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      We Bought a Zoo

      PG Released Dec 23, 2011 2h 4m Kids & Family Comedy Drama List
      65% Tomatometer 175 Reviews 71% Audience Score 100,000+ Ratings Following his wife's untimely death, Los Angeles journalist Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) decides to make a fresh start by quitting his job and moving his children (Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones) to an 18-acre property containing the Rosemoor Wildlife Park. Though closed for years, Rosemoor is still home to many animals, cared for by Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson) and her small staff. Mee opens his heart and his checkbook as he, Kelly and the others work to renovate and reopen the zoo. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Nov 07 Buy Now

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      We Bought a Zoo

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      We Bought a Zoo

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      Critics Consensus

      We Bought a Zoo is a transparently cloying effort by director Cameron Crowe, but Matt Damon makes for a sympathetic central character.

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      Critics Reviews

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      Deborah Ross The Spectator Everything is, indeed, tied up exactly the way you know it will be tied up, because it is that sort of film, but it still provides a perfectly agreeable way to spend the two hours you weren't going to do anything with anyway. Aug 31, 2018 Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times It unfolds like military assault on the tear ducts. Don't know when to cry? Here comes Sigur Rs' Jnsi with an evocative sonic swoop to help you on your way. Rated: 3/5 Mar 19, 2012 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Mar 16, 2012 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Crowe’s film doesn’t love animals the way it should and never acknowledges the intangible way in which animals affect humans. Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 6, 2023 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies ...a movie that’s full of forced sentiment and familiar themes that play out exactly as they have in countless other films. Rated: 2/5 Aug 21, 2022 Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson The wonderful interactions and work with the animal co-stars is well done, but it's only effective window dressing to the real project. Rated: 4/5 Jun 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Don T The fact that this move got the rating it did is a travesty. I just watched a MUCH MORE POPULAR Avengers movie and this is WAY BETTER in a different way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/05/24 Full Review Simon G Such a moving and beautiful film, a genuine masterpiece Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/24 Full Review Ashley H A movie you can watch as a child, and watch again as an adult and have very different feelings after it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/12/23 Full Review john r Low key charmer. The story is unusual, but it grows on you, as do the lead performances by Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/09/23 Full Review Martin B Great first half. The little girl was precious and nearly made me weep. The son, worthless, self involved and lazy drove me nuts but I guess that was the idea. Second half too overtly melodramatic. Too many challenges too conveniently timed. Lost me with the fallen tree and a crowd waiting behind it. The very end in the restaurant explaining how he met the kids mother was taking sappy beyond reason. The premise was silly in the first place the guy would have gone bankrupt before it opened. The viewer could accept that as poetic license but when they pile on him mooning over his dead wife constantly and all the setbacks the 4 stars became three stars. JB Smoove playing a part without cussing all the time was a highlight but couldn't get it back to four stars. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Really good movie thank you will like it James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas June 24, 2023. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Following his wife's untimely death, Los Angeles journalist Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) decides to make a fresh start by quitting his job and moving his children (Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones) to an 18-acre property containing the Rosemoor Wildlife Park. Though closed for years, Rosemoor is still home to many animals, cared for by Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson) and her small staff. Mee opens his heart and his checkbook as he, Kelly and the others work to renovate and reopen the zoo.
      Director
      Cameron Crowe
      Producer
      Ilona Herzberg
      Screenwriter
      Aline Brosh McKenna, Cameron Crowe
      Distributor
      20th Century Fox
      Production Co
      Twentieth Century Fox, Dune, Vinyl Films
      Rating
      PG (Some Thematic Elements|Language)
      Genre
      Kids & Family, Comedy, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 23, 2011, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2014
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $75.6M
      Runtime
      2h 4m
      Sound Mix
      SDDS, Dolby Digital
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