A Heartwarming, Albeit Lengthy, Family Film
“We Bought a Zoo” presents a charming, though somewhat protracted, cinematic experience suitable for family viewing.
Benjamin Mee (Damon) is experiencing a series of unfortunate events. His wife has passed away, forcing him to leave his job. His school-aged son channels his grief into morbid drawings of decaying corpses, while his young daughter is emotionally scarred each time she encounters her mother’s belongings. A drastic change of scenery is desperately needed. Believing that interacting with animals would benefit his children, the caring father invests his entire savings into a dilapidated zoo.
Cameron Crowe is renowned for his uplifting narratives that celebrate the wonders of life. Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, his characters, in true Hollywood fashion, find the strength to pursue their dreams, whether by running, limping, or even crawling. This was evident with Tom Cruise in “Jerry Maguire” and Orlando Bloom in “Elizabethtown.” In this context, the intriguing true story of a British zoo owner, portrayed by Matt Damon, seamlessly aligns with the director’s filmography.
Behind the Scenes
The film is based on the published memoirs of Benjamin Mee.
Crystal the monkey, often seen perched on Patrick Fugit’s shoulder, previously appeared as a drug dealer in “The Hangover Part II.”
Ben Stiller was considered for the role of Benjamin.
A Fairytale for the Whole Family
In creating a film for a young audience (ideally, “We Bought a Zoo” is meant to be enjoyed by the entire family), Crowe transforms the chronicle of establishing a business into a veritable fairytale. In this enchanting world, women resembling Scarlett Johansson choose to live in the countryside after graduation, willingly cleaning up after bears. Ideal fathers don’t bat an eye when such beauties throw themselves at them. Adults are solely concerned with children’s whims, ailing tigers, and a stern inspector who might deem the zoo’s condition inadequate for a swift opening.
Crowe seems to operate under the motto “the best for the children.” Rodrigo Prieto, who has worked with directors like Iñárritu, Stone, and Ang Lee, was brought in to film the animals and their enclosures. In addition to Damon and Johansson, the magical world of nature is brought to life by the comedic talents of Thomas Haden Church and Patrick Fugit, as well as the serious Elle Fanning. Fanning, in particular, consistently manages to overshadow A-list stars with her mere presence, despite being only thirteen and playing a character with a minimal dramatic function.