Review of We Bought a Zoo (2011) by M S — 30 Jan 2013
While not a great movie, We Bought A Zoo is utterly charming for several reasons. Young Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Rosie Mee steals your heart in every second she is on screen. Too many syrupy, maudlin flashbacks when Benjamin Mee is recalling his deceased wife cause the film to shift into neutral (one such memory was enough -- three or four are nearly intolerable).
Otherwise, this is a charming dose of movie comfort food that satisfies on many levels. There is an intriguing on-screen chemistry between Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson; they both turn in well-rounded performances that make them immensely likeable.
Other reasons to like the film: the tension between Mee and his son Dylan (Colin Ford); the stirrings of an awkward teen attraction between Dylan and Lily (Elle Fanning); strong, highly amusing performances by the supporting cast of characters, particularly Thomas Haden Church and Angus MacFadyen; and enough dramatic tension in the effort to save the animals and open a zoo to keep us interested.
This review of We Bought a Zoo (2011) was written by M S on 30 Jan 2013.
We Bought a Zoo has generally received positive reviews.
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