We Bought A Zoo – Blazing Minds Film Review #ApolloRhylFilmReviewer

Directed by: Cameron Crow

Screenplay by: Aline Brosh McKenna and Cameron Crowe

Based on the Book by: Benjamin Mee

Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church

Running Time: 124 min

Certificate: PG

We Bought A Zoo is based on a true story but don’t let this put you off, the is wonderfully charming, the story of a widowed father, Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) and his two children, Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) and Dylan (Colin Ford), moving to a new life in Southern California and buying a slightly run down and struggling zoo is lovely.

Matt Damon shows that he can easily move in to the part of the father trying to give his children a new life away from the hustle and bustle of the city and trying his hardest to make the zoo work in a hope of saving the animals.

We Bought A Zoo leaves you with that happy feeling inside with its ups and downs, funny and serious moments, it’s an enjoyable film. There is an on-screen chemistry with Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, that just works beautifully and though the story centres more around Matt Damon’s character than the zoo itself, it still comes together nicely.

With a supporting cast including Thomas Haden Church as Benjamin’s brother, giving a small but comedic part to his scenes. Angus Macfadyen as Peter MacCready a slightly disgruntled zoo enclosure designer that is bitter towards Walter Ferris (John Michael Higgins) for stealing his designs from him in the past, which does give some very funny moments.

Maggie Elizabeth Jones and Colin Ford take on the rolls of Benjamin’s children beautifully.

One thing I must point out is that although We Bought A Zoo has a PG rating, smaller children may find the film a little boring, this isn’t really a kids film, it’s a family drama, children of around 10 upwards will probably find it more interesting than little ones.

We Bought A Zoo is about family and starting a new life and the Zoo is really a back drop for the story, so if you are expecting a film which is full of animals and all about a zoo then you will be disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUdX47LtXpw

Overall Thoughts For We Bought A Zoo

A charming, sometimes emotional drama that is a change from recent films released, go see this if you want something that gives you that warm glow feeling.

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