Director: Rob Meyer
Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ben Kinsley, Alex Wolff, James Le Gros, Katie Chang, Michael Chen
Certification: 12A
Running Time: 86 minutes
Synopsis: David Portnoy, an avid birder, thinks he has made the discovery of a lifetime. On the eve of his father’s remarriage David and his friends take a road trip to track down the thought to be extinct Labrador duck and solidify their place in birding history.
A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING is a quirky coming-of-age story, following a group of young birders on a whimsical journey. Their fanciful journey inspires the theft of a relatives car, paranoia of being chased by drug lords, confusion over a suspicious bag which is determined to be either crystal meth or rock candy, and a wild chase on quad bikes through a quiet Connecticut wooded park. There’s a lot more to this tale than you’ll first assume.
The film follows David Portnoy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) a fifteen-year-old birding fanatic who believes he has made the discovery of a lifetime, the extinct Labrador duck. He is joined by best friends and members of the local Young Birders Society: Timmy (Alex Wolff), a shy but budding Casanova, and Peter (Michael Chen), whose uptight old-fashioned persona hides a wild side. They are also joined by wilful photographer classmate Ellen (Katie Chang), who insists on joining the boys to record their findings. All this on the eve of David’s father’s wedding, where he is expected to serve as best man.
‘There’s nothing like the feeling of discovery’ Lawrence Konrad (Ben Kingsley) utters these words while helping the young birders’ track down the Labrador duck. The young birders are faced with obstacles that reveal some personal truths. None learn more than David, who still grieves for his mother a year and a half after her death. Through his strong will to pursue his birding passion, which is his only connection to his late mother, he learns some valuable lessons. David struggles with accepting his father’s decision to remarry, which is worsened by the fact that his father is planning to marry his mother’s nurse. It’s through David’s relationship with Ellen that enables him to accept his father’s remarriage.
The film is reminiscent of STAND BY ME and THE KINGS OF SUMMER, The boy’s rites of passage are endearing, especially during scenes when the groups naivety and inexperience provide some sweet comedy. The boys’ fantasies of discovering an extinct species of duck is expertly mirrored in the evolving maturity of the group.
A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING is definitely worth a watch, it is surprisingly entertaining making birding seem an adventurous pastime. This is a really sweet and quirky film; the cast effortlessly portray that awkward teen age, sharing great chemistry with performances that feel honest and relatable. This film is highly recommended, filled with plenty of laughs, fun characters and a pleasantly unique concept.
[usr=4] A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING is available on DVD & VOD in the UK and in USA & Canada now.
