We b*ght a Zoo

[jeanelle]

I enjoyed this more than I expected too, I hadn't realised how long it was going to last but I wasn't checking my watch at all. I thought the younger actors were all excellent and there were enough shots of all the different animals and the scenery to make it visually satisfying. Good story well told.

Lovely to see aruif again too.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

This was a sweet, very lightweight, little film about a one parent family trying to move on from the loss of their mother, 6 months earlier. In this attempt to move on, the father impulsively buys a zoo. It reminds me of the old Disney family drama films I used to watch as a kid that would star either Hayley Mills or a young Jody Foster. This had that sort of feel to it, a pleasantly upbeat feel. But I honestly thought the premise was so implausible only to find out its a true story when the credits rolled!.

The formula of the narrative was 2+2=4. It was absolutely predictable and you just know how the film will roll once you see the first act but the journey is sweet and often amusing with very likeable leads to carry the film, the adults, teenagers and a little girl that was so cute, all the ladies sitting around me seem to want to adopt her. Inevitably the film pulls the emotional strings in the last act (part of 2+2=4 formula) . But hey, whats wrong with a trusty formula, if it works, it works.

I did find it very long though and yawned a couple of times during the middle. I think a good 10 minutes at least, could have been shaved off in the editing room.

A sweet 7/10

As always its lovely to be in the company of PXC and Ms Thrifty and great to see Celini and MariaLionza too.

Oh was that 13 year old girl in the film, the same girl in The Bridge to Terrabitha? It cant be because she should be an adult by now but she looks exactly like her.

[raj101]

if you go see a Cameron Crowe film, you know exactly what you'll get. Saccharine uplifting music, emotive energy and bittersweet adversity, you are half expecting a grinning Tom Cruise to pop out from behind a hippopotamus and shout 'SHOW ME THE MONEY!'. Fortunately he doesnt, but everything else is Crowe, Damon the good looking midlife American, a helpful brother, a very loud fiftysomething who gurns a lot, an extremely pale happy blonde hippy chick, the bereavement/problem and an eventual fresh perspective but not without much heartache along the way.

Good film, perhaps a bit overlong, but certainly interesting enough given its set in a zoo. Inspiring, more of a January film than a Spring one.

Goodness, Scarlet Johansson is one real shortass, never noticed that before.

[big_bad_wolf]

Saw this at a full Bournemouth Odeon and really enjoyed it. A nice easy going film and story and the star of the film for me was the little girl.Overall a great family film.

[Celini]

MrG, the girl was the one from Super 8! I spent the entire movie wondering, and realised when I we left!

[Rainey]

I'm not seeing this till Monday, but here is the story behind the film, can't see it posted already.

http://www.dartmoorzoo.org/your-visit/t ... story.html

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

MrG, the girl was the one from Super 8! I spent the entire movie wondering, and realised when I we left!

Thank you! It was annoying me to think where I saw her before...so much so I forced her face into some other film, lol.

[sikmansam]

Faced a horrific hour or so wait for this to start at Ilford today and enjoyed it to an extent, although not at all worth the wait. Will write my review after a good nap, 7/10

[Sunny Saver]

Just saw this at Swiss Cottage.

Nice to have Ms Thrifty and MrG's company as well, and always lovely to see celini and MariaLionza.

Are you deserting Holloway Road now?

I didn't go but mum and aunty liked it. They haven't actually told me anything about the film apart from having a nice long chat with ejwrank beforehand.

[Diane65]

Absolutely loved everything about this film and the lovely company of akh43 and her daughter. 9/10