The Big Year Blu-ray Review

The Big Year’s Blu-ray video presentation is generally commendable, showcasing remarkable fidelity and dynamic color representation. The 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer brings deep saturation and eye-pleasing vibrancy to the colors, creating a compelling visual experience. While certain scenes shine with superior sharpness and definition—highlighting fine textures on faces and clothing—others are comparatively less resolved, likely due to the photography rather than encoding issues. Overall, contrast is well-managed, with dynamic ranges that avoid overpowering black levels while maintaining discernible detail in low-light and shadowed scenes. Edge enhancement and artifacts are minimal, enhancing the clarity of this faithful yet occasionally variable transfer.

The film's visual appeal benefits from its striking settings and landscape shots, often featuring characters set against breathtaking backdrops. Despite some inconsistency in sharpness—particularly in longer shots—detail remains strong across most scenes. The heavily saturated colors stay true to their vibrant presentation throughout, adding to the compelling quality of the visuals. Although mild use of Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) and minor aliasing issues, such as on corduroy clothing and bird feathers, slightly mar the experience, these are not significantly distracting. Moreover, black levels occasionally obscure finer details, but do not overly detract from the overall presentation.

Notably, the Blu-ray transfer captures the essence of nature with stunning clarity in B-roll footage, contrasting some of the less sharp sequences featuring human subjects. The landscapes are portrayed with impressive depth and richness, supported by a consistent brightness in colors and deep blacks. This combination of vibrant primaries and natural-looking skin tones underscores the film's intended aesthetic impact, making for an engaging and visually robust offering despite its few imperfections.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "The Big Year" delivers a respectable DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, adhering to the standards typical for 20th Century Fox releases. Dialogue clarity stands out, being perfectly balanced and consistently intelligible, which is crucial for a family comedy where verbal exchanges drive much of the humor. The sound mix is predominantly front-focused but extends into the surround channels during key moments, providing soft ambient sounds such as outdoorsy noises, airplane cabin hums, and the ever-present bird calls that are directionally precise. Theodore Shapiro's score, while not extraordinary, is sufficiently full-bodied and blends well within the mix. English SDH and Spanish subtitles are provided in clear, readable white lettering.

Nature effects play a pivotal role in enhancing the immersive quality of the film's audio, particularly during scenes that demand a richer sonic landscape—chirping birds, flowing water, falling rain, and blowing wind effectively utilize all available channels. These moments shine with phenomenal clarity and balance, crafting an immersive auditory environment. However, such instances are sporadic, and the remainder of the track can feel somewhat uninspired. The overall imaging lacks the seamless fluidity that one might expect from high-tier Blu-ray audio presentations, occasionally resulting in a lifeless audio experience.

In summary, while "The Big Year" features an above-average audio mix that meets but does not exceed expectations for its genre, it benefits greatly from specific high-quality sound moments that highlight nature's intricacies. The lossless DTS-HD track ensures that dialogues remain clean and music well-spread throughout the film, but the audio overall does not consistently maintain the same level of engagement throughout its runtime. For those seeking immersive and dynamic soundscapes, the track performs admirably during select scenes but falls short of a wholly outstanding performance.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Big Year" provide an adequate mix of behind-the-scenes content and humorous outtakes. "The Big Migration" is the standout feature, an engaging 18-minute making-of special that delves into the production's extensive on-location shoots and includes interviews with stars Martin, Black, and Wilson, offering amusing behind-the-scenes banter. The collection of 12 deleted scenes, running approximately 18 minutes, includes additional voiceovers from John Cleese and a couple of scenes with narrative inconsistencies that validate their exclusion from the final cut. The Gag Reel provides six minutes of light-hearted set mishaps and comedic errors, typical of most film productions. Additionally, the disc includes the theatrical trailer, offering a brief promotional overview of the movie. While the extras are somewhat standard, they effectively supplement the viewing experience without overwhelming it.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Additional scenes providing further context but mostly superfluous.
• Gag Reel: Collection of on-set bloopers and outtakes.
• The Big Migration: Making-of feature chronicling the arduous production journey.
• Theatrical Trailer: Promotional preview of the movie.
• Sneak Peak: Trailers for other films including "In Time" and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel."

The Big Year brings together comedic heavyweights Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson in a film centered on a seemingly niche pastime: birding. The film's premise—a year-long competition among bird watchers, or "birders," to spot the most species in North America—offers potential for both humor and a dramatic exploration of obsession and camaraderie. Despite this, the film struggles to convert the intriguing aspects of birding into engaging cinema. The narrative follows three men from disparate walks of life who are united by their passion for birding. Owen Wilson plays Kenny Bostick, an experienced and somewhat arrogant birder defending his record, while Steve Martin portrays Stu Preissler, a retiring CEO seeking liberation through his birding dream. Jack Black is Brad Harris, a man seeking redemption and purpose after familial failures. Their interactions play out against diverse scenic backdrops, from the highlands of Colorado to the Aleutian islands. Yet, the film's comedic elements often fall flat, relying on tame pranks and mild humor that lack real bite.

Despite the film’s strong cast, it fails to fully capitalize on their talents. Fans of Martin, Black, and Wilson's past works might find moments of amusement, but overall, The Big Year remains tepid. The story is padded with unnecessary filler, including extended cuts that add little to the film’s narrative or entertainment value. John Cleese's narration attempts to lend the movie a nature-documentary feel but ends up creating an inconsistent tone, particularly when Jack Black inexplicably takes over narration in the final act. This jarring shift disrupts the flow and seems unjustified from a storytelling perspective. Technically, the film is competent but lacks innovation or visual flair that could elevate its somewhat mundane subject matter.

In conclusion, while The Big Year has heart and displays genuine affection for the birding community, it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. The film offers scenic vistas and sporadic laughs but remains mired in mediocrity. It’s a watchable yet forgettable comedy that neither soars to great heights nor dives to significant lows.

"The Big Year" on Blu-ray is a film that struggled at the box office, and unfortunately, it may experience a similar fate in home entertainment. The movie, centered around the niche hobby of birdwatching, fails to deliver the engaging comedy one might expect from its star-studded cast including Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson. The plot lacks intensity and fails to evoke significant laughs, instead offering a fluffy, lightweight narrative that caters more to an older audience. While the film does impart some interesting insights into birdwatching, the overall execution remains lackluster, making it a tough proposition for comedy enthusiasts.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray itself is underwhelming. Both video and audio qualities fall short of high-definition standards. The special features, which include deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a making-of featurette, offer limited additional value. While the vistas captured and some elements of the audio are commendable, they don't justify purchasing the Blu-ray, unless one is particularly passionate about birding. John Cleese’s narration adds a modest layer of charm, yet it isn't sufficient to elevate the overall mediocrity of the film's content.

In conclusion, "The Big Year" may appeal to birdwatching aficionados or those familiar with the book on which it is based. However, for most viewers, the combination of an unremarkable script, average performances, and subpar Blu-ray presentation translates to a forgettable viewing experience. It is best suited for a rental rather than a permanent addition to your collection. Save your money unless you have a keen interest in birdwatching; otherwise, look elsewhere for your next comedy fix.