Benjamin Mee: You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.
Director:
Producer:
Cameron Crowe, Marc Gordon & Julie Yorn
Cast:
Matt Damon as Benjamin Mee
Scarlett Johansson as 28-year old Kelly Foster
Thomas Haden Church as Duncan Mee
Colin Ford as Dylan Mee
Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Rosie Mee
Angus MacFadyen as Peter MacCready
Elle Fanning as Lily Miska
Patrick Fugit as Robin Jones
John Michael Higgins as Walter Ferris
Carla Gallo as Rhonda Blair
J.B. Smoove as Mr. Stevens
Stephanie Szostak as Katherine Mee
Music:
Based on ‘We Bought a Zoo’ by Benjamin Mee which in turn is based on Real life events of Benjamin Mee
Story:
Benjamin has lost his wife. In a bid to start his life over, he purchases a large house that has a zoo. This is welcome news for his daughter, but his son is not happy about it. The zoo is in need of renovation and Benjamin sets about the work with the head keeper, Kelly, and the rest of the zoo staff. But, the zoo soon runs into financial trouble. The staff must get the zoo back to its former glory, pass a zoo inspection, and get it back open to the public.
Review:
The movie is pretty good. It was strange to see Scarlet Johansson playing a Zookeeper, after watching her as the awesome Black Widow/ Natasha Romanov. The director has, by some miracle, managed to generate expressions on Matt Damon’s face. Though it was for only 5 seconds, the feat that he achieved is commendable.
The acting of Maggie Elizabeth Jones (Rosie) was just awesome, and she was cute too. The director has alsa squeeazed prallel romantic storylines between Duncan (Colin Ford) and Lily (Elle Fanning) and Benjamin (Damon) and Kelly (Johansson). The director hasn’t exagurated the drama. The movie is down to earth and feels real.
The OST of the movie is also brilliant. It goes well with the theme of the movie. But my only problem is that they included Holocene by Bon Iver, which i absolutely hate. But I can overlook that small mistake.
Apparently the book has been adapted by the director in to a movie for American audiences. The orignal zoo is called Dartmoor Zoo in Devon, England, while in the movie it is called Rosemoore Wildlife Park in California. The children in the memoirs are much younger thana in the movie, and instead of a bear escaping, in the book, a Jaguar escapes.
Final Verdict:
Good movie. 7/10..
Galactica 