Watching the commercials I wrongly assumed We Bought a Zoo was more of a comedy than it turned out to be. So for those who tear up easily, bring plenty of tissues. Although the film has its lighter moments, We Bought a Zoo is about a husband dealing with the death of his wife and two kids coming to terms with the loss of their mother. There's a zoo thrown in there with lions, tigers, bears, porcupines, and other assorted animals, but We Bought a Zoo is really about loss, anger, healing, and learning it's okay to move on - and okay to be happy again.
Based on a true story with the setting moved from England to Southern California, We Bought a Zoo follows recent widower Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) and his two young kids, Dylan (Colin Ford) and Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones). Benjamin wants to do whatever is best for his kids, but it's difficult to figure out what that is since the death of their mother. Deciding the best option is to move his family somewhere where there's a little open space around them and not so many constant reminders of their loss, Benjamin and Rosie go on a house hunt. After seeing a series of houses that didn't feel like home, they wind up at one that appears perfect. However, there's a catch: buy the house and the attached zoo comes with it. The private zoo isn't in fantastic shape, but it does have potential, plenty of animals, and a caring staff who've stuck with the place through thick and thin.
Rosie, mature beyond her six years but not in an annoyingly precocious way, immediately falls in love with their new home. However, 15 year old Dylan isn't sold on the idea and blames his dad for dragging him away from his friends and moving them to a remote location. Still, Benjamin's convinced the zoo is the right place to start the healing process, despite the fact it's a financial drain that's pushing him towards bankruptcy. Who can resist waking up in the morning to the sound of big cats growling? Benjamin hopes caring for the animals will be its own special form of therapy for his two motherless kids - and for himself.
The Bottom Line
The heavy dose of drama goes down easily because of an engaging performance by Matt Damon who has become one of the most dependable actors of his generation. His roles - with the exception of his Bourne run - aren't flashy, and no matter the material Damon always offers up a solid performance. And in We Bought a Zoo he helps bring out the best in the two terrific young actors (Colin Ford and Maggie Elizabeth Jones) who play his kids, with Jones in particular being almost too adorable for words. Scarlett Johansson is fine as the person in charge of the zoo and Damon's potential love interest, and Elle Fanning shows the same vulnerability she displayed in Super 8 while playing a teen who works at the zoo and catches Ford's eye. In supporting roles Thomas Haden Church, Patrick Fugit, Angus Macfadyen, and John Michael Higgins turn in terrific performances. But this film really hinges on Damon's performance, and Cameron Crowe made a very smart move by placing the load on Damon's shoulders.
We Bought a Zoo is a family film that tackles a very difficult subject matter in a thoughtful manner. It's not exactly light fare, but it is one of the better family films of 2011 and one that stands out from the pack of year-end, Oscar-hungry theatrical releases. Be prepared to answer some fairly tough questions afterwards if you bring the young ones to this PG-rated film as there are a lot of intense, conversation-provoking scenes in We Bought a Zoo. And that's absolutely not a bad thing in this case.
GRADE: B+
We Bought a Zoo was directed by Cameron Crowe and is rated PG for language and some thematic elements.
Theatrical Release: December 23, 2011
