We Bought a Zoo

Many people sneer at film critics, suggesting that their opinions are out of touch with cinema audiences and that they will hate any film which doesn't address humanist existentialism from a post-structuralist angle (no, I don't have a clue what that is either). The film critic is seen to dislike popular culture, in favour of film as art: to be discussed and debated rather than to simply entertain. Now, in the case of We Bought a Zoo, it would be very easy to dismiss the film as a piece of 'film-making by numbers' – that is to say, a film with big name stars which will easily recoup its cost to make but, ultimately, be of little real value. A quick look on RottenTomatoes.com and you will see that many critics have, in their 'elevated' positions, slated the film for its predictability and mawkishness. Many of these critics would have gone into a screening of We Bought a Zoo with minds firmly made up: the film would be rubbish and I have to say that I entered a preview screening with similar feelings. How wrong I was...

We Bought a Zoo is based on the true story of Benjamin Mee who, after his wife died, decided to buy a struggling zoo on Dartmoor and renovate and run it with his two children. Taken from a book written by Mee, the film translates the story from South West England to sunny California and throws in Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson for good measure. Before I begin, let me just say that I've no interest whatsoever in animals. I don't get why people have dogs or cats, wandering around their homes and leaving hair on every surface imaginable. Even worse is the habit of kissing a dog – why anyone would want to catch a staphylococcus infection from Fido's slobbery tongue is beyond me. Many complain about having to hoover the house twice a day just to keep the carpet from disappearing under a sea of pet hairs. Want to solve the problem? Just get rid of the dog! Anyway, my point is that I'm not that into animals. And so, a film about a zoo and people's love for animals was always going to be a hard sell to me. As I watched the film, however, I realised that this wasn't important and that the human characters were more than enough to engage me in the narrative.

The performances, especially from Damon, had a sensitivity and depth which was pitched at the right level: never melodramatic, nor too mellowed. Colin Ford, who played Benjamin's difficult teenage son Dylan, was a highlight of the cast (who were all very self-assured and dynamic). Johansson was suitably 'plained-down' for her role as head zoo keeper Kelly and provided an interesting on-screen relationship with Damon. It was very nice to see Damon in a role other than that of Jason Bourne which has, for better or for worse, come to define him as an actor. His slightly enigmatic but always emotionally-fulfilled performance as a father struggling to provide for his family but also follow a dream, was a pleasure to watch and certainly made for a few teary eyes in the audience.

Some have criticised the film's sentimentality and patent emotional-manipulation with little substance to support it. This judgement is, in my mind, unfair. Every now and then, we all need to watch a film which is as predictable as the UK's defeat in Eurovision and to just sit back and enjoy a warm-hearted and inoffensive two hours of entertainment. Whilst a flash-back sequence did jar a little with the overall feel of the film, it was a minor point in an otherwise well-constructed film. The plot was perfectly fine, as was its sensitive handling of issues such as death and family in a script which was very funny in places. The distinctive soundtrack composed by Sigur Rós frontman, Jon Thor Birgisson, was as schmaltzy as it gets but, do you know what? I didn't care. The music swelled in all the right places and did exactly what I wanted it to: reinforce the safe drama which was playing out on-screen.

We Bought a Zoo is a no-holds-barred family drama, which haemorrhaged sentiment and emotion faster than an episode of One Born Every Minute. And I loved it. As the kids say these days – it was totes emosh. 

Clapperboard Rating: * * *  

We Bought a Zoo is released on the 16th March