MANILA, Philippines - As directed by Cameron Crowe (whose Almost Famous will always be one of my favorite films about rock ‘n roll and the music industry), the feel-good, true story We Bought A Zoo manages to avoid being the manipulative tearjerker and unimaginative family values film it could so easily have become.
Starring Matt Damon as Benjamin Mee and Scarlett Johansson as the resident zookeeper, the film revolves around the true-to-life story of a man who loved adventure, lost his wife to cancer, had to raise two kids on his own, and in the search for doing something different in his life and the lives of his children, ended up moving house and buying one that had a functioning zoo attached to it!
A moody teenage son, a lovable “old soul” moppet of a daughter; and you mix in lions, tigers, a grizzly, peacocks, capuchin monkeys, snakes, and a wife/mother whose memory just lingers — these are the ingredients for a film that would have the zoo pointing out the clues, and acting as catalyst for renewing life and relationships. Matt’s character finds a way to reconnect with his son, and even discovers the possibility of entering a new relationship — with Scarlett’s character. The zoo’s staff is made up of lovable eccentrics who help Benjamin find renewal and purpose in life. And in a deglamorized role as head zookeeper, Scarlett effectively portrays her character who is feisty, dedicated to her animal wards and “beautiful but doesn’t know it.”
As for Matt, this makes a marked departure from his Bourne character of the past few years. Affable, but at times dorky and socially clumsy, his Benjamin Mee is a Mr. Everyman thrust into situations that would test the most of us, and he shows that without supernatural powers or that Road to Damascus moment, there are ways wherein we can rise above our circumstances. To director Cameron’s favor, he doesn’t milk or linger on the big emotional moments, but moves on quickly to the next scene.
This may not replace Almost Famous as my favorite Cameron film, but it was a nice surprise, a film that winningly plays sentimental and life-affirming, without becoming cloying or overbearing.