H. Bala "Me Too Can Read" (Just moved to posh Marina Del Rey, CA - where if you drop a quarter, why, you just keep on walking) (TOP 100 REVIEWER)(REAL NAME)
Really, when are folks the most maudlin if not during the holiday season? When they're most likely to forgive one's abundance of sentimentality? WE BOUGHT A ZOO utilizes savvy product placement by coinciding its box office release with the month of December. Not that it mattered to me one bit when this film would've come out. Me, I'm a sucker for the sentimental stuff. The movie's title doesn't lie; you get the gist of the premise. Here's Camero n Crowe again, manipulating your emotions, coaxing a laugh, making you tear up. He's such a user.It's based on a true story. Matt Damon, one of my favorite actors, plays journalist Benjamin Mee who nurses an adventurous streak. He has interviewed dangerous underworld figures in third world nations. He has flown into Category 4 storms. Benjamin profoundly believes that 20 seconds of insane courage can only alter your life for the better. But how much insane courage can one muster when the love of your life leaves you?Benjamin Mee can't stand pity, even pity assignments at work. Six months after his wife's passing, Benjamin quits his career and - when a neighbor's party causes his seven-year-old girl Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) to remark: "Their happy's too loud." - he uproots the fam. Seeking a new residence, he and Rosie stumble upon what looks to be the ideal home in the country, even if it's nine miles from a Target store or pretty much from any other store. Except that a broken-down zoo is attached to the house. Buy one, buy the other. Benjamin Mee has always strived to give his kids an "authentic American experience," but his bump of common sense is interfering here. Ultimately, it's little Rosie's unbounded joy at the thought of having a zoo that decides things. Benjamin's cautious accountant brother (Thomas Haden Church) is pretty much aghast.WE BOUGHT A ZOO isn't as incisive or emotionally searing as THE DESCENDANTS, a similar picture dealing with a family's grief. WE BOUGHT A ZOO, to be frank, won't be nominated for as many awards as THE DESCENDANTS will. Except that I like this movie better. Sue me for prefering clear-cut happy endings. While Clooney's dramedy tends to cut too close to home and no one in WE BOUGHT A ZOO comes close to Shailene Woodley's fierce performance, Matt Damon and the rest of the cast guide you to more familiar territory. Their story has a warmth and an undeniable sweetness to it, brought about in huge part b y the actors but also by Crowe's knack for heartstring tugging. And, of course, the zoo animals.Benjamin Mee has his work cut out for him. The Rosemoor Wildlife Park has been dead in the water for the past two years, and just how strongly does he want to commit to operating a zoo, let alone resurrecting it to specs? The dreaded inspection is fast approaching. His idiosyncratic new employees - including the gorgeous zookeeper Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) - are casting dubious eyes at him. Benjamin's troubled teen son, Dylan, hates the place, hates everything, really. He keeps on drawing those disturbing images. Benjamin and Dylan just can't seem to connect.I admit that I choked up in places (damn you, Cameron Crowe!). Yes, this is a sappy film, and some bits feel contrived, but the cast, I feel, ultimately rises above it all. Matt Damon is a sturdy lead and he grounds the story, and I do like that spark between him and Scarlett Johannson. Elle Fanning, who is growing up fast, h as a glow about her, sweetly playing the zookeeper's younger sister, Lily, who approaches the tormented artist Dylan with open acceptance. And while there's a chance that Crowe may have overplayed his hand by making Rosie's input so invaluable in a key sequence - it's pretty hard to believe that a seven-year-old could be so canny - there's no arguing that Maggie Elizabeth Jones is just about the cutest thing on earth (sorry, tap-dancing penguins). So, I dunno, sir. WE BOUGHT A ZOO may not come across as emotionally blunt or "truthful" as THE DESCENDANTS. But this is Christmastime wherein edges are softened. There's no place here for blunt truths.
By
Sheryl Wilson "film peruser" (Illinois, United States) (REAL NAME)
There is an overwhelming sentimentality to Cameron Crowe's movie "We Bought A Zoo". This is not all strictly 'fun and games'. Crowe has always had the ability to dig deep in his pockets to reach the real issue. In this lovely film it is definitely more about a family's grieving, and the way the father Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) has to try to re-construct his family after the major loss of his wife and his two children's mother, less then a year prior. Hey no easy task involved anywhere, especially with his son (Colin Ford giving a great performance as Dylan) who is scattered in his grief and anger. Add Thomas Hayden Church as the brother and a lot of comedic relief countering Benjamin all the time, as Ben says yes to things, he says "NO" in typical Hayden Church style. I can't forget his very young, starry-eyed daughter Rosie who adds so much childlike whimsy to this and seems to have a lot of knowledge for her age.Benjamin Mee st arts to get aggravated with his present career and all his family issues, resulting in finding it necessary for a very monumental change by moving to a new home. Surprised but finding the opportunity to be taking over a once prosperous zoo on the newly acquired property.The staff is indecisive about whether another buyer of the zoo will stay and make a 'go of it'. This staff is educated in the ways of animal care and quite a diverse cast of characters. They are a family of sorts and convene nightly for fun and conversation--they know each other well. Heading up the zoo is Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) as the zookeeper, among many others is Patrick Fugit (of "Almost Famous" fame), I was happy to see Crowe using him in another movie of his, he adds much personality.Through the whole experience of running and opening the zoo to the public, there are many conflicts in this film that are resolved. One pertinent issue would be Benjamin grappling with an older tiger, it may seem silly here although the relevance of it brings on a change for him in a deeper regard. New relationships are established, the inspector who is always there with a 'close this down' attitude may be seeing things differently, the people of the town are beginning to have hope in the project, and the most important for Benjamin Mee is that his family is beginning to act as one through the devastating loss they have suffered--and may just be able to move forward instead of remaining in what is now past.For myself I found it refreshing to view Damon and Johansson acting outside of most of their sterotypical roles. I found them quite believable and pleasantly entertaining.
By
David A. Smith "Happy Valentine's Day2012" (Webberville, Mi, USA) (REAL NAME)
this is a great movie, one of the best roles i've seen matt damon in. this movie is funny and heartwarming. this is a great movie. if you have not seen this movie then i recommend you do
By
Kona (Emerald City) (VINE VOICE)(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
Matt Damon stars as a recent widower and father who decides his family needs a big change to help them deal with their grief. He buys a run-down private zoo and, with the help of the zookeeper (Scarlett Johansson), brings it and his family back to life.If you like Damon and Johansson, yo u'll like this movie. They're not my favorites, however, so I found them a bit annoying and their characters idealized and unbelievable. The romantic tension between them takes up most of the story, which I felt was rushing things for a man whose beloved wife died only six months earlier. The little girl who plays the daughter is way too precocious to be believed; she never acts like a 7-year old but speaks with the wisdom and maturity of a 40-year old. Colin Ford, on the other hand, is wonderful as the alienated teenage son. There isn't much interaction or `awwww-how-cute' moments with the animals; this story is about the people.Since it's based on a true story, I can appreciate the heart behind it, but still, fixing up the dilapidated zoo did seem rather effortless for Damon's city-slicker character. Although it's predictable and sentimental, the story deals sensitively with human and animal death and there were few dry eyes in my theatre.
By
V. Kunkel (Huntington Beach CA) (REAL NAME)
I am involved in animal rescue and found the movie to be both enlightening and intelligent. I really enjoyed it and felt it was written extremely well. I was sorry to see it end. The music is wonderful and the cast is superb. I get really tired of silly badly written movies and this was a very welcome relief. The really great part of it is that it's a true story. I went out and bought the book. Go see this film.
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