We Bought a Zoo
{4.5/5} “This is what happens when people have a you-know-what occur in their lives. They wake up one day and they say, ‘I’m going to quit my job and try something completely different with my life.’ But then they wake up another day and they say to themselves, ‘Thank God my older brother didn’t let me blow Dad’s inheritance by buying a broken-down zoo in the country nine miles from the nearest Target store.'”
Benjamin is a journalist who’s covered killer bees, dangerous dictators, and the eye of a hurricane. His wife died 6 months ago and people are encouraging him to find someone new. Benjamin quits his job on the same day his son Dylan is expelled from school — it’s time for a change. He finds a house that he likes but it’s attached to a zoo. His daughter Rosie wants to buy the zoo, so they do.
We Bought a Zoo was released in 2011. It’s based on a true story.
It’s about starting over and trying something new, hard work, and 20 seconds of courage.
It’s a nice little movie that will leave you with a smile on your face.
The gentle music is by Jónsi (songs in Vanilla Sky).
Matt Damon (Elysium) plays Benjamin and Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) plays his brother. Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers) plays the head zookeeper and Elle Fanning (Ginger & Rosa) plays her young cousin. John Michael Higgins (Yes Man) plays the inspector.
Colin Ford (Push) plays Dylan and Maggie Elizabeth Jones (The First Time) plays Rosie. J. B. Smoove (Date Night) plays a real estate agent — it’s his first day on the job.
The movie was directed by Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire).