The Big Year

Bird watching — or birding, as it’s known among aficionados — seems about as cinematic as watching grass grow. So there’s a certain amount of credit due to the makers of The Big Year for giving it a try.

The heartfelt comedy about three men who spend a year traveling throughout North America just to get a glimpse of a rare species is loosely based on true accounts, as chronicled in the 1998 book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession by Mark Obmascik.

The lightweight big-screen adaptation lured three actors who have fun with the material, but more importantly it embraces the quirks of bird watching rather than mocking it for an unfamiliar audience.

Such an approach might compromise the mainstream appeal of the film, but it adds some charm and a level of conviction to a project that achieves its modest goals.

The “big year” is the highest prize in birding, which attracts a diverse array of hobbyists including corporate executive Stu (Steve Martin), defending champion Kenny (Owen Wilson) and fledgling businessman Brad (Jack Black), each with the goal of spotting the most species of birds in North America during a calendar year. Along the way, they travel the country chasing rare-bird tips, risking financial ruin and threatening family relationships in the process.

The film has more smiles than big laughs, but too often resorts to low-brow slapstick that feels forced. Then there are the contrivances, including a romantic subplot between Brad and a fellow birder (Rashida Jones), and the frantic business dealings of Stu’s company.

Director David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada), working from a screenplay by Howard Franklin (Quick Change), relies on the chemistry and charisma of his three stars. Martin seems a bit out of place, but Black shows some welcome restraint. The supporting cast is sharp, led by Brian Dennehy, JoBeth Williams and Anjelica Huston.

The film shows respect for bird watching, and for the nature of a competition that relies on honesty and camaraderie at its core. Of course, that alone doesn’t translate into much of a traditional movie-plot conflict.

Audiences might find it silly that these three otherwise average men would turn such a fringe hobby into an obsession. But viewers might also be entertained while gaining some insight into our feathered friends in the process.

Rated PG, 99 minutes.