“WE BOUGHT A ZOO” Movie Review. A FESTIVE offering of FAMILY BONDING, ANIMAL BONDING and MOVING ON.

“WE BOUGHT A  ZOO” PRESS PREVIEW

“WE BOUGHT A ZOO” is a Yuletide cinematic offering with a sleepy title.

Make no bones about that.

Yet upon unwrapping, you will be pleasantly surprised that the content isn’t any duper sleeper.

More than that, you’ll be treated to a family parable of a love lost, another love regained and hey-presto! … with love in this life there’s always hope

and everything can be insanely possible, if we only dare try.

After all, it’s approaching Yuletide, ’tis a season to be jolly.

“WE BOUGHT A ZOO” is based largely on a true story about a man and his zoo.

Now, not everybody can or will buy a dilapidated zoo and give it a new lease of life.

The film focuses on Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon), a recently widowed father who’s in denial with the unexpected demise of his beautiful wife.

He is grieving and he has to contend with taking care of a rebellious teenage son Dylan (Colin Ford) and a younger daughter named Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones).

Taking the cue from his older brother (Thomas Haden Church) about starting life all over again, Benjamin looks for a new house in a different locality, but when he stumbles upon the dream abode, he discovers that it’s actually a defunct zoo wanting of attention.

Seeing how much his daughter is fascinated with the place, Benjamin decides to invest in refurbishing the menagerie and works with the head zookeeper, Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) together with her enthusiastic team to restore the park to its former glory.

 ”WE BOUGHT A ZOO” is uplifted by terrific performances from the entire cast and a mesmerizing soundtrack to boot.

 Now there’s a charming chemistry between the leads Damon and Johansson.

 Matt Damon is awesome as Mee, a die-hard who has to plow his way through several self-defeating experiences whilst learning at the same time.

He does so with an indefatigable spirit of courage and positivism.

But behold the future generation of young talents – Colin Ford who plays Dylan Mee,

Elle Fanning as Lily Miska and sweet cutie Elizabeth Jones as little Rosie Mee.

They steal the thunder from the veterans.

This heartwarming film is emotively driven, heart, soul and all.

You’ll laugh at the exploits of the loyal employees as they work zealously to ensure the zoo becomes a reality factor, watched by the troupe of gawky wildlife that is oblivious of the unwarranted fuss and attention.

“WE BOUGHT A ZOO” is directed by Cameron Crowe, based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee.

The film director conjures a finely crafted family entertainment for those who are seeking for a few hours of escapism.

It does not preach the heavenly goodness,  but we surely know there’s light at the end of the tunnel for every good man.

Here’s this three-in-one package of warmth, friendship and camaraderie that will have us tingled all over – as long as we allow ourselves to be immersed with the feel-good emotion.

It’s obvious that the cast and crew had put in a lot of thought and hard work into the film, so it is deserving of a watch in the true spirit of Christmas.

Go for it!