I’m sure that by now everyone has heard of this movie, starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson.
I was a bit reluctant to see it as I had heard it isn’t really a ‘birding movie’ – whatever that is – but is a relationship movie, which all-too-often means “chick flick,” with lots of soap suds and soggy handkerchiefs.

Lillian and I – with non-birding friend in tow – saw this move a couple of days ago and we all liked it. Yes, human relationships are important to the movie, but it definitely is also a ‘birding movie.’ I detected a number of sight and verbal gags that I think only a birder would get.

I’ve always wondered what Attu looked like, and I assuming that the scenes set there were actually filmed there. But maybe not. It looked spectacular and very much like the descriptions I’ve read about it. Back in my early years of birding I though about going there and picking up some of those great Asian birds blown in on the winds. Once I read about the Quonset hut housing and birding conditions, I decided I’d rather see the birds in Asia, where they belong, and never made it to Attu.  [JoAnne, commenting later on our Facebook page, advises that ‘Attu’ was really Yukon Territory, as filming in Attu was far too expensive. Ah well.  Still beautiful.]

There were lots of other great shots and scenery, places I’ve been and places I’ve heard about. The Brownsville Dump. Pelagic birding and grinding up ‘chum’ with “Annie Auklet” (aka Debra Shearwater).  The pursuit of the Himilayan Snowcock in the Ruby Mtns. of Nevada was very reminiscent of our trip there just last year, except that our feet always stayed on the ground.

As someone said on BIRDCHAT, “It’s probably not the best film you will see this year, but it definitely is the best birding film you will ever see.”  It’s funny, it’s bittersweet. There were ‘birding moments’ when I thought, “Oh yeah, right! I’ll just bet!” (Such as that particular woodpecker who will remain unnamed.)  There were ‘relationship moments’ when I cringed and thought, “NO! Don’t do that! Big mistake!”  (When it comes to movies, I’ve never been accused of the inability to ‘suspend disbelief.”)

Sad to say, there were only 10 of us in the theater on a Saturday afternoon.  I hope these comments whetted your appetite for the movie. I recommend this film to all birders, novice or experienced, as well as to those who know and love birders but can’t figure out the obsession.  I suggest that you see it soon, before it disappears from the theaters.  [Chuck Almdale]