I finally got around to see "We Bought A Zoo" starring Matt Damon & Scarlett Johansson. I like to read movie reviews from sources I trust, because, let's face it, time is valuable. You don't have enough time in your average lifespan to watch every movie and TV show, so you have to discriminate. Such an ugly term for so reasonable of a means to manage one's life, isn't it?
"We Bought A Zoo" is not a waste of your time to rent. It's heartfelt and you can enjoy it with youngsters, even, who will be thrilled to see such likeable characters interact with real, live animals. I don't believe there's any CG in this film, they don't need any. Matt Damon is such a likeable protagonist, he lost his wife and is stuck in his life so he takes a chance and moves his family -- his son and daughter, to a small town and buys a house, a house that happened to not have been a zoo, but still kind of is one. I say kind of, because, as the head of the meagerly-supported zoo's veterinary clinic, Scarlett Johansson puts it, it's the love of animals that keeps her there, if she loved money more or at least a dependable paycheck, she wouldn't be there any longer. The place is broke and in disrepair, the animals need a savior.
Strangely, it's not an evil capitalist who's about to bulldoze the zoo down that's a threat. As goes the usual, common, boring, nonsensical Hollywood plot that all business endeavors are evil because making money is bad. No, it's a lack of capital, of investment, of human entrepreneurship that's the problem and an average Joe who can see a profit opportunity that, in the end, can save the zoo and the animals is what is needed -- no eco terrorists are heroes in this film. A refreshing perspective of the American spirit embodies the movie, if not by accident, the script seems to lead the audience to root for an honest business success story! Go Hollywood! Thank you for not ramming down your anti-capitalism agenda down our throats this time. After all, I'm sure they're hoping to profit from the films they make, aren't they?! Maybe they're coming around -- making money can be good...
Needless to say, Damon's character has depth and fits the reality of the recession era. He's not Jason Bourne in this film, he's humble, he's lost, he's -- dare I say, very human. He struggles with doubt, with renovating his house, the zoo, keeping his family together, and searches for answers. As he transforms this property where he risked his life savings, he realizes this labor of love, of doing work above his own self, is transforming him, and his family. There are some great, funny moments then, you are thrown back into the reality of life, in a particularly memorable scene, Damon is fantastic reliving a memory of when he met his wife and the details of that joyous moment, as he shares it with his children at the very café it all happened where he met their mother. The timing, editing, flashback sequences are very effective and heartfelt, I wanted to cry right along with Matt, who just embraced this scene with such a great delivery of being in the moment again.
An excellent screenplay with plot twists, fun humor, and rich characters, you see a boy and girl grow up, and their father finds peace and a new start in life. I say rent this movie, watch this with your whole family, especially if you have kids from 5 - 18, you'll be glad you did. Along with the bowl of popcorn, do keep some napkins nearby (don't make it obvious and bring down tissues), someone is bound to have a good cry.
After his excellent performance in "True Grit", I'm amazed how easily and comfortable Matt Damon is slipping into very diverse roles. He doesn't seem to have such a big ego where he can't play the bumbling failure, the frustrated dandy, the silly side kick, along with playing the lead hero who can do no wrong. In "We Bought A Zoo", the whole cast is great, but Matt Damon does an excellent job kind of playing a little bit of all those personalities and carries this movie in this two hour gem. Oh yeah, Thomas Hayden Church and Scarlett Johannson's in it too.
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