Though adapted from a memoir by a British journalist, We Bought a Zoo feels entirely like a Cameron Crowe film, with clear parallels to previous crowd-pleasers like Jerry Maguire. Crowe introduces Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon in a role that recalls his Contagion character) six months after the death of his wife. Since everything reminds him of her, the California columnist decides to make a change, starting with a new location. His realtor (Curb Your Enthusiasm's J.B. Smoove), brother (Sideways' Thomas Haden Church), and sullen teenage son (Colin Ford) try to talk him... out of it, but Mee falls in love with a country manor that comes with a strange stipulation: the tenant must manage the zoo that accompanies the property. With his daughter's blessing, Mee takes the plunge. Fortunately, he inherits an experienced staff, including MacCready (Angus MacFadyen), Robin (Patrick Fugit), Lily (Elle Fanning), and Kelly (Scarlett Johansson, lovely as ever in her least glamorous role to date). Mee's road to reinvention offers few surprises, but Damon makes him a sympathetic figure who finds the same kind of support system among the park personnel that Fugit's Almost Famous writer found in the rock world, except Mee's relationships have more staying power. If his detractors--a skeptical employee and an unctuous inspector--feel like screenwriter constructs, Zoo represents a return to form for Crowe after a series of missteps, including Elizabethtown. Better yet, the real-life park that Mee acquired continues to lead by example as a humane habitat for endangered species. --Kathleen C. Fennessy [show more]
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. We Bought A Zoo is a funny, inspiring and true story about the magical power of family to persevere in the face of extraordinary challenges. Matt Damon is Benjamin Mee - who, looking to give his family a much needed fresh start, moves to a home situated in the middle of a dilapidated zoo which he sets about bringing back to its glorious state. Also starring Scarlett Johansson and Elle Fanning. Acclaimed Director Cameron Crowe's first family offering, starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson & Elle Fanning in this funny, inspiring and true story of triumph over adversity. Based on the best-selling book. Actors Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, Stephanie Szostak, Carla Gallo, Thomas Haden Church, Patrick Fugit, Angus Macfadyen, John Michael Higgins, Colin Ford, Desi Lydic, J.B. Smoove, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Nicole Andrews & Mark Hengst Director Cameron Crowe Certificate PG Year 2011 Screen 1.85:1 Anamorphic Languages English - Dolby Digital (5.1) Additional Languages English Audio Description ; Spanish Subtitles English for the hearing impaired ; Danish ; Finnish ; Norwegian ; Swedish ; Spanish Closed Captions Yes Duration 1 hour and 58 minutes (approx)
Matt Damon stars in this feelgood family feature based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee. Newly widowed Benjamin (Damon) is finding life difficult trying to raise his two young children. Urged on by his father, Duncan (Thomas Haden Church), to start over, Benjamin decides to purchase a rundown zoo in the countryside in the hope that it will bring his family together again. Having to care for 47 species, and with his friends thinking he's mad, Benjamin sets out to restore the zoo to its former glory with the help of a small but loyal staff led by Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson).
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