We Bought a Zoo Reviews

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this flick but since I always had a weak spot for Cameron Crowe’s work and since there was a pretty cool cast, I still wanted to check it out. Well, first of all, I have to admit it, it was definitely a cute concept and the whole thing was definitely cute as well but, I’m afraid that was pretty much everything this movie had to offer. I mean, it was just terribly predictable : from the very start, you know Matt Damon will buy a zoo, you know it will seem as if they are heading towards disaster but you know also that, at the end, everything will be fine. Since you already know all this, how do you manage to still make an entertaining movie? Well, in my opinion, you should either provide some really intriguing characters and/or have them going through some really interesting/entertaining events through this adventure. Well, that was the main issue basically. I mean, the actors were not bad at all and managed to portray some really nice people but I really had a hard time to care about what they were going through and the plot was just a succession of obligatory scenes just to move on towards the predictable happy-ending. Eventually, Cameron Crowe took a break of 6 years after ‘Elizabethtown’ before making this and you wonder if this movie was actually an improvement. Still, it remains a decent watch, the actors were likable, it was definitely a cute movie and I guess it is worth a look but don’t expect anything really amazing.

We bought a zoo is an impressive story based on true event. It may also be tagged as we bought the dream, it is story of fight of a father to take out his kids out of the shock of the death of their mother. In order to escape from the memories of his dead wife he took his father to a new home, that is infact a zoo that needs to be revived to become a public zoo again. A good movie to watch.

First off, We Bought A Zoo features Matt Damon as a father in a heartwarming film purely for families, which is something that doesn’t appear very often. Nevertheless, the title We Bought A Zoo already reveals that it is going to be genuinely cute and dazzling to watch, and does already have a target audience. In addition, the film is an American adaptation from a British novel that’s originally based on a true story about real British zoo Dartmoore Zoological Park. Quite frankly, what you see in We Bought A Zoo is exactly what you get as it’s a film with pure beauty behind it with cute characters and takes you on a great family adventure.


We Bought A Zoo has become director Cameron Crowe’s ninth feature film and has perhaps been his biggest hit since Vanilla Sky in 2001 or even Almost Famous in 2000. Crowe whisks us into a journey that is genuinely entering from the normal suburban American life into the enchanting and magical world of natural wildlife. We, the viewers, are there in the film experiencing the heartwarming but emotional chemistry between the animals and the humans. So, considering that Crowe has given us mixtures of drama, comedy and romance in his films over the years, he successfully prevails providing all of those emotional aspects within We Bought A Zoo. In addition, he adds the warmth and heart-melting family genre to his filmography.


Although he is notably known as Jason Bourne and has starred in some action hits over the years, Matt Damon’s performance doesn’t only show exactly how good he still in dramas but also exposes a new style of acting that we don’t usually see from Damon. Considering that Damon is a total miscast for Benjamin Mee in terms of physical appearance, he provides a very heartfelt and genuine performance. We usually see the emotional and soft nature of a single mother, so we see a tender and struggling father trying the best for his children. So, seeing Damon in this role may be an inaccurate portrayal regarding appearance, he emotionally defines how an emotionally confused parent behaves and interprets the struggles to move on.


Scarlett Johansson has always been easy on the eyes throughout every film that she has been part of, and she successfully pulls off another great performance as head keeper Kelly, Mee’s new love interest. Johansson’s beauty mixes gracefully with the innocence of animals and the bloom of the countryside. Thomas Haden Church portrays his best supporting role since his Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Sideways, as Benjamin’s older brother Duncan. After her breakthrough role in J.J. Abrams’ Super 8 Elle Fanning makes a crucial appearance in the film too as Lily Miska. In We Bought A Zoo, Fanning illustrates the normal behaviour of someone at her age: a teenager whose experiencing her first love. In addition, Colin Ford delivers a great performance as Benjamin’s troublesome son, Dylan, who represents the opposing nature of a teenager. Lastly, stuck in the middle is little Maggie Elizabeth Jones who perfectly defines the emotional connection with animals!


Overall, We Bought A Zoo is a genuinely heartfelt motion picture that is easily verified as the feel-good film of 2011. You might not have to be a fan of Matt Damon to enjoy this but it slightly renovates the warmth and inspiration that we saw from It’s A Wonderful Life many years ago. So, We Bought A Zoo really is a film that one just needs to watch and appreciate for what it is – a family heartwarmer that’ll make you smile and maybe even lead you to a few tears.

I know that I am an admitted lover of movies of this type but this one was one that did not disappoint. Cameron Crowe has a masterpiece of current films. He selected a great cast with with the story line to go with them. Scarlett played a role that created her as one of the best in the business today. We have seen her play all types of roles but this one was one that you could see her an ordinary lady with a big heart. Matt plays a role that I do not believe can be recreated. It is so real and raw. The role that stole the show was Rosie played by Maggie Jones. She made the movie.

It was a film that one minute you would cry and next you would be laughing. I know people go to movies to get away from life a a while but this put reality right in your face. You will enjoy every minute of it. We have been given two of these movies this year. Dolphin Tale and We Bought a Zoo. I think this movie was better than dolphin Tale and makes you believe that it only takes 20 seconds of courage to succeed. It is easy to believe anything is possible in life. Thanks to the cast and director for a great movie.

Cameron Crowe is good at one thing and that is making the audience that watches his films feel emotion. Vanilla Sky, Elizabethtown, and Jerry Maguire are all perfect examples of this. Fortunately, We Bought A Zoo follows in this line of succession and Cameron Crowe reminds us once more why his films are worth waiting for.

The film is based on a true story as well as a novel written by the main character of the film Benjamin Mee, who is played by the delightful Matt Damon. Benjamin is struggling with the recent loss of his beloved wife Katherine (Stephanie Szostak) and to make matters worse his son Dylan (Colin Ford) was expelled from school for stealing. So Ben courageously decides to pack his bags and kids, and look for something new.
Can we really blame the guy? I would want a fresh start too. So when looking for new homes nothing really quite stands out to Ben, until they get to one house and the realtor (JB Smoove) isn’t fourth coming about why the place is “complicated”. One could ponder why in the world a zoo is for sale through a plain jane real-estate company as well. Either way it didn’t stop Bejamin Mee from picking up the hammer and doing something good for the heck of it now did it?
We Bought A Zoo is funny, heartfelt, and is a good example of damn good storytelling. There are many times in the film that will make you want to question Ben’s logic and his Brother Duncan (Thomas Haden Church) won’t blame you.
However, all Zoos must have a staff and this one is a little short, but they make pretty good on their own. Scarlett Johansson is the lead Zookeeper Kelly Foster; she knows the animals and the staff like they are her own siblings.
Needless to say that Kelly isn’t alone with the Zoo keeping duties. Her team consists of the maintenance Guy Peter Macready (Angus MacFadyen), Robin (Patrick Fugit) who ceases to be seen without a monkey on his shoulders, and Rhonda (Carla Gallo) the financial assistant. Elle Fanning plays Lily who also helps out with things around the Zoo, but is here mainly as a love interest for Dylan’s sake.
The acting is superb from all the major players involved and is another reason why We Bought A Zoo is a worthwhile film. The movie plain and simply has a heart, it also isn’t afraid to ask questions. The most common of them throughout the whole film and Kelly says it for us all is “why”.
We Bought A Zoo not only answers all the questions it presents us, but it tells a good story and I think it is something that shouldn’t be missed. I also think that if you have never seen a film by Cameron Crowe that you are in for a real treat.

A father moves his family to the English countryside to own and operate a zoo.