Hi, just wondering if anyone else is looking forward to seeing “The Big Year” with Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson. The chapter of the Audobon Society that I belong to is going as a group to our local theater, on Sunday.
I really enjoyed the book, and I’m cautiously optimistic about the film being halfway decent. I’ll probably go see it after “Take Shelter” (I think I’ll be in the mood for a comedy after that).
I’d like to see it, though I’m having a hard time seeing Owen Wilson and Jack Black as birders, they seem miscast. Steve Martin? Yes!
I’ll see it eventually, probably on Netflix. We don’t get out to too many movies these days. But I’m a little concerned; I love Steve Martin but the promos make it look a little too slapsticky. Throw in a couple pratfalls and he’s back in Inspector Closeau territory.
This seems to be a classic case of a film that a studio doesn’t quite know how to market. I’ve promos that make it look like a slapsticky, pratfall laden comedy in the vein of Jack Black’s other films. And I’ve seen promos that make it look like a more thoughtful dramedy type of flick, in the vein of Steve Martin’s more serious films.
In that case, I’ll skip the first one and watch the second one.
I saw the movie this evening with other members of the Audobon Society and the general opinion was that it was a good movie. Changed some stuff from the book of course, with fictionalization thrown in to create a straighter narrative, but still good.
It’s a rarity these days, a PG movie marketed for adults. I feel the film caught the obsession that folks can feel for an activity, but the humor as well. I’d give it a thumbs up.
Thanks! Keep the reviews coming, please: I’m interested in seeing this but don’t want to waste time on it if it’s mostly a gag comedy.
It really isn’t a gag comedy. There is humor of course, but it’s gentle humor, not slapstick.