The Big Year

In a year when El Nino upsets the migratory path of a colossal number of birds, three obsessed birders set out on their own personal journeys to count as many ornithological species as they can in one calendar year. Thus, the title: ‘The Big Year.’ The far reaching excursions these birders take provide some beautiful scenery and glimpses of fascinating fowl. This trio of birders is as diverse as the species they are tracking. Thirty-something Brad Harris continues his full time employment, yet still remains in financial anguish chasing his feathered friends on weekends and personal days. Stu Preissler is a recently retired, self-made business man with the means to accomplish his flock following mission. Kenny Bostick is the highly competitive birdwatcher with an unsurpassed Best Year at the expense of a black book of divorced wives. He is the roadrunner everyone else is trying to decoy.

The main characters, portrayed by well-known comedians Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson, experience drama in their personal lives during each of their focused year-long, bird finding pursuits. While Harris’ mother acts as his personal travel agent and cheerleader, his father scoffs at his son’s birding hobby. Meanwhile, Harris is flying solo as a recently divorced, college drop-out—of which his father readily reminds him. Stu’s wife is the epitome of support, along with his son and recent daughter-in-law, but his explorations are continually disturbed by the big deals his ineffectual staff are powerless to facilitate. Bostick has a new wife whose delicate ambition is to be a mother. Mrs. Bostick suffers countless hormone treatments, only to find that the stork her husband is absently pursuing has nothing to do with their potential progeny.

The Epistle to the Ephesians (4:29) says:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Due to its ornithological focus and Parental Guidance rating, this is not the movie teenagers are flocking to, leaving the main audience for “The Big Year,” adults in two categories: birdwatchers and comedy seekers. Some simple ways to dramatically broaden the viewership and encourage family outings to this movie, include removing all the derogatory language, having all the actors wear dignified clothing, and putting a thermometer in Mrs. Bostick’s mouth to show natural family planning efforts, rather than seeing an injection in her backside.

Dispensing with the unnecessary bathroom humor antics of Stu retching over the side of a boat, seeing a car encased in bird droppings, and Bostick’s subtle wave of his middle finger at a British birder who finds the American Big Year birding competition absurd. Violence is another issue that would need to be addressed to provide a safe viewing environment for families. Young children are easily shocked by car crashes, dramatic plane turbulence, and the slaughter of animals, even when they are fish and birds. Even the disjointed hurling of a toilet through a window during a house remodeling, though shocking, did not add value to the plot or provide the intended comedic effect.

The Holy Bible, Epistle to the Colossians, chapter 3, verses 18-21 provides us with instructions for Christian households:

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Though love was an apparent theme in the movie, much of it had a dysfunctional edge. Had the producers considered these words from Colossians, they could have created a movie with Biblical values that church going families would be glad to attend with their children. Sadly, this is the biggest reconstruction assignment needed to make this movie suitable for all audiences.

The birding trio initially mentioned, originally lied about their intentions to attempt a Big Year, in hopes to overtake each other’s Big Year tally. That differs greatly from what the book of Ephesians 4:25 has to say:

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Bostick has a wife, but he is not attentive to her needs or their opportunity to build a family, but instead he focuses his attention on his obsession to maintain his 1st place position for a Big Year. Ephesians 5:28—In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

What the main characters do not anticipate is the intertwining of their own lives with each other, and the challenges that those relationships cultivate. In the end, there are winners, and there are losers, but by some twists of fate, it is not the culmination you might imagine.

Unfortunately, this movie has a conundrum. It is a family movie, but due to its worldly perspective, it is not appropriate for a family audience. Therefore, I would have to take it off my recommended family movie viewing list and hope that movie produces consider how their ratings could soar if they would just stop shelling out movies that are literally, “for the birds”!

Violence: Mild / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Moderate

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.