Review of Zookeeper (2011) by Johnny T — 09 Feb 2012

It's not the romcom that's so entertaining, anyway; it's the slapstick. Sure, it's silly without shame, and predictably sentimental. There's a surreal quality to some of "Zookeeper's" humor that will fly over the heads of kids as it has parents scratching their own noggins in disbelief. One sequence has Griffin bringing a Nick Nolte-voiced gorilla to a T.G.I. Friday's for drinks, karaoke and convenient product placement. A choreographed stunt at a wedding reception allows James to take flight using curtains that hang from a ceiling (until he crashes into an ice sculpture and takes out the bride). But Zookeeper is the most thoroughly enjoyable movie for the entire family in theaters right now. I can't believe I just typed that about a Kevin James flick with talking animals. Pratfalls and agonizing tumbles appear to be James's business, and man, business is booming. Did we mention that things just go better with Kevin James? Well-trodden comedy hooks become strangely more amusing. Goofball physical shtick elicits broader smiles.

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film. (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).