We Bought A Zoo (2011)

Director: Cameron Crowe

Writer: Aline Brosh Mckenna, Cameron Crowe

Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Angus Macfadyen, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit

Story Benjamin Mee (Damon) a widower and father of two Dylan (Ford) and Rosie (Elizabeth Jones), decides to move his family out of the city and into the countryside. Benjamin finds the dream place, but it has a small catch, it comes with a zoo. Benjamin goes against his brother Duncan’s (Haden Church) advice and buys the zoo.

The zoo has its own zookeeper Kelly (Johansson) and staff in MacCready (Macfadyen), Robin (Fugit) and young Lily (Fanning). Benjamin must team up with the expects to bring the zoo back up to scratch for a summer opening. What follows in a family growing back together and an all round family film.

The Team

Verdict Being based on a true story of a family’s success story you know ending is going to be a happy one. Every single member of the cast puts in a strong performance.  As for family films this is one of the best of the year having something for everyone to enjoy. I would suggest to anybody who is into over coming hard situation and zoo themed films would enjoy this.

Story Mark 9/10 Great story

Character Development Mark 9/10 Watching the Mee family get closer as the story unfolds.

Friendship Chemistry Mark 9/10 The friends together at the start are very close and their bound comes through to make the success happen.

Kelly

Star Performances The whole cast gives great performances all the way through.

Favourite Character Duncan Mee the brother who tries to advice against everything Benjamin does in a very amusing way.

Best Part When Benjamin finds the escaped bear.

Worst Part When Benjamin has to make his mind up about one of the tigers.

Benjamin Mee

Best Quote Benjamin ‘ You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.’

My Rating 83%


Trailer