This is one of those movies that throws in a couple of curse words so it can get a PG rating -- not to keep the kids away, but to make adults think it's a movie aimed at them and not children. Truth is, it really is a movie all can enjoy, curse words be damned! Really, would you take a date or a buddy GG, BB,. BG to a G movie? No, you'd take your kids. So, since a couple of curse words were thrown in for marketing purposes, prepare your children and go see this sweet, wholesome, funny, touchy feely movie.
We seem to be having a rash of widower movies lately (Descendants (2011), Grace is Gone (2007) ignored by award shows, but as moving and worthy, if not more so, than Descendants) TV's The Mentalist and Castle). This widower, Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) finds it difficult to move forward with his life after the death of his perfect wife. Buying a house and zoo on a large plot of idyllic countryside seems to be an inspiring place for him and his two children to get a start fresh. The pressure is if the Mee family doesn't buy this ramshackled, destitute enterprise, all the animals 'will be gone,' meaning killed. Though based on a true story, we all must suspend our disbelief in this regard since we all know when a zoo closes, the animals are relocated to other zoos. Also, we never really get a complete tour of the grounds and inhabitants, but throughout the film, we see soulful close ups of an endless array of creatures, more than even on-board Noah's Ark, certainly more than could be maintained by a small staff in a home-run zoo (Mee's actual zoo holds 200). No matter. The important thing is that being in the presence of animals is healing and joyous. Helping them to have perfect homes, though not actually the wild, is spiritually enriching. And, damned, they're all so cute!
Of course, Benjamin, his embittered son Dylan (Colin Ford), and angelic daughter Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones), have to go through their individual stages of grief, helped by conservative, dream-dashing brother Duncan (Thomas Haden Church) and what seems like Snow White and 7 Seven Dwarves -- Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) and the rest of the zoo staff. Kelly is supposed to be a woman who has no social skills and is. therefore, alone. This, of course, makes her available for Benjamin. But I do find this casting choice a stretch for the voluptuous, outgoing Johansson. Perhaps a better choice would have been Kristen Wiig, Chloe Sevigny or Zooey Deschanel, all capable of playing awkward and under socialized, and are of a more appropriate age.
This is one of those films I swallow whole, being an avid (rabid) animal lover fortunately allowed to have one small dog in the middle of the city, but who dreams of living among and improving the plight of animals. The last film that affected my similarly was 'Hotel for Dogs' (2009), also ridiculously rated PG. Check my review -- about 1/4 of the way down the, and it's a big page.
'We Bought a Zoo' is a feel good fantasy which came true for author and zookeeper, Benjamin Mee (in a much larger scale than depicted here). If you're not able to buy your own zoo, you can volunteer at one or pursue a career in environmentalism or animal husbandry or zoo keeping, and you might just be able to be open yourself to a new love, help your children find happiness and emotional stability, and find material for your own memoir.
We Bought a Zoo
Director: Cameron Crowe
Writer: Aline Brosh McKenna, Cameron Crowe from the book by Benjamin Mee
Cast: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Angus Macfadyen, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit, John Michael Higgins
Time: 124 min.
Rating: PG
Opening December 23 at the AMC Metreon, AMC Van Ness, and Balboa Twin
in San Francisco
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