Review of We Bought a Zoo (2011) by Nancy P — 19 Nov 2012

OK, watched last night ON Demand because there was nothing else to watch. Was passing up for a while, wasn't particularly interested, thought this was going to be some goofy Dizney snoozer. OMG, THIS WAS the best movie I have watched in months and months! I know it did not get great reviews, and everyone has different tastes, but this is coming from someone who would rather watch Bruce Willis blowing up something, or Predator chasing Alien someplace! I am telling you, I LOVED this movie! I will have to warn those with weak tear ducts, though, I cried through at least 2/3 of this dang thing! Not for really little kids, surprisingly adult theme here of a family that has lost wife/mother, dad REALLY having to deal with loss of his wife (very, very heartbreaking) and son not handling loss of mom well (sob, sob) and acting out, so not the really lighthearted romp you think it is going to be.

The zoo is in there too, but really is almost secondary to the coping with the death of the mom. Yeah.... probably more appropriate for older kids, maybe 12 and up. When dad and teen son get into it, the curse words do fly, and when the boy is acting out, with his "art work" some of it is pretty dark.

But I am here to tell you, this is a freakin' good movie! The biggest thing they did wrong with it was name it "We Bought A ZOO." Marketing-wise, I think they could have done better! Like I said, I expected something completely different, and I expect most other people did too, and just skipped.