Dorky, obsessed with trivia, and badly dressed — birders get a bad rap. Nor will David Frankel's insipid and inept comedy about Audubon's annual bird spotting competition help much. Starting with the unctuous voiceover narration by Jack Black. Not that it matters, but if he's a character in the story, how does he have omniscient insight into the other characters' thoughts? Can he read minds? Certainly it wouldn't take much ESP to plumb these stereotypes. Black plays Brad, a stumblebum who, as his dad (Brian Dennehy) points out, has lost his job, scholarship, and marriage due to his birding obsession. He's up against Stu (Steve Martin), a workaholic trying to cut himself free of his company in order to fulfill his dream; and reigning champ Kenny (Owen Wilson), who is willing to ignore his clingy wife to remain number one. Why do they do it? Maybe for the thrill of unexpected beauty, but you won't find that, or any laughs, here.
