What Do The Critics Say?

"For all those who would submit Tom Hanks as the modern day Jimmy Stewart, I counter with Damon who's all that plus sex ppeal. This grounded American actor classes up any production he's in and he's just right as the somewhat naive father struggling to make a new life for his family in the aftermath of devastating loss. It's a solid charmer that doesn't rely on Hollywood flash, gimmick, or poop jokes." Laura Clifford REELING REVIEWS "Matt Damon is at his most relatable best in a film that has heart, drama and passion. A film for the entire family. It is funny, romantic, dramatic and sentimental. It is also the best thing actor Matt Damon and director Cameron Crowe have done in years. "We Bought A Zoo" is a perfect holiday film. It provides solid entertainment; it involves you in its story; then it sends you out of the theater feeling good." JACKIE K COOPER "Genuinely charming, treacle-free family films are tough to find these days, so I’m happy to heartily recommend "We Bought a Zoo", as heartwarming holiday fare that even jaded adults can share with the kids. The two hours of "We Bought a Zoo" normally a bit long for a family movie: positively fly by." Lou Lumenik NEW YORK POST "Crowe has not made a feature film since his ill-received "Elizabethtown" in 2005 and it is nice to see the writer-director return to lighter comedy. I love family movies that do not cater to kids or talk down to the adult viewers. An intelligent, nicely crafted dramedy that garners both sympathy and laughs." Robin Clifford REELING REVIEWS

"Cynics may call it predictable, but that’s only partly true. You can tell from the start that the story will have a happy ending, and that the damaged characters will be made whole. But this film is more about the journey than the destination, and in the hands of director Cameron Crowe it offers considerable pleasure along the way." Leonard Maltin LEONARD MALTIN'S PICK "Charming Matt Damon acquits himself admirably, particularly with scene-stealing Maggie Elizabeth Jones. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "We Bought a Zoo" is an affectionate, amusing 7. It’s uplifting, feel-good family entertainment." Susan Granger SSG SYNDICATE "There's a lot of cute, a bit of pathos and plenty of humour in We Bought a Zoo: some of it courtesy of Benjamin's doubting brother. Benjamin Mee, by the way, is a real person. A sweet-natured tale about animals and new beginnings that you'll want to see with your kids." Liz Braun JAM! MOVIES "There's a lot of fun waiting at We Bought a Zoo, but it's the feelings that run through every scene that'll make you glad you came. Damon's Benjamin isn't a generic widower. The movie is eager to please, with subplots galore. Crowe builds movies from the inside out. Character comes first: always." Peter Travers ROLLING STONE "Matt Damon gives a grounded, regular-guy performance as Benjamin Mee. His daughter Rosie is a treat, but his son Dylan is trouble. The zookeepers are a lovably eccentric bunch, including Scarlett Johansson as the skeptical head zookeeper, Elle Fanning as a giddy teen who develops a crush on the brooding Dylan, and Angus Macfayden as an oddball Scottish keeper.The tigers are cool, the monkeys are cute, but deep down, Crowe is more interested in the characters. And so are we." Rob Thomas CAPITAL TIMES

The Inside Story At first look, "We Bought A Zoo" appears to mark a departure for filmmaker and 2001 Oscar winning screen-writer Cameron Crowe, whose previous films, including "Jerry Maguire" (starring Tom Cruise & Renée Zellweger) and "Almost Famous" (Starring Kate Hudson & Patrick Fugit), told deeply personal stories. 2000's "Almost Famous", for example, was based on Crowe’s experiences as a young reporter at Rolling Stone magazine. "We Bought A Zoo", on the other hand, is based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee, titled "We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Broken-Down Zoo, and the 200 Animals That Changed a Family Forever". "It’s a different kind of movie for me, in that it wasn’t meant to be personal," Crowe affirmed. This film he says "was generated from the desire to tell Benjamin Mee’s story." But the experience of co-scripting and directing the film led Crowe to a surprising revelation. "In the end, telling Benjamin’s story ended up being as personal as anything I’ve done. One of the reasons I wanted to do the movie was to put some joy out in the world. I love that "We Bought A Zoo" is a movie that allows you to feel joy: to feel what it is to be alive; and is about turning loss into something inspirational. The story infuses you with a love of life, human and animal. And it’s about taking risks; a lot of the greatest things ever accomplished came from incredible risk. The story and characters are everything I love in movies." Before Crowe became involved in the project, Benjamin Mee’s memoir had caught the attention of producer Julie Yorn ("Unstoppable"), whose production company is based at Twentieth Century Fox. "I was immediately intrigued. What does that mean, 'We Bought a Zoo'? Who bought a zoo? I learned this was a man who, through a series of circumstances and sort of on a whim, ended up at this zoo with his family. It was a really heartwarming and inspirational story." After reading the memoir and watching a BBC documentary about Mee’s experiences, Yorn says she approached Mee personally and "implored him to trust me that I would find the right way to tell his story." After securing the film rights, Yorn and the studio selected Aline Brosh McKenna ("The Devil Wears Prada") to adapt the story for the big screen. McKenna says she found Mee’s story compelling, inspiring and heartwarming. She recalls that the second she saw the cover of the book she envisioned the entire movie. "I love workplace movies and what a great, amazing workplace…a zoo! The second I read the book, I had this instinctive reaction." Mee’s predicament as an inexperienced, unexpected zoo director created opportunities for rich characters and storylines. McKenna ("27 Dresses") says that his experiences make for an "amazing human story. It was always a little funny, and always a little heartbreaking. It’s also a classic fish out of water story. Benjamin is in this place that he knows very little about. It was a crazy thing that he did, but crazy in such a great way. You get to go backstage at the zoo and see what somebody deals with when they live on a zoo, day to day. Having the zoo as your backyard is sort of a fantasy. It’s such an exciting idea that you would be able to have all these animals become part of your extended family." It was after McKenna submitted her first draft of the screenplay, Yorn and the Studio began a search for a director. It quickly became apparent that acclaimed filmmaker Cameron Crowe’s writing and directing sensibilities were a perfect complement to Mee’s funny and poignant tale. Crowe’s ability to blend comedy, drama, family, and a spirit of optimism are unparalleled, as evidenced in such films as his 1989 film "Say Anything". As much as Yorn was thrilled with the idea of Crowe taking the helm of the film, she didn’t hold out much hope he would be interested. "I knew Cameron had never made a movie he didn’t originate. But I felt the story’s themes of loss and healing spoke to some of his previous work and I knew he had children, so I felt like there was something here Cameron would connect to. Still, I thought it was an incredible long shot to get him." So, imagine how delighted they were to get a call saying, "Cameron Crowe really likes your script." McKenna (who executive produced the 2011 Douglas McGrath film, "I Don't Know How She Does It") recalls: "They called me and said they were going to send it to Cameron Crowe. Among contemporary directors he’s really one of my idols and inspirations, not just as a filmmaker but as a human being. For me the word that springs to mind when I think of Cameron’s films is 'humanity'. He has such empathy for characters, is such a great observer of the culture, and is funny and insightful about how people live their lives." After meeting with Crowe, Yorn knew the story had gotten under Crowe’s skin. "There was something about Benjamin’s will and determination, and the magic and poetry of the place, which resonated with him. The imagery started to speak to him as a filmmaker." "Aline’s script was a character-based story that reminded me of my favorite movies, and I really enjoyed it," Crowe relates. "It was the combination of her script and Benjamin Mee’s book that brought me all the way in; together, they were filled with promise. I could hear 'music' and feel the love of the Mee family." Crowe took the script and "ran it through his own filter," Yorn explained. "He really wanted to honor the version of the film that Aline had conceived, but go back to the true story even more. Cameron wanted to dig deeper into the character of Benjamin and what made him tick and also give the film a little more soul and poetry. There’s something soulful in Cameron’s work that connects to the Mee family. Who could do this more soulfully than Cameron Crowe?" With Crowe set to direct and co-write the screenplay, casting got underway to find the right cast to portray the members of an ordinary family placed in extraordinary circumstances. For the central role of Benjamin Mee, a single father out of his depth in several ways, the filmmakers wanted an actor who would bring a sense of decency, higher purpose and humor. For Crowe, both the real life Benjamin Mee and his cinematic counterpart are further defined by their relentlessness. "He does not give up," the 1997 Hochi Film Award winner for "Jerry Maguire" says. "And I love that he’s that kind of guy. Nothing is going to stop him." 1998 Oscar winning screen-writer Matt Damon ("Good Will Hunting") was tapped for the role of Benjamin Mee. For Damon, who has worked with some of the world’s greatest filmmakers, including: Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Gus Van Sant, Anthony Minghella, the Coen Brothers, Steven Soderbergh and Paul Greengrass; the prospect of working with Crowe ("Vanilla Sky"), a director he's long admired, was a key attraction for taking on the role. "The reason I came aboard was a hundred percent Cameron," an enthusiastic Damon ("Contagion") revealed. "He sent me a script, but he also gave me over an hour's worth of music that he had selected, as well as the film "Local Hero", he kind of gave this whole bundle to me and said, 'This is kind of the feeling of what I want to do.' He explained that "Local Hero" is a dramatic movie that’s also a very funny movie, giving you a wonderful happy-sad feeling. It really gave me a great sense of the movie he wanted to make." Upon their arrival at their new home/zoo, Benjamin and his family meet head zookeeper Kelly Foster, played by Scarlett Johansson. Kelly is a no-nonsense, down to earth animal advocate and the voice of conscience for the zoo’s occupants. "Kelly is a very practical person, good-natured, and loves animals," the 2005 Sant Jordi Awards winner for "Lost in Translation" and "Girl with a Pearl Earring" notes. "She's very much a person who gets it done and gets it done well and leaves no loose ends. This zoo and these animals are her whole life." Johansson, who plays Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in Joss Whedon's "The Avengers", admitted she was drawn to McKenna’s and Crowe’s script. "It has this incredible dialogue I could wrap my head around. I also thought the story was very unusual because there’s something old-fashioned about it. It’s a film about family, about finding your passion and believing in yourself. It’s very real and gritty." Yorn notes: "It’s very different from any part she usually plays. People have such an expectation of her being the femme fatale. In this film she really gets to show another side." Crowe adds: "Scarlett brings a great humanity to the role that conveys Kelly’s ferociously protective spirit." Duncan Mee, Benjamin’s older brother and voice of reason, is played by 2005 Independent Spirit Award winner, Thomas Haden Church ("Sideways"). "Duncan is the truth-teller in the movie," says Crowe. "For the first half of the movie, Duncan is trying to convince Benjamin that buying the zoo is the worst mistake of his life. Eventually, he becomes Benjamin’s greatest ally in this outlandish endeavor." "Duncan is supposed to be the voice of responsibility and accountability: not for the least of which he’s an accountant," 2005 Screen Actors Guild Award winner Church ("Sideways") says. "He thinks the zoo may be the riskiest financial proposition to be conceived by anybody. But he has great affection for the kids and for his brother and ultimately his priority is their health and happiness." "We Bought A Zoo" reunites Crowe with actor Patrick Fugit, who made his film debut at the age of sixteen, when he was cast in "Almost Famous". Fugit admits: "I was a little anxious about meeting Cameron for this role. I’ve grown a lot since then and he’s grown a lot, and so much is different now. But as soon as we started getting into the scenes, it was like I was sixteen again." Elle Fanning ("Somewhere"), was cast as Kelly Foster’s bubbly cousin, the young beauty Lily Miska, who lives and helps out at the zoo and its restaurant. When the Mees move in, she becomes fascinated with Benjamin’s teenage son Dylan. "Lily lives in her own world," says Fanning ("Super 8"), who celebrated her thirteenth birthday during production. "She’s been surrounded by animals her whole life, so she doesn’t really know how to relate to people that well. Dylan is like an exotic creature to her." To portray the Mee children, the filmmakers conducted a nationwide search and online open casting call before eventually deciding on Colin Ford, and relative newcomer Maggie Elizabeth Jones, both natives of Atlanta, Georgia. Jones, who recently made her acting debut in "Footloose" describes her character Rosie as, "really sweet and really nice, and she’s actually the one that gets the zoo to open." Ford notes his character Dylan is having a difficult time in his new environment. "He doesn’t see eye to eye with his father. Dylan defies him: he’s a real smart aleck; and does anything to get underneath his skin." Damon, who played David Norris in "The Adjustment Bureau" revealed: "Benjamin’s relationship with his son is pretty combative. Dylan is at that rebellious phase." What's It All About?

Benjamin Mee is a Los Angeles newspaper columnist and adventure writer who, as a single father, faces the challenges of raising his two young kids after losing his wife through illness. Her death has had a devestating effect on his son, Dylan, who is going through a 'dark phase'. Hoping that a fresh start and a new life will restore their family spirit, Mee quits his job and buys an old rural house on large acreage outside the city that comes with a unique bonus feature: a zoo named the Rosemoor Animal Park, where dozens of animals reside under the care of head zookeeper Kelly Foster and her dedicated team. With no experience, limited time and a shoestring budget, Mee sets out with the support of his family and the local community to reinvigorate and then reopen the zoo. For once, Benjamin is no longer reporting on an adventure story; he’s living his own: and it is right in his own backyard.

The Verdict "Based on the real life story of Benjamin Mee and the Dartmoor Zoological Park, this film is a Hollywood make-over in which the location shifts from Sparkwell in Devon, U.K. to the U.S.A. and features an American family who buy a run-down Californian Zoo. Those who saw the BBC series, "Ben's Zoo", will be familar with the story of the Mee family, who became the owner of the Dartmoor Wildlife Park and their refurbishment work, which lead to the zoo being re-opened in July 2007. BBC fans will find the Cameron Crowe version: in which the zoo becomes the Rosemoor Wildlife Park; hold's up extremely well. And, the news gets better. Cinemagoers of all ages and in particular families, will find "We Bought A Zoo", is an honest to goodness, charmer. Of course, if you're a fan of Matt Damon or Scarlett Johansson, there's even more reason to see it. The late great and much loved W.C. Fields once said: "Never work with animals or children." I, for one, am quite sure, that if he saw Matt Damon, Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones and the animals who populate this film, he'd probably retract that statement. Almost unmissable. 4 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

Matt Damon Scarlett Johansson Thomas Haden Church Colin Ford Maggie Elizabeth Jones Angus Macfadyen Elle Fanning Patrick Fugit John Michael Higgins Carla Gallo J.B. Smoove Stephanie Szostak Michael Panes Kym Whitley Todd Stanton Lauren Sanchez Peter Riegert Roberto Montesinos Desi Lydic Erick Chavarria Sam Fox Dustin Ybarra Ben Seeder Alice Marie Crowe

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Benjamin Mee Kelly Foster Duncan Mee Dylan Mee Rosie Mee Peter MacCready Lily Miska Robin Jones Walter Ferris Rhonda Blair Mr Stevens Katherine Mee Principal Cashier San Diego Vet TV Anchor Delbert McGinty Hugo Chavez Shea Seger (Lasagna Mom) Ernesto Allison Nathan Bruce Parrot Lady

The Production Team Directed by Cameron Crowe Screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna and Cameron Crowe Adapted from the book by Benjamin Mee Produced by Julie Yorn Original Music by Jon Thor Birgisson as Jónsi Cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto Film Editing by Mark Livolsi Casting by Gail Levin Production Design by Clay A Griffith Supervising Art Director Peter Borck Art Direction by Domenic Silvestri Set Decoration by Wayne Shepherd Costume Design by Deborah Lynn Scott Run Time 124 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Fox Films - All Rights Reserved Enduring © - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.