A Birder's Guide to Everything (2013) User Reviews

Fine cute coming-of-age movie

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 9 August 2014]

David Portnoy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a big birder and is even in the Young Bird Society in his school. His mother is dead. His father Donald Portnoy (James Le Gros) is getting married to Juliana Santos (Daniela Lavender). His best friend girl-obsessed talkative Timmy Barsky (Alex Wolff) is also in the YBS. Then David thinks that he saw an extinct duck. Also Ben Kingsley plays expert birder Lawrence Konrad. The group goes in search of the duck with the help of student photographer Ellen Reeves (Katie Chang).

This is sorta like 'Stand by Me' with bird watching for awhile. It worked better as such. It pains me to say this but the movie is better off without Ben Kingsley in the second half. There is a reasonable coming of age movie. It's nothing special or original but it's somewhat cute. I was hoping it could keep going on that trail. The arrival of Kingsley broke up the group's chemistry. It's still a cute little movie. Kodi does a great job as the geeky lead. The kids are very natural. I wish the movie kept with just the four kids in the woods.

A charming coming-of-age tale

[Buddy-51 · 7/10 · 17 July 2014]

"A Birder's Guide to Everything" is an unassuming little charmer about a quartet of teenaged ornithologists who go in pursuit of a duck long believed to be extinct by experts in such matters. But, as the title itself suggests, "birding" is about a whole lot more than just seeking out and categorizing rare birds; it's about friendship, camaraderie, first love, learning to let go and growing up.

Kodi Smit-McPhee plays David Portnoy, a high school boy who's having trouble coming to terms with the death of his beloved mother a year-and- a-half ago, a renowned ornithologist herself who instilled an intense love for birds in her son that he carries with him to this very day. His grieving process is not being helped by the fact that his father (James Le Gros) is slated to marry the nurse (Daniela Lavender) who took care of his mother in her dying days. David rebels in the only way a non-troublemaking, bird-obsessed boy really can - by piling into a "borrowed" car with his equally bird-obsessed buddies and going off through the woods of Upstate New York to prove the world wrong about that aforementioned duck.

Written by Luke Matheny and Rob Meyer and directed by Meyer, "A Birder's Guide to Everything" is filled with humor, warmth, and winning performances by Alex Wolff and Michael Chen as David's lifelong pals, as well as Katie Chang as the initially skeptical but sufficiently open- minded fellow student who joins the boys in their quest. Ben Kingley also gets in on the fun as a professional ornithologist who worked with David's mother and has a few words of wisdom to impart to the mourning lad on the eve of his dad's nuptials.

Along with some dazzling scenery, "A Birder's Guide to Everything" manages to drive home a few basic truths - like it really is okay to march to the beat of your own drum - with its deceptively simple tale of a boy and his birds.

Sweet movie, especially if you've been through the same thing

[Josie15-27-292450 · 7/10 · 10 January 2015]

Not gonna lie, I was expecting a very sleepy, weird and well, extremely boring film. Sure, birds are lovely, but it sounds very dull to watch an entire movie about it. The only reason i even watched it was because i saw Kodi Smit-McPhee in Romeo & Juliet and i thought he was the best part of that movie. So i thought i'd give this movie a try.

If you don't like kind of slow movies, then i guess this might not be a movie for you. I was a bit scared when i saw how long it was, but the time actually flew by (no pun intended lol). It was entertaining and even quite funny sometimes. But most of all, i saw myself a lot in the lead character. I'm actually in a quite similar family situation right now. Lost a parent a few years ago (the same age as the character) and now i'm kind of trying to live with the fact that there's a new partner in the picture. I'm of legal age now so it's not like i have a new dad, but it's still a very strange thing to experience.

If you have been/are in a similar situation, then i would totally recommend watching this movie. It made me feel less alone at least. If you haven't been in that situation or isn't interested in birds...then you might find it a bit dull. But i think you should give it a try cause it's a sweet film.

Enjoyable adventure with some laughs

[vchimpanzee · 10 October 2016]

This is a pleasant enough story, with apparently intelligent writing about birds and about life as teenagers. Alex Wolff is the standout actor here, if you don't count Sir Ben Kingsley. More about him later. But Timmy is a great character. And Katie Chang makes quite a contribution also. Ellen has a nice personality and is smart, but she has had trouble making friends because she moves a lot.

Kodi Smit-McPhee does a good job of being an ordinary kid, and is most effective when David has to show grief.

Ben Kingsley makes the most of what turns out to be a small role, but his first scene is not the only one. He really shows his ability later. This isn't the type of movie you would expect him to be in, but his presence adds to the movie.

The scenery is great too when the actual bird watching takes place.

Is this is good clean family film? Not quite. There is some sex talk and some words make it to broadcast TV that younger kids shouldn't hear, though others have multiple meanings and must therefore be all right. When I saw this, fairly often, the sound went out and a character's mouth was blurred. One word in particular was actually used twice (though I heard a P once before the rest of the word was bleeped), once in subtitles when the guys were speaking Latin, and not to refer to a cat. But I don't think the revelation that Donald Trump used the word in a more vulgar way had any influence on the censors. I think they did their job long before the news about the Donald.

I didn't care for most of the music (but of course this a film for teens), but the guys do like classical music, and several scenes involving the grownups, including the wedding, had jazz that would have fit perfectly in the great Woody Allen movie set in 1940 that I saw the same weekend I saw this.

It's a worthy effort.

The really good sprinkled with the really bad.

[Franklie · 6/10 · 11 March 2016]

I would love to refer this film, but I can't because of the gunge. The bad outweighs the good. Arg.

The actors are all spot-on and fabulous and fun. Loved seeing Ben Kingsley and James Le Gros. And we liked meeting Katie Chang.

The scenery is absolutely beautiful.

The story is important and heart-wrenching and motivating and quick-witted.

But the vocabulary and the references are mundane, unimaginative, low-brow, and just plain "ew". They weigh the whole thing down like oil on a duck. Ironically, this crude language is making our clever and thoughtful words evermore extinct and narrowing our language and our minds. Sad.

White People Problems

[El_Jefe · 6/10 · 6 May 2016]

Have you been wanting to watch a coming of age story featuring predominantly well-off Caucasian youth? Adults who don't appear to ever actually work? Endless shots of blissful Americana during the Golden Hour? Do you want to watch a painfully oblivious father whose worst challenge in life appears to be coercing his son into (inappropriately) acting as his best man? Then this is the movie for you!

It also has a lot of really poor dubbing and audio cleanup work that's distracting. And I'm not really sure how the Asian kid is anything other than a racist portrayal.

I'll take The Goonies and Harold and Kumar instead. They're better on the coming of age, road trip, and stereotype fronts.

Charming cast and interesting scenario

[hugh-33-58009 · 7/10 · 3 October 2020]

Well worth seeing. Excellent cast and dialog. A bit predictable but that's forgivable given the overall quality of the film.

Made Me Laugh For All the Wrong Reasons

[superduperwren · 4/10 · 27 August 2016]

Call me crazy, but I think that a movie centered around birds should make sure not to include major bird errors. My boyfriend and I are both long-time birders and our social lives, weekend plans, and wardrobe choices usually revolve around our love of birds and birding. This movie had us cracking up (it's great to watch after a few beers) with how ridiculous it was.

A Labrador Duck looks nothing like a Mallard. And it wouldn't be walking up a suburban street. You wouldn't find an eclipse plumaged White-winged Scoter walking up a suburban street either. American Kestrel just chilling on a roof? Nah brah. There are more than 3 critically endangered duck species, and West Indian Whistling-Duck is not one of them. They didn't even get the scientific name of the Labrador Duck correct.

Also, who uses film cameras nowadays besides artists who consciously prefer them as a medium?

I love the growing popularity of birding in pop culture, but please do it right!

The basis of the plot (glimpsing this rare duck) is completely far-fetched, but other plot elements are also a little forced. The acting was decent in my eye, but the character development was lacking, and there were countless tropes. The script-writing could have been better, but we appreciated the frequent moments of absurdity. Like I said, an OK movie to watch after a few drinks and laugh at with friends, but as a whole, it lacked factual integrity.

A film for everyone

[jena-howie · 8/10 · 29 April 2013]

Saw this film at Tribeca and I LOVED it! It's one of those movies anyone can watch and get something out of. It made me laugh, cry, and self-reflect. For a film to do all of those things - that's powerful. I enjoyed the film for its humor, originality, and emotional dimension. When you are a kid and tragedy strikes it's hard to bounce back and feel sturdy in your surroundings - this film takes you back to that uneasiness and shows a view of life through the eyes of a motley crew of teenagers, figuring out their role in a series of eye-opening events on a quest for more than just an extinct duck. The characters are funny, well developed, and real. The coming of age concept is something I think everyone can relate to in some way or another. This film can remind of us that sometimes life itself is a quest with many surprises along the way and that we are never too old for an adventure. The fact that the film was co-written says a lot about the talent and caliber of the writers. I think the collaboration was a huge contribution to the realness of the characters and is what helps this film appeal to a variety of audiences. Props, Rob and Luke!

Not Worth Watching Unless You Need A Film To Sleep To

[meaninglessbark · 1/10 · 29 September 2014]

There is nothing about A Birder's Blah Blah Blah worth spending any of your time on.

A Birder's Blah Blah Blah is an indie coming of age cliché-fest, from it's overly wordy (and inaccurate) title to the forgettable indie pop snippets used here and there because that is what you do when you make this sort of film.

If A Birder's Blah Blah Blah had been a Made-For-Nickelodeon film it might have rated 3 stars for not being a cartoon made with humans (mostly...it does dip into human cartoon territory). But as a stand alone film it just raises the question "Why would anyone bother making this?" A Birder's Blah Blah Blah looks good and despite the characters being complete clichés the main actors are good (James Le Gros as the main character's dad particularly stood out).

The minor character are either so cardboard like they're barely noticeable or they're cartoon buffoons. The fault here seems to lie with the director as there is a consistency to the forgettable or annoying characters.

Watching A Birder's Blah Blah Blah is a chore as it's very boring and it brings to mind coming-of-age films which are infinitely better (Stand By Me, which also deals with a group of outsider friends on a quest to find something unusual) or were at least a little interesting because they weren't so predictable (such as the Kings of Summer).

If you watch a lot of movies you have seen everything in A Birder's Guide To Blah Blah before and could probably successfully predict each plot "twist" and soul baring conversation.

If you don't watch a lot of movies and you want to see something that is easy to watch while lying on the couch on pain meds recovering from injury or surgery then A Birder's Blah Blah Blah would be a nice choice as it'd be easy to fall asleep to and not confusing to wake up to.

If you're a birder looking for a film about your interest, look elsewhere. You will be disappointed...Unless you're on a couch on pain meds recovering from injury or surgery.

A truly awful film

[eelalien · 1/10 · 30 March 2014]

Rarely has my entire family agreed that a film we're watching is so bloody awful that we simply cannot continue watching. After struggling through about two-thirds of this amateurish mess, terrible acting, and awful script, we finally decided enough was enough and bemoaned our throwing away six bucks to watch this idiotic crap on demand. Apparently Ben Kingsley will do anything for a pay check, because why he would throw away his considerable, proved talent for this trash is utterly bewildering. None of the characters are remotely likable, the script panders embarrassingly to prurient male juvenile titillation (oh, yeah - lots of plays on titmouse and similar to evince yucks from boys), and the "plot" is so transparent as to be insulting. Throw in a breast flash early on (from the soon-to-be stepmom!), plenty of pubescent sexual innuendo and references to other female anatomy, and this film seems to have been made by- and for- emotionally stunted 13-year olds. I can see by other rave reviews that this film obviously has a target demographic and audience, but if this is what teen birders are supposed to be like, I say next time you see an adolescent boy with binoculars wandering around your campsite, call the park rangers and report him!

very enjoyable film

[andyland · 9/10 · 30 April 2013]

This movie is just fantastic. The chemistry between the four teenagers will win anyone over. Beautiful shots of nature and a wonderful story that anyone can relate to. Performances by Sir Ben Kingsley and Alex Wolf are highlights. Highly recommended for all ages. This movie deals with loss so well that it can help heal all who see the film. It also has some of the funniest moments I have seen in a movie theatre in some time. It is to Tribeka Film Festival's credit that they chose this film for their 2013 screenings. If there is a chance to see this film do not let it pass by. Nobody would regret the experience.Congratulations to the film makers.

Beautiful, touching and funny

[barefootjessie · 10/10 · 6 October 2013]

This is a sweet and moving film that goes beyond your ordinary feel-good movie. The layered story and its characters touch on grief, growing up, family, friendship, adventure and birds. Some topics that come up are: a father-son relationship, first crush, hiking, marriage, coming to terms with losing a loved one, competition and of course, bird-watching (which you will learn about in an authentic way). It is completely engaging, earnest and real. It is gorgeous to watch as the nature scenes are beautifully filmed. The acting is honest and the characters are delightful. It is also very, very funny. I loved it, as did my 14 year old son. I would recommend it for tweens, teens and adults.

An enjoyable, thoughtful film

[surge422 · 9/10 · 28 June 2013]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, shown at a benefit for The Wild Bird Fund Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center in NYC. There's a lot to like--the characters are well drawn, particularly the teens who passionately embark on a quest to sight and document a supposedly extinct duck. There's lots of delightfully nerdy tomfoolery amongst them. On the serious side, this movie's also about loss of a loved one and finding your way forward from that. It's moving, while still remaining humorous and full of bird lore. Birders and non-birders alike will adore the nature photography. Ben Kingsly, as a revered bird expert, radiates his usual star quality. Don't miss it.

A beautifully crafted take on the coming of age story

[arrieve · 9/10 · 28 June 2013]

I saw this film at a benefit screening for the Wild Bird Fund in New York. It was the perfect audience for a story about bird lovers, but this smart, sad, funny film will appeal to everyone. The young cast is uniformly excellent, so the story of geeky misfits on a quest seems fresh rather than something you've seen a dozen times before. And unlike so many teenagers in movies, the writers and director treat these characters with respect. A boy who is still grieving for his mother, and coping with his father's imminent remarriage, corrals his friends -- and the obligatory cute girl tagging along -- into taking an impromptu camping trip, on the trail of a duck that may belong to a species long thought extinct. There are few surprises, but this intelligent well-crafted story doesn't need them.

Quirky, Very Funny with Great Characters!

[NightSkySF · 8/10 · 14 March 2014]

Many independent comedies with similar themes end up being very slow with way more drama than comedy and no satisfying conclusion. This film, however, keeps a comedic edge all the way through with plenty of big laughs, while also maintaining enough emotional drama to keep us hoping that David finds what he's looking for. The climax and resolution are satisfying, though the climax felt like it may have come a bit too soon.

Every character is well defined with their own struggle and arc. David's two best friends, Timmy (Alex Wolff) and Peter (Michael Chen), are both hilarious. Timmy is struggling with his own delusions about a popular girl at school liking him when in reality she's just using him to do her math homework. Peter is overly cautious and accused of being a pussy throughout the film until he finally decides to take a big risk to help his friends. They're particularly funny when making decisions as the school Birder's Club, because they're incredibly official and always take the time for formalities despite the fact that they're just three friends.

Ellen (Katie Chang), a girl from the photography club at school, is convinced to join the boys on their trip after she catches them stealing a lens from the photography department. David teaches Ellen about birding throughout their trip, and the two come to like each other.

SPOILER ALERT!

The second act felt too short. It seemed like David and his friends weren't on their search for very long before the climax hit, largely because there weren't very many challenges or obstacles to overcome once they began their search. It's set up earlier in the story that before they embark on their trip, Ellen accidentally tells two other birders about the duck they're looking for, setting the main characters up for some possible competition. While those birders do appear again later, they don't really serve as antagonists throughout the second act who are trying to find the duck first, which would have created more tension and conflict throughout act two.

Lawrence Konrad (Ben Kingsley) finds the group during their search and ends up helping them. However, they weren't really in need of the help before he showed up and he didn't seem to be particularly helpful in the search. They end up spotting the duck a bit too easily, without anyone needing to do anything too special to find it. It would have been more rewarding if there had been more of a struggle to find it, and if the group had to use every bit of their combined birding knowledge.

Even after the climax is over and the main issue is resolved, there is still the issue of getting to David's father's wedding; but nothing was really made of their rush to get there in time. The potential conflict is even set up with David realizing that he has the rings for his father's wedding and needs to get there with them, but then right when they leave, the next shot is them arriving for the wedding on time without having made anything of the struggle to get there.

All in all, a fantastic and enjoyable film with plenty of laughs, fun characters, and a unique concept. There could have been more conflict throughout, and most problems were resolved too easily. Still, on a scale of 1-10, it was too enjoyable to give it anything less than an 8.

The film teen birders have been waiting for but not expecting

[StevePulaski · 8/10 · 12 March 2014]

Since maybe 2011 (around the time The Big Year was released), it seems that the sport or birding (known informally and incorrectly by many people as "bird-watching") has been flirting with mainstream recognition. An abundance of films on the topic have been made within the last few years, and basic research on my behalf shows birding events occurring all over the world.

"Absolutely anyone can be a birder. Except for blind people, I suppose," Ben Kingsley's character in A Birder's Guide to Everything, the latest entry in "birding cinema," if there were such a thing. The film stars Kodi Smit-McPhee as David Portnoy, a fifteen-year-old who loves birding and believes he has spotted a Labrador Duck, a species which is believed to have gone extinct. He snaps a blurry but somewhat discernible picture that erects hope that the bird is migrating to a common migration point that, of course, requires a coming-of-age road trip with some buds. David brings his assorted, quirky band of pals such as the rambunctious Timmy (Alex Wolff of The Naked Brothers Band fame), the awkward and asthmatic Peter (Michael Chen), and the group's crush Ellen (Katie Chang), pretty much because she's a female as they drive down in a buddy's car he technically didn't consent to loaning. If you're wondering where Kingsley comes in, he plays a birding expert, adding another element of diversity to his long-successful acting career.

The reasons for chasing the bird are aplenty. A good part of the reason is the team's love and fondness for nature and the outdoors, but, according to Timmy, the benefit is that proving that the Labrador Duck is actually a living species will help them "fame-wise, money-wise, and vagina-wise." I almost forgot to mention A Birder's Guide to Everything's deals with some complex themes such as birding and the functionality of teenage hormones. The latter needs no explanation as to why I believe it's complex, but I believe birding is one of the most difficult sports around because of the fact that I think it would be hard or next to impossible to hold down a full-time job while being an avid birder. You have to be willing to travel all over the world in hopes of spotting a rare bird just for a few seconds, which will hopefully be another time for you to snap a clear picture of your subject.

The film is another one of those contemporary coming-of-age films that follow a group of eclectic characters as they try to understand their position in life and what they're destined for in the real world. This usually helps when they have unstable homelives and are fascinated with an arbitrary topic such as birding. I use a tone of sarcasm here because of the fact that while A Birder's Guide to Everything really doesn't do anything wrong, these contemporary coming-of-age films are only a hair away from becoming a cliché. While I scarcely tire of films centered around teens and their struggles, many of these films are beginning to mesh together, what with last year's The Kings of Summer and Mud having very similar premises, despite both being brilliant films. If these films continue to be made with the same kind of quirky formula, eventually they will lose their uniqueness and become as cliché as the films centered around the nerdy guy getting the gorgeous girl.

Even with this idea, A Birder's Guide to Everything is still a wholesome little exercise, smart, genial, and utilizes its PG-13 rating with plausibility. I always fear coming-of-age films with PG-13 ratings because that ultimately means sexual content and language are kept to a minimum, which is simply not reality in many teenagers' lives today. However, this film utilizes it conservatively but believably, not making the subject matter go out of its way to be offensive nor neuter itself to the realm of not being believable.

It's also easy to appreciate the work by Kodi Smit-McPhee along with Alex Wolff, who got his start on the Nickelodeon program The Naked Brothers Band (but the less said about that the better). Both Smit-McPhee and Wolff have true potential to go on to be strong, capable actors in a wide-variety of work. Smit-McPhee portrays listless but not helpless in a way that works in a way that doesn't feel like a pitiful cry for cheap sympathy, and Wolff's energy and controlled goofiness carry his character.

Then there's the fact that A Birder's Guide to Everything effectively illustrates how one man's passion is another man's bewilderment, seeing as David's father (James Le Gros) has no concept nor practical knowledge to how his son's fervent love for birding works. It's hardly uncommon for parents to be struggling at trying to identify their children's hobbies, especially in the tumultuous world we live in today, where the likes and dislikes of kids grow increasingly peculiar thanks to things like the internet. Co-writer/director Rob Meyer and Luke Matheny illustrate this by telling it like it is; David's father has no idea (or real interest) in what his son likes.

A Birder's Guide to Everything is often just as odd as its title, but its warmness, depiction of an offbeat hobby, its quirky but realistic line of characters, and instances that beautifully detail birding and teen hormones are filled with all the tenderness and heart needed to make a project like this succeed as a whole.

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alex Wolff, Michael Chen, Katie Chang, James Le Gros, and Ben Kingsley. Directed by: Rob Meyer.

Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining film with depth

[joanbike · 10/10 · 31 March 2014]

I wasn't sure what to expect from this film, but I really enjoyed it. I'm not a birder, but thought the bird photography was beautiful. The story had everything you could want. The well-developed characters were very likable. A Birder's Guide to Everything is a movie for everyone. It was entertaining, but had lots of depth. At first, I thought the film was going to be very predictable. I was pleasantly surprised at the twists and turns that followed. The audience in the theater where I saw the movie reacted to events in the film, and applauded at the end. I hope this film gets lots of notice! I think Luke Matheny has a bright future ahead of him.

For what it was trying to accomplish, it's excellent

[asc85 · 8/10 · 29 September 2014]

This is not a very ambitious film, but for what I'm sure it was trying to accomplish...i.e., to make a sensitive, well-done coming-of-age film, it passes with flying colors. As another reviewer before me said, it does remind me a little bit of "Stand By Me," but since I didn't like "Stand By Me" and liked this one very much, it definitely stands on its own two feet, and isn't a ripoff.

I thought they did a great job of showing what it's like to be a geek growing up, and how they behave among themselves. And unlike other movies, you actually see characters under 17 who not only are still virgins, but haven't even kissed someone from the opposite sex on the mouth! After watching so many teen movies, you would think these people don't exist! Although Katie Chang seems too pretty to never have kissed a boy, her character is a military brat who's always moving around, so I thought it was plausible that by the time she's no longer the new girl and has finally made friends, it's time to move again.

I'm not sure why this film didn't have more buzz and more critical acclaim, but it's definitely worth seeing.

A smartly tender movie with a message

[cekadah · 9/10 · 8 June 2014]

It's always a delight to see a story of just normal people being portrayed by fine actors. A that's what 'A Birder's Guide to Everything' offers for enjoyment.

The setting is a well heeled neighborhood and community with children that are focused and well educated. These 'teens' enjoy learning and seeking out the natural world around them. David Portnoy thinks he has discovered a long extinct duck. He consults Lawrence Konrad (an accomplished bird watcher) and Konrad encourages David to follow the migration of the duck. At this point we see friends go into the woods and not only discover the nature around them but the nature of their own personalities and the conflicts it can bring. These four teens are celebrating life while seeking the elusive duck.

In a pivotal scene the bird is discovered. In this scene death suddenly rears it hideous head and David suffers emotionally.

Now I do not know if this was intentional but one of the men (hunters) is prominently wearing a Christian cross. So here we have children celebrating life; religion suddenly interjects itself and death enters. Even the reason for killing the duck includes conflict and death. I think this is a wonderful subliminal message showing the evil profits of religion.

This is a fine and delightful film, beautifully photographed and scripted. You can't go wrong renting this one.

This bonding of like minds brings some much needed perspective for our young David.

[face-819-933726 · 8/10 · 18 March 2014]

Real, honest, and full of life. A journey taken by these 3 young Birder's brings clarity, and strength to David at just the right time. Idols, and icons are doing battle in his mind, and his ideals are tested when he confronts the flaws in all people not just his Father. David's loss is his own until he understands that he actually can share it and ease some of the burden. A very Enjoyable family friendly movie with a good message, and an easy landing. There is a very well told story that only lacks in any real edge, but with enough solid characters that you will feel fulfilled. If you are looking for a movie for the whole gang that will neither offend, or damage anyone, then let the Birder's guide you.

Much better then I was expecting. I really liked it. The Big Year mixed with The Way Way Back and The Sasquatch Gang.

[cosmo_tiger · 8/10 · 26 April 2014]

"I think I may have found an extinct duck." David Portnoy (Smit-Mcphee) is your typical high school bird watcher. He spends all his free time outside looking for any type of bird he can find which also keeps him away from his dad's new fiancé who he doesn't approve of. While out one day he thinks he spots an extinct species of duck. When him and his friends take the picture to famous birder Lawrence Konrad (Kingsley) they become more excited when he doesn't disagree with the findings. They decide to take a weekend trip to where they think the duck went to verify what they found, the same weekend as his father's wedding. Going into this I had the same reaction 90% of people will have, a movie about bird watching...super fun. Even though I liked The Big Year I still wasn't all that excited about watching this. Once again though I ended up liking this more then I expected to. The movie was more of a coming of age movie then another Big Year type movie. I was surprised with how much I liked this and I do recommend this. Overall, a mix of Kings Of Summer, Way Way Back and Sasquatch Gang with a dash of Napoleon Dynamite . I give this a B+.

After a boy's mother dies, his father begins moving on with his mom's nurse, so the son decides to go off and connect with his mom through the career she loved.

[Amari-Sali · 8/10 · 26 May 2014]

For me, it is rather hard to pass up a film which seemingly will have Ben Kingsley interact with young actors. Taking note of his role in Hugo and The Wackness, I have quite admired his eccentric characters who play a sort of mentor to some usually odd, and lost, young adults. This isn't to say though he is the only draw. Seeing Kodi Smitt-McPhee after his appearance in the Let The Right One In remake is also a bonus. Then of course you add Katie Chang from The Bling Ring, and you have something which looks quite good on paper. Question is though, does it deliver?

Characters & Story

David (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a 15/16 year old boy who would easily come off as one of the odd kids in school, but seems very sweet. He and his friends Timmy (Alex Wolff) & Peter (Michael Chen) are avid birth enthusiast. Timmy though is a misogynist little crapper who puts on airs and graces like he is something worth talking about, while Peter is a bit more quiet, reserved, though seemingly can be pushed toward being brave. Something which becomes a needed quality as David thinks he discovers this extinct duck of which they go to Lawrence Konrad (Ben Kingsley) to get advice on.

Which is how the story begins. David's love for birds was a gift from his mother who passed due to an unmentioned diagnosis you can only assume was cancer. And with her passing, and his dad marrying her nurse, this has caused some friction in the family. But when one with nature, it allows him, David, to reconnect with his mom's spirit and it opens him up a bit. Though perhaps the only person he really conveys this to is Ellen (Katie Chang) who isn't part of the Bird Watchers at first, but after David steals a camera lens from her to get a good picture of this duck, she decides to come along. With her original objective to be a photography credit, but as the movie goes on she ends up forming quite a bond with the boys, though especially David.

Thus giving us a film dealing with various adolescent problems without really overdramatizing anything, and just presenting things as they are: Difficult to work though, but somehow manageable.

Praise

As can be seen by looking through my archives, I have a love for films which focus on young adult issues. Especially when they seem to allow the actors to give authentic portrayals which seem like the writer/ director, and everyone involved, haven't lost that sense of being young. And while I do boast about Kingsley involvement, which is rather small in comparison to the two aforementioned films, I think his presence really does help for it leads to discovery. Smitt-McPhee's character is seemingly in a daze which he can only be brought out of when talking about birds. And between Kingsley and Chang's character, they seem like the main ones who really try to open him up and succeed. Not to say Wolf's character Timmy, David's best friend, isn't there for him, but you can see their bond is more so based in a mutual love of bird watching more than anything, even if David does tell Timmy stuff.

And I must admit I like how odd and complicated all the characters relationships are with each other, even their relationships not on screen. David's relationship with his dad is complicated for he worries his dad cheated on his mom when she was sick, Timmy's relationship with everyone is a bit complicated for not only is he a little pip-squeak, but also because he seemingly is desperate for an attractive girl to validate him, even if it means him being used. Then when you add Ellen to the mix, as well as Konrad, we are allowed to see most of the characters as either flawed, or just trying to navigate through life without ending up shipwrecked.

Criticism

The sad thing is though, I feel Peter is not really allowed to develop much. Yes, Timmy coerces him, perhaps to impress Ellen, to be brave, but while we learn about David's troubles, Ellen's family issues/ background, and even see Timmy as a slightly complex character, I would argue that Peter is almost a token minority. I mean, while Peter does seem to grow by showing flashes of courage, and even getting a girl at the end of the movie, I just feel you don't get to connect with him like the others. Thus leading to the token minority comment.

Overall: Worth Seeing

In all honesty, I am very much unable to fully decide whether to list this as TV Viewing or Worth Seeing, and I only say this because I strangely don't feel any regret for missing this when it came out during the Tribeca Film Festival. For, as noted, this is a good movie and hits a lot of points which makes it highly admirable, but I guess because it seems more like what a film is supposed to be, in general, and does not excel and stand out, that is what leads me to feel that maybe it is perhaps something which should be labeled TV Viewing. However, even with performances which may not make you cry and all that, it is hard to dismiss the value of the film just because it doesn't seem to be aiming for awards. For, to me, this is definitely something which is worth noting on the young actors' filmographies, which is why its final label is worth seeing. For while it won't be the best film for any involved, it does show their potential for future projects.