We Bought a Zoo Reviews

Our Review

Fine family fare let down by plot

Dale Rolfe, MovieFix

Cameron's Crowe's latest film, his first in six years, yearns to be the poignant, life-affirming drama its source material asks for. Instead, We Bought a Zoo only halfway gets there with a muddled plot that distracts from the emotional punches it could pull.

Newly widowed Benjamin (Matt Damon) buys a private rundown zoo in an impulsive effort to heal his family. It's in drastic need of repair and haemorrhaging money. Taking tentative steps to put aside his own anger and despair, he throws himself into reopening the zoo to reconnect with his sullen son Dylan (Colin Ford) and to remind his daughter Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) that the world is still joyful.

The script takes some liberties with its adaptation of Benjamin Mee's British memoir (Mee actually bought the zoo before his wife died) and the narrative drifts unsuccessfully between comical holiday-film fare (oh my, a box of snakes has been left unlatched!) and an exploration of the tensions of a family in mourning.

Damon is so damn likeable that you could forgive most of the film's fumblings but it remains in first gear, never quite able to take off despite the audience's willingness to go there.

Scarlett Johansson feels underused in her role as zookeeper Kelly, and spends the film offering stern advice while Crowe tries to keep her sensuality under wraps by having her schlepp around in gumboots and spouting animal facts. Almost all the minor characters are cartoonishly depicted and instead of bringing verve to the film, provide only cringeworthy distractions.

Thomas Haden Church brings some vigour to the proceedings as scurrilous rogue and older brother Duncan, and the adorable factor is pushed into overdrive by the child actors, in particular Elizabeth Jones who has snagged the cutest kid ever award from Jerry Maguire's fact-spitting Ray.

We Bought a Zoo is fine; it just could've been so much better.

Your Reviews

Cooking. Mama

Really good ! Balanced with sad and funny moments!

Awesome Girl

It was great, best movie ever... people should see this! Number 1

Kelsey

Love, Love, Loved It! Very Enjoyabe, great storytine and fantastic actors too. Can't wait to see this again when it comes out on DVD!

my friend and i went to see this movie (both 16) and genuinely loved it, the characters are likeable, and there are plenty of funny moments, but just enough sad. this movie is perfect holiday viewing, definitely recommend it to anyone

Pebbles

I think this move was a real let down, it wasnt as good as i expected it.

small girl

well my friend and i saw this movie and we loved it we reckon it is a great film because it has love sadness happyness and more i as an 11 year old would recomend this movie

Chris

Listen to the audiobook "We bought a Zoo" prior to watching the movie. Amazing!!!

Lyndon Okeefe

Considering it is true story it was very enjoyable to watch.

Sue

Went to this film with my 14 year old niece Expecting it to be mind numbingly boring Well wasn't I blown away It had tears from her mother and father as well as us I was expecting it to bre aimed at a younger audiance Definitely one for the young adults We will be buying this once it come onto DVD Gets 4 & 1/2

Ken

Took the kids 7, 8, and 11 we all loved it

Bob

Dale was too kind, this is rubbish and it is sad to see Matt lower his standards.

Father of 2 girls

I thought the movie was great and so did my girls. I won't be giving Dale's reviews any consideration in the future. You need to lighten up, the movie is aimed at families that want fun entertainment .

Caz

This movie was my daughter's choice and it was very unexpectedly good. Matt is the core and the story is really nice. A lovely family movie that is low-key and interesting the whole way through. Thank goodness it's not Disney - no over the top nonsense and no obligatory moral message. Children under 10 won't "get" it. Very well cast, especially the children.

Yvette

My daughter and I really enjoyed this movie, It was sad, poignant at times and had a happy ending that was deserved by the family. Would see it again (and will know to shut my eyes for the snakes). Only criticism was it was a bit slow, but worth the watch for sure...

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