out to look at sea birds. But they're not used enough.

The Big Year was directed by David Frankel, who also directed The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and Marley & Me (2008). It was, as the opening credits indicate, "inspired by the book" by Mark Obmascik.

And if you're wondering, yes, the Big Year is a real competition. Mark Obmascik's book, published in 2004, covers the 1998 North American Big Year.

The Big Year is scheduled to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on January 31, 2012.