We Bought A Zoo (review)

This is one of the sweetest, most charming films you could ever watch. It's is one of many heart-warming based-on-a-true-story films but the premise of it is just that little bit quirky, making it stand out.

Director: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson
Running Time: 124 minutes
Rating: PG
Genre: Family/Drama

We Bought A Zoo is, not surprisingly, about a family who buys a new house that happens to be attached to a zoo. Matt Damon plays the lead, Benjamin Mee, a man whose wife died 6 months previously. In an attempt to start a new life, Benjamin moves his kids to a run-down zoo and, despite knowing nothing of zoo keeping, helps the zoo staff refurbish the zoo so it can open in the summer.

As with movies of its type, this if filled with plenty of comedic moments, wonderful and loveable characters, and of course a love story or two. And good music. In fact it won an award for its score, composed by Jon Thor Birgisson, at the BMI Film & TV Awards.

I'll admit that I was a little surprised that this movie ran for 2 hours, but once you get into it, the time flies. it helps that there are so many characters who are focused on in the film. This was a good thing for the movie because depending on your age it meant you had either Benjamin and his situation to focus on, or the two kids, Dylan and Rosie, and their situation. Or a plethora of other supporting cast to identify with.

One of the foundations of the film which was done very nicely was the relationship between father and son, Benjamin and Dylan. It was arguably the forefront relationship explored and it showed really well the effects that grief, and assumptions and a lack of communication can have on a relationship. The actor who played Dylan, Colin Ford (who I knew from the Supernatural series), did a wonderful job. For someone who would have been only 14 or 15 at the time, he did a fabulous job at a role that is actually quite emotionally intense at times.



On a similar note, the other younger actors all did fabulously too, and of course, all of the cast. In a movie like this which is very much about the relationships between people and the mood that creates, you need a good cast and everyone meshed really well on this. Scarlett Johansson played the main female opposite Matt Damon and I thought she was perfect for it. I read on IMDB that they had considered other actors as well but I thought she bought a realness and down to earth feel to the character that others may not have.

If you are looking for an enjoyable family movie or just something charming to watch by yourself, I would highly recommend this film. Enjoyable from the start and right the way through. You are very much invested in the characters quest to fix up their zoo, following their journey with them and getting tied up in all the emotions.

My Rating

Until next time.