EVERYONE IS SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING.
Three birders (Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson) keep bumping into each other in remote places; initially reluctant to come clean, they are all secretly doing a Big Year. While Mark Obmascik’s book follows real-life birders who compete against each other, trying to spot as many species as possible all over the world, this fictional take also spends a lot of time on the personal motivations and problems of its three leading characters. Very good-natured, and a delight to watch because of the cast, but a bit too predictable. Still, moves fast thanks to the globe-trotting nature of doing a Big Year.
2011-U.S. 100 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by David Frankel. Book: Mark Obmascik. Cast: Steve Martin (Stu Preissler), Jack Black (Brad Harris), Owen Wilson (Kenny Bostick), Brian Dennehy, Anjelica Huston, Rashida Jones… Rosamund Pike, Dianne Wiest, JoBeth Williams, Tim Blake Nelson, Jim Parsons, Kevin Pollak. Voice of John Cleese.
Trivia: Steve Carell and Dustin Hoffman were allegedly considered for roles.
