Could this really be from the man who brought us JERRY MAGUIRE, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, and ALMOST FAMOUS? WE BOUGHT A ZOO is Cameron Crowe's adaptation of Benjamin Mee's memoir about buying and saving a run-down zoo. Crowe changes the locale from Britain to southern California, however, the spirit of the original is retained, complete with escaped bears, snakes on the loose, and a crew of misfit zoo employees. Matt Damon plays Benjamin Mee and he has certainly left Jason Bourne far behind. He looks a little paunchier and is completely believable playing the father of a teenage boy and a beautiful young girl. Scarlett Johannson plays the zookeeper and the inevitable romance between she and Mr Damon is played out beautifully in the screenplay by both of them. Thomas Haden Church plays the same character he has played in...well....everything he's ever done. He was my least favorite thing about the film. It's obvious that Cameron Crowe wanted to make a family film and he has done just that. It is completely charming, utterly sweet, and highly emotional without being maudlin. WE BOUGHT A ZOO is a movie I avoided in the cinema because I thought it looked a wee bit too precious for my tastes, but although there are a few sugary moments, the very smart screenplay by Crowe kept it from being overly sentimental. When it ended, Troy said "How sweet was that!". Sweet without being sticky. I recommend it.
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