Along the way these folks interact with some very colorful characters played by an all-star cast. Joel McHale (TV's Community) and Kevin Pollack (Red State) play lawyers from Martin's firm. Jim Parsons (TV's Big Bang Theory) plays a blogging birder who writes about encounters with other birding aficionados. Angelica Huston (50/50) plays the captain of a tour boat that caters to birding expeditions. Brian Dennehy (The Next Three Days) and Diane Wiest (In Treatment) play Black's parents who eventually understand their son's passion. Anthony Anderson (Scream 4) plays Black's boss. Rashida Jones (TV's Parks and Recreation) plays a fellow birder who Black pursues romantically.
Though I enjoyed the film, I can see why this film didn't do very well at the box office. The trailers portrayed it as more of a comedy and it ended up being a dramedy/documentary mix with a few comedic moments and a lot of character drama. With three big-name comedic actors in the movie and little comedy I suspect that word of mouth may have killed ticket sales.
That said, I think this film on DVD, Blu-ray, and on demand will get a fair amount of play. The great cast and director David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me) worked well to tell three intertwined stories and explore the realm of bird watching in a fun way.
Unfortunately I was disappointed with the lack of special features on the DVD. Two versions of the film were included - the theatrical version and the extended version. The Blu-ray seems to have many more features, including a Gag Reel which I would have liked to have seen on the DVD.
Overall, I recommend The Big Year to anyone looking for a bit different viewing experience. The great cast, beautiful scenery, and a bit of education makes the film work great.
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