We Bought A Zoo

Based on the true story, Matt Damon stars as Benjamin Mee -an adventurous newspaper writer whose family has been suffering over the past several months after the death of his wife. Worst of all, his 14-year old son, Dylan (Colin Ford), has become withdrawn and sullen, which has lead to many problems at school.

Seeing the need for a new start, Benjamin begins looking for a new home, and finds a very unique possibility on the outskirts of town. It's a beautiful house nine miles away from civilization, and has a business to help generate income. It's a zoo.

Is Benjamin up to the task of rehabilitating and saving the zoo?

Will the rest of the staff want to stick around?

Can his kids adjust to their new lives?

We Bought A Zoo is one of the most emotional, uplifting movies of the year. Cameron Crowe directed and co-wrote the movie (based on the book by the real Benjamin Mee), so you get great conversations, some oddball characters and lots of emotion that bubbles up in all of the right places. Sure, some if it may be a bit too cute for words, but the smile on your face will overcome the feelings of Bah Humbug that might be trying to sneak out of you.

Most of all, I think Crowe and the team (including co-writer Aline Brosh McKenna) give us the most realistic father-son relationship you will ever see on screen. In between the screaming and yelling, both guys are struggling with horrible heartbreak, and both don't really know what to say, but the ultimate resolution touches your heart.

Also, We Bought A Zoo has an amazing cast. This is the most natural I have seen Scarlett Johansson in years! As Kelly, the tomboyish zookeeper, she isn't trying to be Little Miss Sex Kitten. Kelly is seen as a real woman with great spirit and a willingness to tell the truth. It's a perfect role for her to remind us she can act and be one of the normal, everyday people.

Then, Damon is a fantastic anchor. He might not have all of the showy scenes, but he makes us care about the family, especially when he lets the emotions fly. In movie after movie, Damon just keeps getting better. You especially will love him when paired with Thomas Haden Church as Benjamin's brother, Duncan. Church delivers all the right comic relief and brotherly love when needed, and makes it look so easygoing and effortless.

I know some are worried about the movie in regards to the horrible situation that occurred in Ohio earlier this year (a man with many exotic pets like lions, tigers, etc. opened up the gates to their cages and committed suicide, leaving the animals to run free until taken down), and We Bought A Zoo does feature a comical version of an animal escape, but it doesn't ruin the movie in any way. By the time this happens in the movie, the audience is well into fantasy land.

Like you have seen Duncan state in the film's commercials, We Bought A Zoo isn't really about the animals. It is about the people.

We Bought a Zoo is rated PG for language and some thematic elements