A long lasting work, filled with triumphant moments, making me instantly buy in to this bird watching obsession, and quest for inner peace. The acting in this film is solid from top to bottom and I have no idea why it hasn't won a ton more awards and critical acclaim. Actually, maybe it is because it isn't a flashy ADD friendly production. Rather, it requires an appreciation for plot value and character development. What makes this movie so gripping is the fact that it somehow conveys the greatest lesson in life, doing what you are compelled and driven to do, and do it at all costs, without hesitation! See this movie!

This is not a comedy, but it doesn't mean its not a good movie. Its quite a shame that this is classified as a comedy when its clearly not, its not even about the birds.This is a film about relationships, and how those relationships are affected during this time of the big year, Its a very light hearted film with a dramatic undertone.Its teaches us about life, and that it's a journey, not a competition. It shows the sacrifices people can make to achieve their dreams & the journey of these three men that find more than just birds on this adventure.Some beautiful landscapes throughout this movie and beautiful birds... this is worth a watch but take it as it is. and not a laugh out loud comedy 7/10.

The idea for THE BIG YEAR sounds fascinating; the fact that people spend most of their time and energy trying to spot as many birds as possible during a calendar year offers fascinating possibilities for the exploration of obsession, as well as including some wonderful footage of the birds themselves.While David Frankel's film manages to fulfill the second requirement, it fails notably on the first. Rather than exploring the characters of its three protagonists (Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Steve Martin), it relapses into a familiar tale of the ugly duckling with little money (Black) taking on the big boys (Wilson, Martin) in the Big Year competition. No one is initially prepared to admit that they are actually participating; but when they do, Black and Martin form an alliance against the cocky, arrogant Wilson, who believes that he is obviously the best, his position unchallengeable.THE BIG YEAR includes some stunning photography - by Lawrence Sher - as well as some picture-postcard views of various locations in the United States. On the whole, however, the picture descends into sentimentality, especially in its depiction of the relationship between Black's character and his crusty father (Brian Dennehy), or the way in which Martin's character becomes so human that he is prepared to give up an opportunity to become the president of 3M worldwide. The ending is wearily predictable, although there are a few incidental laughs along the way.

Chico California's 2013 Snow Goose Festival featured the movie, "The Big Year". It was adapted from a true story of three guys traveling around the world to find as many species of birds as possible. The real-life person who inspired the movie, Greg Miller, was the festival's keynote speaker. The movie is touted by environmental groups around the country as a great inspiration for the out-of-doors--a truly environmental film. Yet the name of the movie could just as well been "The Big Pollution Year". My calculations is the three of them spewed 180 tons of carbon into the atmosphere racing from one place on the globe to another in their vanity filled quest to beat a record. Yet, if anyone at the festival would have challenged Greg Miller on this account, I think that individual would have been scorned by others in the room. It is interesting how our addiction to carbon-based fuel has become so much a part of our culture that its impacts can be overlooked even by those who profess to protect the environment.