"We Bought a Zoo" Review

by Phillip Bryant

Directed by: Cameron Crowe

Written by:  Cameron Crowe, Marc Gordon, Julie Yorn

Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Hayden Church

Music by: Jonsi
Cinematography by: Rodrigo Prieto

Cameron Crowe is a filmmaker that I would never put on my list of favorite directors, simply because he hasn’t made any film that I wholeheartedly love.  He is, however, one of the most talented directors when it comes to two very important things: storytelling and soundtrack creation.  He is renowed by critics and fans worldwide for these two things, and they are always mentioned whenever anyone discusses him.  Ever since Say Anything, he has shown amazing talent in combining romance, comedy, and heartfelt drama in films from Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, and of course his best film Almost Famous. 

His new film, based on the actual memoir of Benjamin Mee, is no different than these, and I mean that in the best way possible.  Matt Damon stars as a lovable dad who wishes only to connect to his children after the death of their mother just six months before.  His character builds fluidly, in part to both the writing and Damon himself.  The family, including Mee, his teenage son Dylan, and young daughter Lily, purchase a Zoo on the outskirts of the California city.  Although the story itself is in fact about buying a zoo and getting it ready for the inspection, it is more so about the people that this family encounters and how they will push them forward into the final stages of coping. 

The story is great, and feels like something classic in a way.  It is a simple story on family who encounters a big challenge.  Crowe’s direction is near-flawless as always, and Damon’s performance is as subtle and connectable as ever.  The rest of the cast, featuring Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Hayden Church, and a hilarious Angus MacFadyen, all do well to support Mee’s story. 

What hurts the film most is its pacing.  Some of the scenes even feel awkwardly fast.  A few of them seem to be rushed through and don’t give their time to breath, yet they are usually followed by one who does.  For instance, the relationship between Mee and the Bengalese tiger he projects the death of his wife onto wasn’t included enough to make me care really about the tiger’s ultimate fate.  A similar concern can be stated with his relationship with a depressed bear, yet this does offer a fine scene in the film. 

All is redeemed, however, by the denouement of the film. 

An ending that made me tear up, yes, but also was just very well written.  I won’t spoil it for you hear, as it relies on its visuals and performances to sell it. 

Many critics so far have labeled the film as “formulaic” or “empty”.  The Rotten Tomatoes consensus states that “We Bought A Zoo is a transparently cloying effort by Cameron Crowe, but Matt Damon makes for a sympathetic central character."  Similarly, Roger Ebert writes “The result is too much formula and not enough human interest."  This baffles me, as this film abounds with human interest.  In fact, some of the characters nearly flat out say this, and some literally do.  I will admit that the film is formulaic, yet I saw a discernible difference in the film that used the formula as a template instead of a map.  Not to compare the two, but it is no more formulaic than something like The Artist, yet this is getting rave reviews.  Although the artist is a good film, it is much like this one.  Except it relies on an old gimmick of silent nostalgia as where this film relies on the gimmick of family dynamics.

We Bought a Zoo is maybe Crowe’s best narrative effort since Almost Famous.  His best film of this year is still PJ20, however, which you can read about HERE.  It is an uplifting film in all ways, checking off every cliché with a bit of a wink each time.  Crowe understands what he is making and he does so very well.  Just because something isn’t entirely original (which, really, what is?) or dark (which most everything tries to be that isn’t animated), doesn’t mean by any stretch it cannot be good.  The same applies for a film like The Artist as well.  I bought my ticket to see a family who bought a zoo, and it is exactly what I got.  I wanted to hear a great soundtrack (highlights below), see Matt Damon play with his character, and have a well written ending that satisfies, and I got all of that.  It is not a prestige picture, and it doesn’t please the mind, heart, and nostalgic core that Almost Famous did, but it does the job.  And it does so well.

Soundtrack Highlights:

“Don’t Be Shy” by Cat Stevens
“Holocene” by Bon Iver
“Buckets of Rain” by Bob Dylan
“Hoppípolla” by Sigur Ros
and the rest of the OST entirely featuring original music from Ros frontman Jonsi

Grade:

B-