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Is it worth $10? Yes
Cameron Crowe, you were too good too soon. Early in his career Crowe made the now-classics “Say Anything,” “Jerry Maguire” and “Almost Famous,” but since then it’s been all downhill. The only movies he’s done in the last ten years – “Vanilla Sky” (2001), “Elizabethtown” (2005) and now “We Bought A Zoo” aren’t terrible, but they pale in comparison to the greatness shown earlier. One so-so movie on occasion is expected; three is a trend that makes us fear he’ll never return to greatness.
All that said, “We Bought A Zoo” is an earnest, endearing yarn about a bereft father of two who stupidly buys a zoo and forces his family to move to the middle of nowhere to fix it up. If Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) were my father, I’d be pissed.
But for Benjamin, who’s still sullen after his wife’s unfortunate death, giving the zoo new life is also a chance for a new life for him and the kids. He has help: His children Dylan (Colin Ford) and Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) aid in their own way, and the staff, led by zookeeper Kelly (Scarlett Johansson), is already in place. The staff, as needed, is also full of eccentrics who each bring a unique flair: Peter (Angus Macfadyen) is a lovable drunk who hates the zoo inspector (John Michael Higgins) with a passion; Robin (Patrick Fugit) carries a monkey on his shoulder at all times; Rhonda (Carla Gallo) is the feisty bookkeeper; and young Lily (the very talented Elle Fanning) has a crush on Dylan.
Based on a true story, Crowe imbues the film with a strong family vibe and kids will likely enjoy the nearly 50 kinds of animals at the zoo, but there’s also a plain and predictable sentimentality that wears on you fast. You’ll have a pretty good idea where this is going, and given that it’s only moderately amusing on the way there you’re bound to feel a tad unfulfilled.
Still, the story’s sweetness is genuine and Damon handles his character’s rough emotions well, particularly during a scene in which Benjamin and teenage son Dylan scream at one another. This scene also begins a strong final third of the film and rescues it from monotony.
But the larger question looms: Will Cameron Crowe ever be great again? We’re at a point where there are barely any signs of greatness in his movies, so it’s hard to be optimistic about that. But hey, if Benjamin Mee can fix up a zoo…
Did you know?
The real Benjamin Mee moved his family from southern France to England to take over a zoo. More details on the real story here.
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tenenblatt
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... I enjoyed the movie but my grandkids were bored so if their under five dont take them ....... |
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