Cameron Crowe is by far one of my favorite filmmakers. His movies have always managed to bring out the human comedy that comes during times of turmoil in our lives, whether that turmoil be from falling in love for the first time, being a teenager, realizing you don't like who you've become and in the case of We Bought A Zoo, learning to deal with loss. I've always said that the reason Vanilla Sky didn't work for me was because Crowe wasn't allowed to let the humor out. Thankfully, he does in Zoo.
Matt Damon (MAAAT DAAAMOOON) plays a single father struggling to get by dealing with the emotional and physical needs of his kids six months after his wife has died. Single moms are circling like vultures hoping to get a shot at the handsome dad, his son is lashing out to get his father's attention and his daughter seems to be the only one holding it together. Damon's Benjamin can't escape the memories of his wife and even goes so far as to avoid eating lunch in places that hold her memory. The family needs a change.
While looking for a new home, they come upon a run down house that could use a coat of paint but is otherwise beautiful. While the enjoyable realtor tries to explain that the house comes with significant baggage, Benjamin and his daughter fall in love with it. Then comes the lion. It's revealed that the house is part of a wildlife park and whoever buys the home also buys the zoo. As the title would suggest, they buy the zoo.
The rest of the film is Benjamin and a motley crew of zoo workers trying to bring up the park to USDA standards for operations. Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning and Patrick Fugit make up part of the team of loyal zoo employees.
The highlights: Benjamin's daughter is about the cutest thing I've seen on a movie screen since I found out the human head weighed 8 pounds. Coincidence? I think not. Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson have insane chemistry, it's a little disappointing that they chose to costar in a movie that required their characters to exercise restraint. I would love to see them together again in a light rom-com or even something along the lines of the Notebook.
The disappointments: Patrick Fugit seems wasted. While I'm glad to see him in anything, he didn't really have a lot to do here. Benjamin's son is kind of a piece of crap. I found myself actively rooting against him and he's just a kid.
The movie is a fun and light family affair with some melodrama along for the ride. It's the kind of sappy fun film you don't mind losing yourself in for a few hours so you can come out hopeful that the world isn't as shitty of a place as you left it. No one will walk away with an award, but I don't feel like I wasted my time or dollar.
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