newsarvan

(2013-05-16 09:11:45)

Simply a family movie

We bought a zoo as title suggests is ought to give you an experience ofsharing a day with family in your childhood. Adorable little Rose Mee, the animals, Peacocks will definitely put asmile on your face. Matt Damon & rest of the cast have done their partswell. The reason you should go watch this movie or why I liked it is becausewe find very few simple stories these days. A fictional novelty likeInception and an outer life experience in Avatar surely are the filmswhich capture your imagination in this age of cinema.But there is always a story with normal family struggles, life, humans,animals (in this case) and a simplicity. Keeping it simple yet charmingI feel is a very tough tough task and this one does both well. There might be technical imperfections or talks over Crowe's previousworks but I feel every movie is a different experience and this oneleaves you with a smile. ClichГѓВ© for a family dramas but we all love itand director strikes a right cord in holiday season.I read a review where one said "I am glad we came".

Quietb-1

(2013-05-15 15:38:25)

Wee bought the zoo.

Cameron Crowe is a excellent writer and director especially whenchildren are involved. Here he has created a family friendly movie withpeople and animals. Based on a true story of the Wee family that tookplace in England this is set in California.Matt Damon carries the movie and makes it work. They tried to dull downthe look of Scarlett Johansson, but her beauty showed through. The kidswere all good. The latest Fanning sister seemed a bit giddy.Crowe, as always, uses perfect music to enhance the mood. Perhaps the film didn't need the last diner scene with the deceasedwife. While there is family conflict and a sad aging animal issue, it'sa feel good movie that works and entertains.

estebangonzalez10

(2013-05-14 01:51:12)

Cameron Crowe delivers once again!

¨You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage.Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And Ipromise you, something great will come of it.¨ 2011 brought us somesurprisingly great family films such as The Muppets and Dolphin Tale,but I think Cameron Crowe just won me over for the best one of the yearwith We Bought a Zoo. I'm a huge Crowe fan and have loved most of hisfilms (I even loved Elizabethtown and am not ashamed of admitting itdespite being hated by nearly every critic), especially Almost Famousand Jerry Maguire. I think this film is up to par with his best workdespite being over sentimental at times. I think that what I like bestabout Crowe's films are his dialogues. I think he's a good writer andhe creates some interesting characters. He usually writes his ownstories for his films, although this time he based it on a true storyand adapted the screenplay from Benjamin Mee's biography, but he stillshould receive credit for his adaptation. The story isn't the onlything that works, a lot of credit has to be given to Matt Damon for hisperformance in the lead role and to the rest of the supporting cast.Scarlett Johansson had strong chemistry with Damon and her performancefelt believable, Maggie Elizabeth Jones was cuter than any othercharacter on screen this year, Elle Fanning is almost as amazing as shewas in Super 8 (she's turning into my favorite young actress along withChloe Grace Moretz), while Thomas Haden Church, John Higgins, and AngusMacfadyen provided most of the laughs in the movie. Colin Ford had toplay kind of the rebellious teen son and he did a decent job althoughhe perhaps had the least interesting character. The animals also play ahuge part in the overall effectiveness of the film.The film is based on a true story about a father named Benjamin Mee(Matt Damon) who after losing his wife has to raise his two children onhis own in Southern California. His fourteen year old son, Dylan (ColinFord, a young Bon Jovi lookalike) is going through a very dark time andis having trouble at school. He ends up being expelled for stealingsome money and for painting a very dark mural. His seven year olddaughter, Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) is a lot closer to her fatherand is cuter than any other girl her age. She is sweet and alwayssmiling, a complete contrast to Dylan. Benjamin becomes tired of thecity life and quits his job as a journalist and decides to buy a newhome in the countryside. This new home is big, has lots of space, butit comes with one special responsibility: it is a zoo. Benjamin decidesit's time to begin a new adventure and decides to repair the zoo intime to open it for the public in the summer. The zoo is pretty muchabandoned, but with the help of a few workers left Benjamin beginsputting his life savings into it in order to restore it in time beforethe next inspection. Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson) has worked atthe zoo for several years and becomes his right hand helper, along withPeter (Angus Macfadyen), Robin (Patrick Fugit), and her thirteen yearold niece Lily (Elle Fanning). Benjamin's accountant brother Duncan(Thomas Haden Church) warns him about the financial risks involved, buthe decides to go with his heart and live a new adventure.If you've seen a Cameron Crowe film before then you know this won'tjust be a family film. Crowe loves music and he always includes somereally great soundtracks in his stories. He also manages to include oneor two dialogues based on music. He makes a reference to Dylan beingnamed after the great Bob Dylan, but later we realize he was reallynamed Dylan for his dog. Just like the Crowe humor isn't missing here,the romantic stories aren't left out either. Crowe is a romantic atheart. We've seen some of the most famous romantic lines in movies likeJerry Maguire, such as ¨you had me at hello,¨ but here he also includesa few lines that will be memorable like the ¨twenty seconds of insanecourage¨ one. The film is really worth a watch, it is for everyone, ithas a love story, several funny scenes, an inspiring story, and severalcute animals. Adults and children will enjoy this film alike. I wassurprised to hear the characters in which this film was based actuallyhad a cameo near the end of the movie. The real Benjamin and his twochildren were the first in line to climb the fallen tree in order toreach the zoo. Matt Damon is such a reliable actor; he has had a greatyear, but the true heart of the film here relies on the cuteness ofElle Fanning, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, and the animals. Yes this filmmight be over sentimental and cheesy at times, but it's so cute thatit's hard to resist.http://estebueno10.blogspot.com

secondtake

(2013-05-13 03:43:00)

Warm, uncomplicated, alternating between true emotion and pushy sentiment

We Bought a Zoo (2011)A linear, broken-family, feel good, nicely made story--which so faralso describes the recent George Clooney movie "The Descendants"--abouta zoo. That's the hook here, the zoo and the animals on both sides ofthe fence at what is really a unique small rural animal park inCalifornia.When everyone acts with such charm and realism and the cast is filledwith quirky lovable characters, you can't go wrong. And Cameron Croweis of course an expert movie-maker, more admired for his writing thanhis directing but a mainstream success in both worlds--and he is bothhere, with co-writer Aline McKenna. Matt Damon is most convincing and unaffected I've ever seen him--hetends to have roles that have slightly off-kilter personas, as in "TheTalented Mr. Ripley" or all the Bourne movies, where he is more machinethan man. Here he is the warm, understanding, only slightly flawedfather of two, and a recent widower. The other large force here, and I say that tenderly, is ScarlettJohansson, who is the most unaffected I've ever seen her--thinking nowof "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" and scintillating roles in WoodyAllen movies. If Damon is spot on and steady, Johansson outdoes him inher more sporadic screen-time, and she's beautifully astonishing atbeing an ordinary girl, which she probably is not anymore than Damon isan ordinary guy.I'm delaying the down side because the movie is so warm andwell-intended. But boy does it barrel into straight up sentimentalmanipulation, even at one point becoming a kind of several minutecinematic detour as the dad sits and dreams of his former life beforelosing his wife. It's meant to be beautiful and emotional, and youmight cry against your better wishes, but it's so unnecessary and in away beside the point.But that depends what you want from the movie. Certainly the hook andline and sinker in the promos is that this bereft family buys a brokendown zoo and the adventure begins, and this (with all the animal roles)is where I bought in myself. But a full half of the movie is how thefamily deals (as in "The Descendants") with losing Mom. And of coursemom, by now in their memories, is a perfect and too-beautiful paradigmthat must sometimes be true but again is unnecessarily idealized. Thisis the soft, tear-drenched wedge in an otherwise terrific straight uptrue-life story. Would I recommend this? Absolutely, for the acting and the zoo storyline, but without expecting a masterpiece.For a brief explanation of the actual zoo and family this is based onsee the Wiki entry--mainly to note that the real zoo was and is inEngland, and that the real Mr. Mee bought it with his wife and she diedafter they had moved in. Or type the title in the search box atsheknows.com.Makes you want to visit, for sure!

Plumsec

(2013-05-13 03:23:58)

It is a feel good movie and nothing else

After seeing the rating on here; I was mildly excited to see this moviein the theater. After about 5 minutes, I saw what kind of movie thiswas and was disappointed in the IMDb community. Don't get me wrong,This is a good family movie to take the kids, But it is astraightforward Hollywood feel good movie and thats it.You can call where everything is going in the first 5 minutes.Everything wrong is presented to you, and everything is fixed by theend. No hiccups. Bloody drawing? The child must be so troubled. You canguess what kind of drawing they were in the end. No Love interest,Guess what? that changes to. No money? O what do you know, Your deadwife left you 80k, isn't that nice?It literally goes out of its way to make it feel so good. Snakes escapethe night before and they all gather around the front of the house. Thelittle girl talks like a 20 year old for the most part, and has perfecthandwriting, yet her J is backwards. Isn't that cute? I would continuebut you see where this is going. It gets worse the more I think about it. I will never watch this movieagain.

darkness_visible

(2013-05-12 18:52:04)

Diabetic Coma: The Movie

You know how delicious it is when you take 10 pounds of sugar, mix itwith a bucket of melted chocolate then swirl in 20 tins of condensedmilk and eat the whole lot washed down with gallon after gallon of highfructose corn syrup? - when you've finished you're thinking "Mmmm, thatwas so refreshing, but what I really fancy now is something SWEET -what's for dessert?" Take that experience, slap a label on it, andyou've got "We Bought A Zoo". If there were a Scoville scale forsweetness, this would be the ghost chili of movies. A charm offenciveis one thing, but an all out sadistically calculated ATTACK ofaggressive adorableness is quite another. All of the cast were adorableand gorgeous, and conveniently paired up with equally adorable andgorgeous cast members of the opposite sex about the same age - well,the little girl was paired up with some peacock chicks instead of alittle boy, but you get the idea. Just when you thought it couldn't getany more sweet Cameron Crowe contrived some newer more evilly sweetsituation and injected it directly into your eyes for maximal sensationof sweetness. To be fair, there were two moments of glimmering hope,when a bear got loose and then they couldn't shut the lion's den door -but instead of having the animals run around and eat all of the cast,they just had them walk up and down a bit looking proud and noble.Seeing the performance that was elicited from adorable "villain" JohnMichael Higgins I suddenly realised what Crowe's next directing projectshould be - Christmas Pantomime on Blackpool Pier - I think he woulddraw out a sensational performance from Widow Twanky, or Buttons orwhoever - in fact the only thing missing from WBAZ were subtitledaudience instructions to shout "Boo-Hiss" or "He's behind you!". But ifyou find yourself right now salivating at the thought of peppermintcream mixed with caramel, strawberry syrup, white chocolate, agave andconcentrated honey extract then get right over to your local multiplexand watch We Bought A Zoo - your lust for sweetness shall soon beslaked!

sahlawi

(2013-05-12 15:39:33)

Scarlett Johansson finally did act

Since 2002, I did not see Scarlett act, and 9 years later she deliveredthis, which is not as good as her acting in Lost in translation, butdefiantly getting better. Matt Damon was superb, as always! I cant sayno more when it comes to Damon. Also, Thomas Haden, who played Damon'sbrother in the movie, added a nice comedy touch to the movie and madeyou smile several times. Maggie Elizabeth Jones, who played thedaughter, was surprisingly good as well. Am always impressed when I seeyoung actors/actress perform so well.As I read the book, I think it was pretty good, they tried to capturemost of what happened and focused on the most important and touchingevents. What I didn't like in the movie was the how some the music thatwas playing on some scenes did cut off and start without blending it tothe scene before or after, this thing did sometimes bother me.

slohrba

(2013-05-12 05:25:54)

Better movie than expected!

I rented this movie for a Friday night movie date with my husband. Fromthe advertisements, I wasn't sure what to expect other than some familyissues, sadness, and some cheesy moments. What we experienced was anemotional roller coaster ride. The movie actually demonstrated howdifferent people cope with a loved one's death quite accurately -everyone reacts differently. Having recently lost a good friend tobreast cancer at the young age of 33, and since I have two youngchildren of my own, I'm sure that pulled at my heartstrings in a waythat it might not in other people. But I thought the actors & actressesdid a great job in this movie, and I was truly excited to see if thezoo would succeed or not in the end. This movie is totally worthwatching, and I would watch it again.

soumer-mariem

(2013-05-11 04:48:40)

surprisingly moving, humanly touching and incredibly honest

I went into this film with low expectations, honestly I thought: whatcould be special about it? it's just a story about a zoo. well I waspleasantly surprised. As a matter of fact, it is ,in no case, just apointless film about a guy who buys a zoo. It is a movie about life,about family, and human connections. it is about a father who isattempting to start over after his wife passed away, a father who isdoing everything he could to keep his family together after anunfortunate tragedy set them apart. it is about a brave man who savesthe animals and ends up being saved by them in return. it is amagnificent film featuring great performances from both Matt Damon andScarlett Johansson and led by such a wonderful soundtrack. what reallyand instantly draw me in in this film is its undeniable honesty. I waswatching it and thinking : that could happen to anyone and when he/sheleast expects it. It's a journey anyone should experience , because bythe end of the day, we come to the realization that we are all lookingfor the same thing that is true joy. isn't that what life is all about? finding true joy ?

tk4101

(2013-05-10 10:01:51)

cute movie but a little disappointed

The movie started out sweet. The little girl is adorable, but why thecurse words. You ruined it for children. You would think that a zoomovie would be perfect to watch with your kids until the kid in themovie starts cursing. Really? YOU COULDN'T DO WITHOUT THOSE NASTYWORDS. Did you think a few curse words were going to add to theexcitement. I'm sorry, in my home we don't use that kind of languageand I'm sorry, I wouldn't find the rating before I watched it. Thanksbut no thanks that totally ruined it for me. I hope in the future, youthink of us parents who still prefer to keep our children innocent.Beware parents with children.

potato2

(2013-05-07 15:05:23)

Sentimental tale

Matt Damon stars as a recent widower and father who decides his familyneeds a big change to help them deal with their grief. He buys arun-down private zoo and, with the help of the zookeeper (ScarlettJohansson), brings it and his family back to life.If you like Damon and Johansson, you'll like this movie. They're not myfavorites, however, so I found them a bit annoying and their charactersidealized and unbelievable. The romantic tension between them takes upmost of the story, which I felt was rushing things for a man whosebeloved wife died only six months earlier. The little girl who playsthe daughter is way too precocious to be believed; she never acts likea 7-year old but speaks with the wisdom and maturity of a 40-year old.Colin Ford, on the other hand, is wonderful as the alienated teenageson. There isn't much interaction or 'awwww-how-cute' moments with theanimals; this story is about the people.Since it's based on a true story, I can appreciate the heart behind it,but still, fixing up the dilapidated zoo did seem rather effortless forDamon's city-slicker character. Although it's predictable andsentimental, the story deals sensitively with human and animal deathand there were few dry eyes in my theatre.

natygance

(2013-05-07 00:41:05)

Wonderful Movie

I know it's a little late, but after seeing this movie only got to 7.2,it makes me feel obliged to let you know how beautiful it is. Frombeginning to end you get a mixture of bitter-sweet feelings, seeing afamily trying to overcome a death by starting from scratch. All thesefeelings portrayed in a tiger (Sparr) and the incredible soundtrack byJonsi,make this a must-see movie. I honestly wasn't expecting much whenI went to see it, and since then I've watched it 3 times. You'll laugh,you'll cry, it's a bit of a clichГѓВ© but it's the truth, at least for me.If you love animals, and people, you'll love this movie. And I'm sure alot of us have lost someone we loved, and struggled with all our beingto get over it, hanging on to the people who loves us and are rightnext to us. It really is a movie filled with hope, and sometimes weneed just that.

unknownwhitemale

(2013-05-03 04:23:44)

Despite It's Flaws, It's Hard Not To Enjoy

While I was far from loving this movie, it had some parts in it that Ireally did like. I like these kind of inspiring dramas, but this onewas a bit too flawed for me to like it as much as I wanted to. CameronCrowe does a good job directing and Matt Damon is also great as always.I really enjoyed the story here and even when the film slowed down abit I still stuck with it. The main problem I have with this movie isit tries to be too much of a Family film when it's already fine the wayit is. There are also moments where the film tries to add humor in asituation where it feels very off and just falls flat. The soncharacter in the film really annoyed me. Not just because he constantlywhines and is pretty much unlikeable, but also because the actor whoportrays him doesn't do a very good job. There's also a romanticsubplot between the son and a younger girl who works at the zoo thatfeels incredibly forced and adds nothing to the film. It could'veeasily been cut out and the film would've actually been better withoutit. Despite it's flaws, the film does have a sort of charm to it thatmakes it hard to dislike. It's a good film that's perfect for viewingwith the family.

napierslogs

(2013-05-02 17:18:33)

Walks the Hollywood line but is sweet, funny and enjoyable

"We Bought a Zoo" is a family movie. And I'm going to make thatdistinction very clear. A children's movie is family friendly but isenjoyed by children and pretty much only children. A family movie isfamily friendly and can be enjoyed by anyone and is meant to be enjoyedby everyone. This film is pretty much the only example that comes tomind and that just proves how rare it is.The reason such an oddball, simple story like a family owning a zooworks on more than just a silly level is because Cameron Crowe is atalented filmmaker who knows story structure. The story here is thatBenjamin Mee (Matt Damon) has just lost his wife to cancer and isstruggling to raise his two children. After problems at school and intheir neighbourhood, they look for a new adventure. His seven year-olddaughter loves it (of course!) and her many excited exclamationsprovide the movie's title. It's also based on a true story.The comedy is of a sweet nature rather than animal silliness (as onemight expect) or screwball annoyances. It gets dramatic as we examinethe father-son relationship and with the life-changing decisions thatcome after you buy a zoo. I really was on the edge of my seat hopingthe zoo would be a success. Normally one wouldn't question that, butCrowe has the ability to write smart movies. Here, however, he has aless talented co-screenwriter and the story never did go as far orreach the inventive heights as I had hoped. It was still good but itwalked the line that Hollywood has drawn.One of my reasons for watching this was Thomas Haden Church, but I haveno idea why they insisted on giving him the worst, cloying lines withnothing else of value. At least John Michael Higgins is consistentlyfunny in supporting roles. Despite the attractiveness and star power ofDamon and Scarlett Johansson, young Maggie Elizabeth Jones was thehighlight. Her uninhibited joy and pure need for innocence is what madethis so enjoyable.

jsharma

(2013-05-01 20:23:19)

adorable

Director Cameron Crowe did a good job ( Jerry Mcguire was terrific).Matt Damon as Benjamin Mee, recent widower, father of 2 kids, 7 yr oldRosie (very cute Maggie Elizabeth Jones) and 14 yr old Dylan (ColinFord)plays his part very convincingly. Scarlett Johansson as KellyFoster the official zoo keeper is very professional and of course,beautiful as always. Elle Fanning (Dakota fanning's younger sister)plays the role of Kelly's niece. Thomas Haden Church as Matt Damon'solder brother is OK ( liked his role in Sideways). This movie may notbe of same tier as Jerry Mcguire but We bought a zoo is very pleasant,realistic and measures well with my happiness index for seeing a nicemovie (hopefully even by Inspector of Zoo Walter Ferris played by JohnMichael Higgins tape measures). The entire star cast was good.

Stskyshaker

(2013-05-01 10:32:57)

Flawed and fabulous

I almost missed We Brought a Zoo. Its poster looks like the wrapping ofa white chocolate. My friends picked the movie, and walking into thetheater I didn't even know Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson were init.I was pleasantly surprised. The pair's charming performance (along witha strong supporting cast) makes the somewhat far-fetched story comealive. And a mesmerizing score by Icelandic musician, Jonsi, creates anabsorbing ambiance to help it hit all the sweet spots.Some of the relationships are underdeveloped, and the plot is somewhatmanipulative and does feel fluffy at times, but sometimes some moviesare just heartfelt enough for you to ignore their flaws and willinglybuy into the premise. I am glad to call We Bought a Zoo one of thesemovies. It might not work well for the skeptical eyes, but it wouldcertainly be a delicious experience, both visually and acoustically,for those who walk in with open minds.

bdgill12

(2013-05-01 13:21:18)

Some GREAT, Real Moments Wrapped Up in a Family-Friendly, Candy Shell

I think making a family-friendly movie that is also significant is oneof the harder tasks a filmmaker can undertake. Making a film thatappeals to a wide range of demographics is difficult enough but whenyou factor in the need to entertain both six and sixty year-olds,you've got a tough task ahead of you. This is why Pixar succeeds everyyear (2011 excluded) whereas Dreamworks is hit or miss, why I'll seeThe Muppets a hundred times but will never again take in BedtimeStories. We Bought a Zoo illustrates these difficulties in somespectacular and truly frustrating ways.Our protagonist is Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon), an adventure writer whorecently became a widower. His daughter, six year-old Rosie (MaggieElizabeth Jones), has handled the loss well but Benjamin is constantlyat odds with his son, 14 year-old Dylan (Colin Ford). When Dylanfinally gets himself expelled from school, Benjamin decides it's timefor a change and after an exhausting search for a new house, he finallyfinds the perfect home. The only problem is that the property comesalong with a small zoo, including 47 species of animals and a crew ofemployees. Despite the obstacles and the advice of his brother (ThomasHaden Church), Benjamin opts to buy the zoo and takes his children offon an adventure that will bring more drama than he could ever dream ofalong with the healing he and his family so badly need.I'm a huge fan of writer/director Cameron Crowe and I readily lookforward to anything and everything that he does. This outing certainlywon't change that feeling but it isn't one of his better works. Simplyput, We Bought a Zoo wants desperately to be both family-friendly andcinematically relevant and that mix just doesn't blend seamlessly.Crowe's usual brand of fresh, casual, and well-versed dialogue ismuddled with predictable clichГѓВ©s. It often borders on becoming cheesyand it is almost always cloying, working extra-hard to force aconnection that isn't always there. There are a number of scenes whichare just fine in terms of post-Christmas feelgoodery but fall flat interms of really mattering. This uneven mix seems to negatively affectsome characters and actors more than others. Ford and John MichaelHiggins (as a zoo inspector) both jump back and forth between good andbad scenes and Elle Fanning, who was so good in this summer's Super 8,doesn't have any feel for her character whatsoever. I think she'ssupposed to be the teenage version of the manic pixie dream girl butinstead she just comes off as an idiot. Add in a will-they-won't-theyromantic relationship between Benjamin and his head zookeeper, Kelly(Scarlett Johansson), that would have been better off left on thecutting room floor and you get a clichГѓВ©-riddled narrative that doesn'tdo much to inspire.When We Bought a Zoo excels is when it gets real. Damon gives a subtle,craftsman-like performance and does an outstanding job of conveying anawful lot about his character in unspoken ways. You genuinely feel forBenjamin and it is the genuine sympathy that Damon elicits that servesas an example of what could have been had the film gone in a differentdirection. Interactions between Benjamin and Dylan and Benjamin andKelly in the second act are powerful, filled with emotion that iswholly appropriate for the situation. There's a story arc involvingBenjamin's relationship with an aging tiger that hits home on a numberof levels. The flip side of this is that these moments are much moretense and dramatic than the family-fun exhibited throughout the rest ofthe film and if Crowe had continued to expound upon these plot points,there's no way We Bought a Zoo would succeed with the kiddos.It should be noted that none of this film's issues are deal breakers.It is funny, entertaining, and totally acceptable family film thatnever allows its flaws to become cringe-worthy or painful. In essence,it is Dolphin Tale and there's nothing wrong with Dolphin Tale. Butwith Crowe, Damon, and a potentially impactful subject matter involved,it could have been better than it is.

Roger D

(2013-04-30 16:06:20)

re: Good, wholesome fun

I don't really see what you could criticize the movie about. This isbased on an actual true story, and what better story than a young,widowed father struggling to support his family, and keeping the kidshappy? The fact that the family ends up purchasing a down and out zoo,and has to make important decisions about their future, as well as thefuture of the animals is the tension that drives the movie.You would expect top-notch acting from Matt Damon and ScarJo, but theyoung kids and other supporting actors were more than able to holdtheir own as well.Not every movie out there has be an Oscar Worthy contender, or dealwith the dark realities of life, or how some perceive life. This was agreat family movie based on real events, and it doesn't pretend to beanything else.

tsettles98

(2013-04-30 16:03:31)

I loved it!

This movie was one hell of a surprise for me! A little while ago, I wasreally looking forward to it since I'm such a fan of Matt Damon and Iadored his most recent movie The Adjustment Bureau. I'm glad this wasmy first advanced screening.Another thing was that I'm probably one of the first people to see thismovie and I'm happy for it! The story was involving and kept me gluedto the screen, the little romances between some of the characters werecute and believable, and most of all, THE LITTLE GIRL! She was so cuteand an incredible actress for her age!The script was phenomenal and the performances were stellar. Thedirection was great (expected considering Cameron Crowe, director ofacclaimed Jerry Maguire) as well. It made me feel very happy and willmost definitely take you out of a dark place if you're in one.Only one gripe was that it was pretty predictable considering thetrailer. But, avoid the trailer if you really want to be in love withthis movie. I still was! Despite having had seen the trailer.I highly recommend it, great Christmas flick! Full 10/10. No, I wasn't involved in this movie at all. Just got a verylucky advanced screening.

julian-mumford

(2013-04-30 08:38:30)

A good family film

Faced with a life changing experience, people often act in ways theyhave not done before. Whether buying an open top sports car, taking upa new hobby or basically just reassessing their lives.Benjamin Me (Damon) is forced to make these choices following thetragic death of his much beloved wife and mother of his two children.Luckily his daughter Rosie Me (Maggie Elizabeth Jones), a seven yearold going on forty, is very supportive. Arguably the cutest movie childever, with screen charisma well beyond her years, she almost actseveryone else off the screen.However, Benjamin's son is another matter. Dylan (Colin Ford) is moody,with cloudy sullen expressions and seemingly just one step away from atrenchcoat and an automatic assault rifle. With the art projects heproduces, it is no wonder he keeps getting expelled from school.Benjamin believes a move would do the family some good, putting somedistance from all the ghosts and the places he and his wife shared.Finally settling on the property of his and Rosie's dreams, there aretwo slight catches.Number one, Dylan considers this banishment to the wilds as tantamountto death. This can be overcome, no biggie. After all, Dylan hateseverything and everyone, so one more thing will not matter.The second point though is more challenging, the house comes attachedto a Zoo, with a specific requirement to keep trading, otherwise theanimals go to the great enclosure in the sky.We later get to meet the eclectic group who run the establishment, nowunder Benjamin's inexperienced care. Kelly (Scarlett Johnasson) is incharge and knows everything that needs to be done, including keepingthe inspector Ferris (Higgns) happy, with or without his rathersuggestive extending tape measure.We have various keepers, all with minor quirks and foibles who help tojolly the story along, there are enough trials and tribulations to keepthe audience happy but the end result for most, will not be in seriousdoubt.There is a feeling that all the character arcs are completed ratherneatly but the story is sound, based on true events on Dartmoor in theUK, here transplanted to a distinctly sunnier and American audiencecentered, Southern California.The acting is solid, as mentioned before, young Jones as "Rosie" hasmore looks and expressions that any seven year old should possess,clearly a bright future awaits her on this evidence. Johansson is thepotential love interest but this is largely downplayed, althoughJohansson is sexy enough without also dressing her in a Zoo uniform.Thomas Hayden Church as Benjamin's brother acts as the voice of reasonand gets some good lines and we also meet Elle Fanning, who soothesDylan's troubled brow. With less to do here but showing good promiseafter her excellent appearance in "Super 8".Matt Damon provides a likable everyman performance, dialing down thestar wattage and this anchors the film, allowing the more eclecticcharacters to bounce their eccentricities off the main character.The film possibly suffered at the box office following the unrelatedintentional release of many exotic animals by a Mentally Ill AmericanZoo owner around the time of the films release. Unfortunately, locallaw enforcement "contained" the problem by shooting dead many of thereleased animals in the interests of public safety, not the bestadvance PR for a film of this type.Summary A good family film, based on a true story albeit "embellished" andtransplanted to an American setting.Harmless and wholesome gentle entertainment driven by Matt Damon's easystar power.http://julesmoviereviews.blogspot.co.nz/