Some of the funniest men in movies have combined their prodigious talents in a comedy about, of all things, birdwatching.

Based on a true story, the comic dream team of Steve Martin (Stu Preissler), Jack Black (Brad Harris) and Owen Wilson (Kenny Bostick) are birders who are in a race to tick as many birds as they can in one year in North America.

All are amateur birders, but they long to to be known as the best birder in the country.

Each year birders are challenged to spot the greatest number of species within a single calendar year. The Big Year is the challenge and leads to them criss-crossing the United States many times to increase their bird lists.

Bostick is the reigning champion and record holder and is prepared to put everything, including his marriage, on the line to retain his crown.

He is up against Preissler and Harris, who are looking to fulfil their dream and passion to watch birds, and perhaps also gain the birding crown.

What starts as a friendly game of cat and mouse turns into a complicated and hilarious race against time.

Whoever wants to win will have to use every trick they can to keep competitors at bay and achieve their goal.

The Big Year is not a laugh-a-minute comedy but the characters and their pursuit of birds makes for funny viewing.

The Big Year

(PG) 20th Century Fox

Rating 3 / 5 stars