WE BOUGHT A ZOO

US, 2011, 124 minutes, Colour.
Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Angus Mcfadyen, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit, John Michael Higgins.
Directed by Cameron Crowe.

We bought a zoo. As one does!

Well, not exactly. However, Benjamin Mee, an adventurer-writer, recently widowed and with two children, finds that his son is doing badly at school, draws nightmarish pictures and is to be expelled. Benjamin decides to move and finds an old house that he thinks is just right. (His son does not, but his rather precocious little daughter does.) Then the estate agent remarks that the house belongs to a zoo. And that they will own the zoo. Benjamin says yes.

The zoo is run down and closed for business. There is a motley group as staff, devoted and with particular expertise for caring for the animals. They are led by Kelly who has worked there for thirteen years. As we guess, staff and family will do their utmost to have everything ready for inspection and then a summer opening. But...

First of all the son is self-pitying, sits and draws and clashes with this father - though he allows himself to be distracted by Kelly’s niece, Lily. They are pre-teens so romance is of the shy, awkward, budding type.

Then there are the adventures with the animals (more and more of whom appear at various moments throughout the film). The tiger is old and some think he should be put down. A crater full of snakes is accidentally opened. The grizzly bear wanders into the town. There is always something. But, what is lacking is money – fortunately, Ben’s deceased wife had foreseen situations like this and had made provision. The money is managed by Ben’s sardonic banker brother, Duncan. They have a temporary inspection by a prissy official and then work harder for his final approval. There is a nice anti-climax on opening day. The weather had been terrible. Then it looks as if no one is coming, until... Well, that’s to find out when you see it.

Obviously a family friendly film about family, grief, clashes, energy and enterprise. And this is all enhanced by a sound cast. The ever genial and reliable Matt Damon is Benjamin. Scarlet Johansson has a better role than she has had recently as Kelly. Colin Ford makes a credible self-pitying son. Elle Fanning is Lily and Thomas Haden Church is Duncan. The film has been directed by former music journalist, Cameron Crowe, who had success with Almost Famous and did not have success with Elizabethtown. Here he is on safer ground.

The credits tell us that the zoo is functioning well and serves as a model in treatment of animals for other zoos.

1. The film based on a true story? A piece of Americana? A family story?

2. The zoo, the grounds, the mountain background, the old house, the enclosures? Authentic feel?

3. The introduction to Benjamin, in the eye of the storm, his adventures, his writing, clash with the editor? His leaving?

4. The death of his wife, six months, his not wanting pity and sympathy? His relationship with his children? Dylan, the problems, expelled from school, his drawings and their graphic ugliness? The decision to move house? The talks with his brother, going to the cafes where he met his wife? His grief? The later photos, the home movies? His imagining his wife? His telling his children the story of love at first sight, re-enacting it with them? His wife’s presence, his drawing on her presence?

5. The difficulties, the decision to look for a new house, the estate agent, the different houses and reactions, the old house, discovering that it was a zoo? Buying it?

6. Duncan, his sardonic comments and wisecracks, his advice, his handling Katherine’s bequest, helping in the work?

7. Kelly, working at the zoo for thirteen years, her abilities and leadership, personality, hard work, attractive? Low-key? The attraction? The eventual kiss? Her niece? Her support of the zoo?

8. The staff, forming a community, together, the drinking, Robin Jones and the monkey? Peter MacCready? and his Scots background, the darts into the photo of Walter Ferris? The women on the team? Rhonda and her leading the rebellion?

9. Walter Ferris, the photo and the darts, his business, his visit, the tape measure, pedantic, returning for the inspection, the crisis with the lion and the lock? His giving the okay?

10. Dylan, his age, his drawings, expelled? His not wanting to move, not seeing the zoo as home, his friends no coming? His father having to drive the eighteen miles for the butter? His sulking, drawing, Lily giving him her attention, coming at 4.15, the sandwich? His offhand remarks to her, hurting her? His not functioning well, letting the snakes loose? Saying ‘Whatever...’? his father confronting him, his overhearing the comments about what was happening to him, his wanting help from his father? Drawing the tiger, its being used as the logo, bonding with his father, joining in the work, the family reunited?

11. Rosie, precocious, cute, her wise comments, her activities, the peacocks, helping with the tours for the visitors?

12. The range of animals, the old tiger, its being ill, Kelly wanting it to die, Benjamin and his stubbornness? The bear loose in the town, getting it back, Benjamin confronting it? Collecting the snakes? The lion, Mac Cready and his fixing the lock, Kelly distracting the lion? The wide range of animals?

13. The scene in the supermarket, Benjamin with his children, the lady seeing the information about the zoo, her coming to support?

14. The bad weather, the tree blocking the roads, the crowds behind the tree, enjoying the day, success?

15. An achievement and an adventure? Issues of grief, settling down, life going on, hard work, the godsend of the money with Katherine’s management, morale, success?