The Big Year

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The Big Year

PG,

2011,

1h 40m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

Watchlist

41%

100 Reviews

Tomatometer

41%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

100 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Three men find that they have come to a turning point. Stu (Steve Martin) faces a late-life crisis, Kenny (Owen Wilson) is in the grip of a midlife crisis, and Brad (Jack Black) is wallowing in a no-life crisis. Determined to kick-start their stagnant lives, Stu, Kenny and Brad decide to enter a prestigious contest. During the course of one calendar year, the three friendly rivals crisscross North America in a quest to count more species of birds than anyone else.

Critics Consensus

Though made with care and affection for its characters, The Big Year plods along, rarely reaching any comedic heights.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Jan 27, 2012

3/4

The movie roams through its numerous picturesque locations with a pleasant enough grace, while Frankel adds just enough idiosyncratic musical and visual quirks to keep things interesting.

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Andrew Pulver

Guardian

Dec 1, 2011

1/5

It's theoretically possible for laughs to be gouged out of this scenario, but you won't find them here: every move, every joke, every emotion is heaved lumberingly into place.

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Robbie Collin

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Dec 1, 2011

2/5

The Big Year is as glossy and inert as Martin's face, which these days seems to require more foundation than the Burj Khalifa.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 3, 2020

2.5/4.0

All three actors play their usual stock characters here.

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Eric Melin

Scene-Stealers.com

Feb 23, 2012

2.5/4

The Big Year is completely predictable and full of way too many bird-watching montages set to inspiring music, but it's such an upbeat, cheery film that it's pretty hard to resist.

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Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Feb 13, 2012

3/5

If you can get past the obviously obscure subject matter, you'll find a really sweet film beneath.

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Abraham G

Jan 6, 2019

I have watched this movie repeatedly. Love it. I don't understand the bad reviews. Memorable characters, performances, landscapes. Popping popcorn, calling in the fam and friends for another viewing.

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Nov 25, 2018

This movie is deserving of more love than it received. The Big Year is a feel-good, lighthearted, clean-comedy, vibrant adventure that brings a noble, decent and intelligent hobby to life. Recommend for the whole family.

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Anakin W

Nov 10, 2018

This film was almost good.

Han L

Oct 26, 2018

Don't get distracted by the cast. You may expect a movie full of gags, but it is more reminiscent of "Continental Divide" than "Animal House," with a side of "Best in Show" (because it goes deep into a subculture most people don't know much about and probably don't have much respect for) Just park your expectations and enjoy the movie for what it is.

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Rey M

Oct 25, 2018

Just a good movie about bird watching and the competition to be the best at something. Not really a comedy, but more of a dramedy when you consider the relationships between the three main characters and their individual struggles in family life to stay in the competition. What sacrifices are you willing to make to be the very BEST at something.

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Luke G

Sep 18, 2018

I think you have to go in knowing that it's a more mild movie considering the cast. They all come across much more genuine and less 'wacky' than many of the other films they have done. I find it a nice and relaxing movie.

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David Frankel

Director

Steve Martin

Stu Preissler

Jack Black

Brad Harris

Owen Wilson

Kenny Bostick

Brian Dennehy

Raymond

Anjelica Huston

Annie Auklet

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Synopsis

Three men find that they have come to a turning point. Stu (Steve Martin) faces a late-life crisis, Kenny (Owen Wilson) is in the grip of a midlife crisis, and Brad (Jack Black) is wallowing in a no-life crisis. Determined to kick-start their stagnant lives, Stu, Kenny and Brad decide to enter a prestigious contest. During the course of one calendar year, the three friendly rivals crisscross North America in a quest to count more species of birds than anyone else.

Director: David Frankel
Producer: Karen Rosenfelt, Stuart Cornfeld, Curtis Hanson
Screenwriter: Howard Franklin
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Red Hour Films, Sunswept Entertainment, Deuce Three Prods.
Rating: PG (Some Sensuality|Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.2M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Dolby, SDDS

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