We Bought a Zoo (2011)

Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) is a former adventure journalist whose family - consisting of obligatory cute, precocious 7-year-old daughter Rosie (Maggie Elizabth Jones) and obligatory moody, confrontational teenage son Dylan (Colin Ford) - has been in a funk ever since his perfect, pure-as-the-driven snow wife Katherine died. Deciding that a move to a new house is the means of snapping them out of it, Mee discovers a property that seems perfect, only to then be informed that it is in fact a zoo - a dilapidated zoo that is forecasted to close unless someone purchases and refurbishes it. Initially discouraged, he elects to buy the property anyway after he observes what a shine Rosie takes to it. Will the family be able to refurbish the zoo in time for its grand reopening? Will Benjamin and Dylan reconcile with each other? Will Benjamin enter a new romantic relationship with the attractive divorced female zookeeper (Scarlett Johansson) who runs the zoo?Gee, what do you think?'We Bought a Zoo' is a fluffy, amiable, inoffensive film, but there's no getting around the fact that it's incredibly, incredibly schematic. There's no plot development that you can't see coming from a mile away, no dilemma that isn't solved by a convenient contrivance, and little dialogue that isn't trite. (At one point, prior to the move, when Rosie can't sleep due to the next-door neighbors having a party, she declares: "Their happy's too loud."). Hell, there's even a "villain" in the form of Walter Ferris (John Michael Higgins), a snooty, "evil" zoo inspector who swaggers around, looking down his nose at Benjamin, and threatens to close the zoo unless every square inch of it complies with draconian regulations. (Walter Ferris joins the likes of Principal Edward Rooney from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', and Walter Peck from 'Ghostbusters', as an example of a character who is framed as a "villain" simply by virtue of doing his damn job!).If it's a rainy afternoon, you're feeling depressed, and you just want some generic, no-frills, Hollywood feel-good comfort food, then 'We Bought a Zoo' actually works quite well. I'll be the first to say that there is, in fact, nothing inherently wrong with such a movie. But if you're in any way jaded or cynical, or in any way a connoisseur, then 'We Bought a Zoo' is liable to make you roll your eyes hard.

It's a decent family movie unless you expect something out of ordinary in a family movie. I loved its kind-of unusual theme, with beautiful views and animals. Matt Damon is great, the kids are cute and Scarlett is gorgeous.For me it was a great way to lose myself into a fantasy tale, forgetting everything around me for 2 hours and enjoy the kind of life I always dream for myself, but can never get my hands on. The complications and the solutions might not seem real, but then again it's a family comedy with a touch of fantasy, not a drama or a documentary. So don't have your hopes high, that you will watch an incredibly accurate movie which will inspire you through every step of your life; and you will be fine.

Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) moves his family to an unusual home - a zoo. A journey of personal discovery ensues.Good, but not great, light-drama from Cameron Crowe. No frills plot, based more around characters than story. Story is sweet, almost Disneyish. However, does feel a bit trite and unoriginal at times and doesn't really provide a profound conclusion. This said, this movie is more about the journey than the destination.Solid performances from Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church and the supporting cast.Excellent soundtrack, as you would expect from Cameron Crowe.

This was a pleasant movie based on a true story about a writer and his children who move to a country house and buy a house-along with a zoo that comes along with it! Matt Damon plays a writer who loves an adventure whose wife has just died and whose son has just been expelled from school. The new house they buy comes along with a zoo, and they get a tour of it from the "owners." I loved the animals in it, and my favorite scenes in it include the inspection and when the bear escapes. I loved the bear, the tiger, and all the other animals in it as well as the trivia shared in it about the animals.This is a pleasant enough family movie, and you will really enjoy this.*** out of ****