Watch A Birder's Guide to Everything

A Birder's Guide to Everything is a 2013 coming-of-age drama film directed by Rob Meyer and starring Kodi Smit-McPhee as David Portnoy, a teenage bird enthusiast who embarks on a quest to rediscover a rare species of duck thought to be extinct. The film opens with a prologue in which David and his father, Joel (James Le Gros), go birdwatching together, only for Joel to suffer a fatal heart attack. Flash forward a year later and David is still struggling to come to terms with his father's death. His mother, Ellen (Daniela Lavender), is planning to remarry, and David feels like she is moving on too quickly.

One day, David believes he has spotted a Labrador duck, a species long believed to be extinct. Knowing that his father was also on a quest to find the bird, David convinces his two best friends, Timmy (Alex Wolff) and Peter (Michael Chen), to embark on a road trip to the location where the duck was allegedly seen. Along the way, they make several stops to birdwatch and encounter a variety of quirky characters, including a girl named Ellen (Katie Chang) who joins them on their journey.

As they get closer to their destination, tensions rise between the friends, and they are forced to confront their own fears and insecurities. David is still mourning his father's death, while Timmy is struggling with his own family issues. Peter, who is usually the peacemaker, begins to feel left out as David and Timmy grow closer.

To complicate matters further, the group's supposed sighting of the Labrador duck is called into question by a renowned birding expert (Ben Kingsley) who believes they may have misidentified a common eider. Despite the setback, David remains determined to honor his father's memory by identifying the duck, and the group continues their quest.

A Birder's Guide to Everything is a charming and heartfelt film that explores themes of grief, friendship, and the beauty of nature. The performances by Kodi Smit-McPhee, James Le Gros, and Daniela Lavender are all strong, and the chemistry between the three young actors, Alex Wolff, Michael Chen, and Katie Chang, is particularly noteworthy.

Director Rob Meyer does an excellent job of balancing the film's tone, seamlessly weaving together the comedic moments with the more emotional ones. The bird watching scenes are also beautifully shot, showcasing the stunning landscapes and wildlife of the northeastern United States.

Overall, A Birder's Guide to Everything is a touching and uplifting film that will appeal to both bird enthusiasts and those who appreciate a well-crafted coming-of-age story.

A Birder's Guide to Everything is a 2014 comedy. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 61.