Plot
Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
Release Year: 2011
Rating: 7.4/10 (5,277 voted)
Critic's Score: 58/100
Director:
Cameron Crowe
Stars: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church
Storyline Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
Writers: Aline Brosh McKenna, Cameron Crowe
Cast: Matt Damon
-
Benjamin Mee
Scarlett Johansson
-
Kelly Foster
Thomas Haden Church
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Duncan Mee
Colin Ford
-
Dylan Mee
Maggie Elizabeth Jones
-
Rosie Mee
Angus Macfadyen
-
Peter MacCready
Elle Fanning
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Lily Miska
Patrick Fugit
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Robin Jones
John Michael Higgins
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Walter Ferris
Carla Gallo
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Rhonda Blair
J.B. Smoove
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Mr. Stevens
Stephanie Szostak
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Katherine Mee
Michael Panes
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Principal
Kym Whitley
-
Cashier
Todd Stanton
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San Diego Vet
Filming Locations: 990 N. Allen St., Pasadena, California, USA
Opening Weekend: $9,450,000
(USA)
(25 December 2011)
(3117 Screens)
Gross: $73,743,020
(USA)
(19 February 2012)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
When Matt Damon's character climbs over the tree the real Benjamin Mee, Milo (Dylan in the movie) Mee and Ella (Rosie in the movie) Mee can be seen as the first family in line.
Goofs:
Continuity:
When Dylan is in the rain talking to Lily through the open window, his wet hair is matted across his forehead. In alternating shots his hair is completely combed back off his forehead.
Quotes: Lily Miska:
[to Kelly during the opening of the zoo]
If you had to choose between people and animals, who would you pick?
[Kelly doesn't answer]
Lily Miska:
Me neither.
User Review
Beautiful & Touching, Crowe does it again.
Rating: 9/10
Cameron Crowe never fails to deliver hart warming drama-comedies that
make you laugh, cry and keep you on the edge of your seat for duration
of his films. For me personally, I never seem to agree with Crowe's
casting taste (Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson never do much for me)
but Cameron has a way with actors and a true vision for his story. He
always seems to know exactly who can capture his characters and
ultimately draw out your emotions that he's tugging at.
In We Bought a Zoo, there is a bit of a slow start and at one point I
was worried Cameron had lowered his voice to appeal to a larger
audience to please producers and critics alike (after his
Critically-bombed but personal all time fav, Elizabethtown).
But let me tell you, pay your dues with the first half of this film
because the second half will take you on a mesmerizing cinematic
adventure you'll be heartbroken for more. Cameron ventures into a new
family drama without compromising his voice, music taste or quality
film making. And if you are still not a huge CC fan, the animals are
sure to win you over. Their beautiful and natural moments on screen are
as breath taking as they are tear-jerking.
Spend an amazing two hours with this film and there won't be a person
in your household that won't agree that this film is one to remember.
From a fan and living-room-critic, I give it two thumbs up :)
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