Film Reviews

The Big Year

• Rating:
• Director: David Frankel
• Starring: Jack Black
• Details: US/99mins PG

Proof if ever any was needed, that you can't polish a turd, this silly production should've been killed at inception. Aiming for broad laughs with a quirky concept, the combined star power of Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson isn't enough to save this horribly unfunny comedy. After a couple of huge hits, (The Devil Wears Prada and Marley and Me), director Frankel has come down to earth with bang.
Based around the bird watching community - apparently there is one - a group of 'Birders' battle to achieve the crown of the most sightings of different species in one year, or 'The Big Year' as they call it. The current record holder is Wilson's smug Kenny Bostick; but Martin and Black's newcomers are hot on his tail. That's pretty much it; except for the occasional scene with a significant other being inexplicably understanding.
Just dreadfully mediocre, The Big Year is as bland a comedy as they come. Frankel is a helmer who managed to hit pay dirt before by painting broad strokes; but the story here would've suited a more independent sensibility - if at all. The attraction for the film initially was obviously the director; but this teaming of well known comedic actors was only ever going to work with a steady hand and exceptional material - none of these guys are having the best of runs lately.
One of the biggest flops of the year at the American box-office, no one wanted to see a movie with these stars and this subject matter. Wasting Joel McHale is just another notch in the naughty column, while employing The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parson's, as a ... Wait for it ... Geeky blogger, is another. He looks scarily like Tom Hanks in the latter stages of Philadelphia actually, which will distract you for a bit.
A bit of a disaster for everyone involved. Poor casting, poor script and a crap story... Basically.

Review by Mike Sheridan