Wir kaufen einen Zoo (2011)

Wir kaufen einen Zoo: Directed by Cameron Crowe. With Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Colin Ford. Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.

“You canu0026#39;t get more obvious what your film is about with a title like u0026#39;We Bought a Zoou0026#39;, but fortunately director Cameron Croweu0026#39;s adaptation of British journalist Benjamin Meeu0026#39;s autobiography possesses much more subtlety and nuance than what its title would suggest. The story of a grieving widower who makes the unusual decision to buy a rural property whose 18 acres includes the Rosemoor Animal Park, it is also Croweu0026#39;s first feature since his 2005 flop u0026#39;Elizabethtownu0026#39; and the feel-good family movie represents a welcome return to form for the talented filmmaker behind such classics like u0026#39;Say Anythingu0026#39; and u0026#39;Jerry Maguireu0026#39;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWorking off a script by u0026#39;The Devil Wears Pradau0026#39; and u0026#39;Morning Gloryu0026#39;su0026#39; Aline Brosh McKenna, Crowe grounds the high-concept tale in a heart- warming story about a lonely widower trying to overcome his grief for his bereaved wife while attempting to reconnect with his teenage son Dylan (Colin Ford) and young daughter Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones). Crowe is better than to take the easy route of mawkish sentimentality; instead, there is genuine humanity and optimism in his storytelling, complemented by some outstanding performances that he coaxes from an ensemble cast- in particular his lead actor Matt Damon.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThough the u0026#39;Bourneu0026#39; trilogy has cemented his reputation as a thinking manu0026#39;s action star, Damon has been and still is a strong dramatic actor. The astute actor confidently matches the emotional beats that Crowe chooses for his character every step of the way, from sanguineness at a change of scenery early on to dismay later on when one thing after another goes awry. His is a heartfelt performance that packs a powerful emotional wallop in his understated delivery of a father struggling to do it right by his children- and nowhere is this more evident than in a powerful scene where Benjamin and Dylan address their fractured relationship head-on which is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe conviction that Damon brings to his role is a huge reason why the film achieves its intended poignancy. A scene where his character finally overcomes his fear of looking at past photographs of his wife and their happy days together as a family is simple yet moving- and appropriately filmed in close-ups; while the filmu0026#39;s last scene where he reminisces his first encounter with his deceased wife to his children also works brilliantly thanks to Damon at his earnest best. He also shares great chemistry with each of his co-stars- whether Scarlett Johannsonu0026#39;s perceptive zookeeper Kelly, or Thomas Haden Churchu0026#39;s wry older brother Duncan.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBoth Johannson and Church are also individually outstanding in their supporting roles, alongside other equally incomparable veterans like Angus MacFadyen as the groundskeeper with a longstanding grudge for park inspector Walter Ferris (John Michael Higgins) and Patrick Fugit (who played Croweu0026#39;s alter ego in u0026#39;Almost Famousu0026#39;) as one of the zoo staffers with a capuchin monkey perpetually perched on his shoulders. Crowe has also assembled an impressive teenage cast- Ford brings a raw edge to his characteru0026#39;s anger, counterbalanced perfectly by the ebullient Elle Fanning as Kellyu0026#39;s cousin- as well as an impossibly adorable Maggie Elizabeth Jones sure to melt your heart.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAided by an outstanding cast, Crowe drives the narrative along with a sure confident hand. Alongside the running themes of grief and parenthood are well-inserted vignettes of Benjamin and his crewu0026#39;s obstacles at getting the zoo up to inspection standards in time for a grand reopening on the seventh seventh (or the seventh of July)- among them the escape of the zoou0026#39;s 650-pound grizzly bear Buster, the fate of the zoou0026#39;s 17-year-old ailing tiger Spar and of course Benjaminu0026#39;s impending bankruptcy (that we admit is over all too soon by a dues ex machina). Still, there is genuine feeling in every scene, and Croweu0026#39;s choice of music (a mix of oldies with more contemporary tunes) as well as Jónsiu0026#39;s (of Icelandic cult band Sigur Rós) eclectic score works perfectly in complementing the mood of the film. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd even though itu0026#39;s tinged with sadness, the tone of the film is never depressing- Crowe making it sure that the film steers clear of both over-dramatic as well as melodramatic moments. Thereu0026#39;s hope and affirmation abound in this inspirational tale, and just because its message of acceptance and reconciliation may sound familiar doesnu0026#39;t mean it is less authentic or touching for that matter. It wears its heart on its sleeve, but thanks to Croweu0026#39;s deft hand as well as Damonu0026#39;s heartfelt performance, even the cynical will find themselves moved. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003ewww.moviexclusive.comu003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003e”