We Bought a Zoo

The end of December is an apt time to release a movie suitable for all generations and Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo is inoffensive and entertaining enough to fit the bill. Based on Benjamin Mee’s book chronicling his own life experience, Benjamin (Matt Damon) and his kids, moody teen Dylan (Colin Ford) and adorable 7-year-old Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones), buy a dilapidated zoo in the sticks (being Hollywood-ized, California replaces England). While the Mees children mourn their recently deceased mother, they revamp the home of more than 40 endangered animals in the hopes of reopening the zoo to the public. And, of course, Benjamin falls for sexy zookeeper, Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson). It is at times schmaltz overload, but its simplicity, light humour and benign sweetness make for palatable enough fare. –Molly Segal