We Bought a Zoo

  • 2011


MOVIE IS manipulative agreeable emotional sentimental reciter.fortunately
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74 %
65 % Fresh
$ 120 Million
See Where to Watch We Bought a Zoo
Positive Reviews 119
Negative reviews 23
Average Rating 3.2/5
manipulative agreeable emotional sentimental reciter.fortunately

  • All
  • Positive
  • Negative
2.0
Moves from mopey drama one moment to a reaction shot of a monkey smacking his forehead in exasperation the next. By the end of the film, viewers might .. Av Club
4.5
Granted, its based on a true story, but thats hardly a factor that encourages film makers to put the sugar bowl away. Den Of Geek
4.5
Granted, its based on a true story, but thats hardly a factor that encourages film makers to put the sugar bowl away. Den Of Geek
3.0
The movie is like Doctor Dolittle remade as a therapeutic sudser. EW
3.1
Cameron Crowe has made wonderful films, but here the pieces go together too easily, the plot is too inevitable, and we feel little real energy between .. Rogerebert
4.0
In the end, We Bought a Zoo wears its heart on its sleeve and is all the better for it. Common Sense Media
2.3
This is pure, 100 proof schmaltz of the very worst (or best if youre in the right mood/a grandmother) kind. We Got This Covered
3.0
Crowe, to his credit, is more concerned with insights about family than romance and some of these are heart on sleeve touching if youve got a sweet to .. Time Out
1.3
Clichs and contrivances and corniness, oh my! With We Bought a Zoo, writer director Cameron Crowe dives headfirst into the schmaltzy slop barrel.
3.8
We Bought a Zoo provides a welcome seasonal dash of wholesomeness and humor, but its also a heartening celebration of second acts, even at their most ..
1.5
Theres an empathetic heart to the overlong movie, and bits of poignant melancholy perhaps related to the dissolution of Crowes own marriage to Nancy W .. Screen Daily
3.5
But the uplifting tale has heart, humanity and a warmly empathetic central performance from Matt Damon. The Hollywood Reporter
2.5
By trying too hard to stay on this side of hip and the other side of sentimental, Crowe winds up with a zoo thats neither fish nor fowl.
5.0
The end result is a film that is pretty much a total delight from top to bottom and even if you dont think that it is the kind that you might normally .. E Film Critic
3.0
The movie is pretty, sticky, thoroughly innocuous, and quite nice. Telegraph
3.0
While not quite Crowe at his absolute best, it carries his humanistic imprint and benefits from a strong acting ensemble that keep emotions in check.
3.8
Its neither the best film of the bunch nor the worst, neither the most natural nor the most annoyingly affected.So what if the screenplay trips up on .. San Francisco Chronicle
3.0
Billy Wilder, hero of We Bought A Zoo director Cameron Crowe, once said that theres good sentimentality and bad sentimentality.For his first film sinc ..
3.0
Billy Wilder, hero of We Bought A Zoo director Cameron Crowe, once said that theres good sentimentality and bad sentimentality.For his first film sinc ..
2.0
Every tangential character is quirky, every challenge a notch too heavy as the soundtrack brims with grizzled musicians singing itll be alright.Are th .. Ny Daily News
3.5
If Crowes films radiate one thing, its kindness, which is something not a lot of filmmakers can claim. JoBlo
3.0
Crowe successfully captures the magic and wonder of the Rosemoor Wildlife Park and its animal inhabitants. Screen Rant
3.1
So pack your dark glasses and slather on the lotion its a glaringly sentimental journey. The Globe And Mail
3.1
It is an ideal film for multigenerational holiday moviegoing, pleasant if insubstantial. Philly
3.8
Its reassuring, a little square, and you sense that Crowe, now a father and family man, is reaching out to a new, younger audience.Crowes been getting .. Philly
5.0
An emotionally literate film about a grieving family trying to jump start their lives again by running a small zoo for animals. Spirituality And Practice
3.0
Nothing more than an old fashioned, family friendly tearjerker thats good natured but not very successful at strumming the heartstrings, which is what .. One Guys Opinion
3.5
The cynics will scoff and dismiss it all as manipulative, the heartstring tugging machine on hyperdrive. Village Voice
3.1
When a Crowe film works, it makes us laugh and then makes us cry. Rogers Movie Nation
3.8
We Bought a Zoo may founder a little when it comes to its narrative trajectory but its emotional impact is on course. ReelViews
3.0
Based on a true story, Benjamin Mee is a recently widowed father who moves his family to a beautiful estate miles outside the city. Blu Ray
3.0
The movie is quite enjoyable, though, redeemed by Crowes trademark sincerity and assured handling of oddball character actors (J.B. Smoove, Carla Gall .. Chicago Reader
3.1
The movies best scenes (particularly its surprisingly heartfelt coda) drop the artifice and address those underlying feelings directly without the art .. Mark Reviews Movies
2.0
We bought a Zoo is an intelligent, nicely crafted dramedy that garners both sympathy and laughs.
3.0
The film is based on a true story of a British family man who bought a dilapidated zoo, and the supporting characters have the kind of eccentric charm .. Usa Today
3.0
As a result of this ham fisted Hallmark attitude, the movies emotional moments dont register very strongly. Eric Ds Nider
3.0
Ultimately, its the youngsters story that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. Radio Times
3.0
But like a real zoo experience, it has enough charms and winning moments to make it enjoyable enough during the actual visit. Screen It
3.8
Theres a lot of fun waiting at We Bought a Zoo, but its the feelings that run through every scene thatll make you glad you came. Rolling Stone
3.0
The lions looking restless, the star tiger is dying and the bear is trying to escape. Shadows On The Wall
3.0
The results feel artificial and sappy, with only a few too little too late moments where the tragedy of losing a mother or a wife is handled with anyt .. The Wrap
3.0
If you are attempting to sell a zoo, now might be a good time to place that advert. View London
2.5
BOTTOM LINE Pat, corny and perfectly packaged for Christmas; a decent cast makes it tolerable. News Day
3.8
Crowes new film doesnt reach for the glorious heights of that classic, but it wont disappoint his fans, either. New York Post
2.5
Its hard to say who works harder to affect the coyest kind of appeal here: men or beasts. Film Journal International ..
4.0
But thats more a function of the story than the performances, Damons in particular. Az Central
2.5
Itd be nice if the horse left the barn, but you cant have everything. Boston
3.1
Sometimes, reacting to a movie is all about the expectations you bring with you walking into it. Boston
1.9
This family comedy drama is pure canned sentiment sold at a volume discount, two hours of cute kid close ups and NatGeo animal portraiture in a montag .. Star Tribune
1.5
I was gonna say that whatever edge Cameron Crowe once had is officially gone, if hes now giving us pallid, pleasant sitcoms.
1.5
I was gonna say that whatever edge Cameron Crowe once had is officially gone, if hes now giving us pallid, pleasant sitcoms.
3.0
The BBC has made quite a good documentary about Mees experiences. Emanuellevy
5.0
A gifted director of cautious comedies about the problems of middle class folk, Cameron Crowe gets confused when he tries anything more ambitious, and .. Guardian
3.0
A ladle of Hollywood treacle has been added to the 2007 memoir by former Guardian journalist Benjamin Mee about his familys inspirational adventure in .. Guardian
3.0
Watching the overlong, overfeeling, overdirected We Bought a Zoo made me glad to return from Cameron Crowes world to the real world, where things aren .. Slate
3.5
While predatory single moms his refrigerator filled with homemade lasagna, Benjamins precociously adorable seven year old daughter Rosie (Maggie Eliza .. Susang Ranger
3.8
We Bought a Zoo has more soul than substance, but Ill be darned if it didnt put a smile on my face and keep it there. Observer
3.8
Crowe simply remembers how to make a sweet story. He allows his huge heart to prevail in a moving coda that, while manipulative, helped me buy into th .. Movies
1.5
I wish never again to see, and that means forever, a movie sold with billboards depicting cuddly animals, whether theyre zebras or tigers or golden re .. Movies
3.5
If you want to boil this movie down, its really just lots of people relating to each other in difficult situations and gorgeous insert shots of exotic .. Movies
0.0
Even in the worst Cameron Crowe films, the soundtrack is usually a bright spot. Flim Threet
4.0
The picture may be too wholesome and twee for fans of the directors edgier work like Almost Famous but it deserves to be a big hit with families. Express
3.1
Rarely can you ever point to a moment in this actors recent screen career when he oversells an interaction with a costar.Its a fine impulse, this sort .. Chicago Tribune
3.0
The life of the one time teenage Rolling Stone scribe turned Academy Award winning film maker is a Cinderella story worth cheering for. The Irish Times
5.0
If you like heartwarming not cloying stories about decent people, and hope to leave the theater feeling better than you did when you walked in, We Bou .. Blogs Indie Wire
3.0
But overall Zoo is heartwarming in the best way; its pleasures are small but completely genuine. Las Vegas Weekly
3.0
Its slight, sure, and theres a better, less glossy film buried in the material, but warm performances redeem Crowes agreeable return. Total Film
3.0
We Bought a Zoo drops the cynicism, wears its heart on its sleeve and doesnt mind laying it on thick in an effort to move you. Which it does whether y .. Hollywood
3.0
The predictable climax comes across like so much melted peanut butter.Still, the movie wins in its ability create a glow of giddy movie pleasure that .. Coles Mithey
3.8
Ultimately, it is the final 30 minutes that won me over. It is during this stretch that Crowe begins clicking on all cylinders, and while the film sti .. Movie Freak
3.0
We Bought a Zoo is so filled with artificial sweetener that it may cause cancer. Detroit News
3.8
The humor is always handled tastefully and its driven by the characters and dialogue rather than going for obvious laughs.
1.9
Let me begin by saying something nice about Cameron Crowes We Bought a Zoo: kids will probably like it. Groucho Reviews
3.0
Cameron Crowe remains, as always, uncool. And wonderful for it. We Bought A Zoo is lovely, delicate, and absolutely worth seeing with your family this .. Hit Fix
3.0
What you see in the title is all you will get from this soft hearted, yet level headed family movie. And thats exactly all the target audience needs f .. Herald Sun
3.1
But if you want an emotional animal story that earns its tears, wait for the powerful War Horse. Nj
3.0
The film is a button pusher, but it is so in the nicest way possible. 7M Pictures
3.0
The movies high production value and good humor do trounce Dolphin Tale, the last big entry in the kids and animals genre. Oregon Live
3.0
The strong performances and Crowes deft touch keep you invested, even if those that oppose the zoo will induce much rolling of the eyes. E Online
3.0
Crowe, who aims high to plant a big smile on your face, does so here more than competently. Film School Rejects
4.5
...this is packed with all the warmth, heart and humanity that one has come to expect from a Cameron Crowe film. Film Ink
2.5
Likewise, the cast of We Bought a Zoo all turn in performances so self consciously quirky and nice that the conflict in the film carries little dramat .. Movies Tv Guide
2.5
If youre looking for something the whole family can watch, this is fine. If youre an adult wondering if you need to see it, the answer is no. Maki At The Movies
1.5
The script isnt demanding enough for the actors and many of the roles seem miscast.
2.0
Subtlety (and indeed logic) has rarely been Hollywoods strong suite, yet Crowe manages to over egg the We Bought a Zoo pudding to such an extent that .. Cine Vue
4.0
Gritty, slick and maybe a bit too serious, Contraband may be predictable, but it is solid action entertainment. Mirror
3.8
Like seemingly all Cameron Crowe movies, it runs a bit too long, but overall it will leave you with a smile on your face. Three Movie Buffs
3.0
If not for classic FM rock songs overstating the obvious it would be tough to identify We Bought a Zoo as a Cameron Crowe movie. This dramedy could co .. Tamp A Bay
3.0
We Bought a Zoo wont change your life, but it will provide two hours of lovely, slightly whimsical escapism. Nz Herald
3.1
Without Crowes laid back approach and Damons anchoring performance, We Bought a Zoo could have been a sappy disaster. Kansas City
3.1
The sentence You may not leave until you get a tear in your eye! may as well appear on the screen. And yet the PG rated film connected with me, schmal .. Red Eye Chicago
3.8
Crowe seems to be making baby steps into new territory, both stylistically and emotionally. Stl Today
2.0
Some cute animal moments, but the flat human characters do not ring true. Cleve Land
3.1
Its simple and poignant and appropriately a little whimsical, too. Dustin Put Man
4.0
While many will accuse his adaptation of the real life British story of the Mees takeover of Dartmoor Zoological Park as being manipulative and formul .. Stuff
3.8
Its not that.At best, its a fairly safe movie to take the kids to, although after the recent exotic animal unpleasantness in Ohio theres a faint queas .. Ar Kansas Online
3.8
Its vintage Crowe in terms of emotional authenticity, and possibly the reason Damon took the part. Larsen On Film
3.0
The conclusion is foregone, but Crowe still makes the journey emotionally satisfying by being judicious with the schmaltz. Hollywood And Fine
3.0
Superficially very charming, this lacks depth but is still a pleasant and moving distraction. The Sun
3.0
Cameron Crowe returns from movie exile with We Bought a Zoo, a sweet and sentimental ode to new beginnings that features a charming performance from M .. Matts Movie Reviews
3.8
Damons performance here is intelligent, sensitive, richly humane and yet fully possessing all the wondrous likability that keeps Damon one of Americas ..
3.5
What do you when you lose the love of your life.How do you break yourself out of stasis when every action reminds you of her Hollywood Chicago
3.0
It isnt the wildest safari youll ever go on, but it has plenty of attractions to offer less cynical visitors. Sky
3.0
The result is an uneven pastiche of highly charged drama, whimsy, wildlife doco, corny melodrama and mawkishness. Sbs
4.0
Splendid performances, a touching storyline and occasional bursts of genuine cinematic intelligence (if you catch the La jetee reference, you deserve .. Crave Online
2.5
The shameless manipulation on display here makes one wonder where Cameron Crowes talent has gone.We Bought A Zoo is out now in UK cinemas. What Culture
2.0
Its too bad, then, that the film isnt averse to plundering what have become the increasingly tired cliches of this mini genre. Scots Man
3.1
Crowe has this special ability to take the formulaic cheesiness of a normal script and give it a sense of freshness, so that we are having a good time .. Scene Stealers
4.5
While the creatures may be dangerous, Jerry Maguire director Cameron Crowe definitely plays things safe. What So
2.0
While its heart is in the right place, this movie is just too sappy for its own good. Bowling Green Daily News
3.0
If you had hoped writer director Cameron Crowe would return from his six year hiatus having shed the demons of Elizabethtown, well, Ive got some bad n .. Streaming Quickflix
1.9
Clearly, Crowe doesnt trust the audience to make it from Point A to Point B without stumbling or getting lost. Clclt
3.0
A sweet natured tale about animals and new beginnings that youll want to see with your kids. Jam! Movies
2.5
Thomas Horn, discovered on a Jeopardy! teen tournament, has to carry the picture, and hes not really an actormore of an intelligent reciter.Fortunatel .. Ny Mag
3.5
That sort of vandalism of a real life inspirational tale happens in new Hollywood too, and Exhibit A is Cameron Crowes We Bought a Zoo. Entertainment Time
2.5
So few films this holiday season can truly be labeled family film. We Bought a Zoo is one. Sadly, many films wear the label of boring. We Bought a Zoo .. Tri City Herald
4.5
However, Damon doesnt sustain the paternal pride when interacting with Dylans Colin Ford, making for some very unsettling heated combative anger that ..
4.0
Its guaranteed to deliver some solid life lessons and leave everyone a little bit teary eyed and smiling. Theepoch Times
5.0
We Bought a Zoo, based on a true story, is an outstanding show that could, and should, bring in herds of viewers. It centers on a man who really did b .. Qc Times
3.0
Too much of the movie feels predestined down to the rainstorm on opening day and subplots involving budding romance end up forcing whats implicit. New York Time Out
4.0
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 agreeab .. Spectator
3.0
Everyone with the exception of the bureaucratic inspector emerges likable as do all of the good natured animals. Compuserve
3.1
The picture annoys you, but it also wrings happy tears, because Crowe pulls at your heartstrings in crafty ways. Miami
4.0
Unlike frenetic movies focused on the next laugh, this tender film does not aim at children and hope to bring adults along. World Wng
4.5
Were sorry, but this web site contains enhanced features not supported by the browser version you are currently using. Richard Roeper
2.0
When we do feel a warm fuzzy in the heart or a lump in the throat, we also see everything Crowe did to put it there. Film.com
3.0
A warm, Sunday afternoon in the park type of movie, if thats your thing. Little White Lies
2.5
We Bought a Zoo is just as youd expect and nothing more.Which is a real shame, because it misses a perfect opportunity for cultural commentary. Critics Notebook
3.5
...where We Bought A Zoo earns its stripes is in the process of getting all of its characters to relate to and accept each other. MSN Movies
3.0
This is a good, old fashioned family movie grounded in Matt Damons best ever performance. Movie Mom
2.8
This isnt just an exercise in mawkishness, though its also nowhere near as emotionally resonant as it strives to be. Movie Line
3.0
Crowe may have forgotten where the line between touching and maudlin is, but he hasnt forgotten how to work with actors, and Damons performance is mea .. Bad Ass Digest
2.0
The films trump card is Damon, who delivers a moving and honest performance. Liver Pool Echo
3.5
No shot in the film look dull or not engaging.The performances are universally solid, and Spielberg wisely uses an all European cast. Kc Active
2.5
Directed by the Norman Rockwell of the classic rock set, Cameron Crowe, this overdetermined and painfully protracted movie needs more animals and less .. Gomemphis
3.8
The tigers are cool, the monkeys are cute, but deep down, Crowe is more interested in the characters. And so are we. Host Madison
3.0
All emotional shortcuts and vaguely defined characters, held together more than it deserves by Damons admirable star turn. New York Metro Mix
3.5
A few more animal encounters and fewer grief sessions would have been nice, but its still a solid family film. Movie Metropolis
3.0
But even Homer nods.Still, heres the solution for the whole family for a rainy day in the Easter hols, should such an unprecedented disaster occur. This Is London
2.5
PG 13 Release date Dec. 23, 2011 If youre a half hour into this movie and forget its title, dont worry. American Profile
3.0
For the holidays it does come packaged very well and kids will love the idea of living in the backyard of a zoo, but for some adults it misses the mar .. Jo Reviews
2.5
I wish this movie had more of a role for him here, but its too jam packed to give this undervalued actor a real chance to shine. Big Hollywood
5.0
Sure, some if it may be a bit too cute for words, but the smile on your face will overcome the feelings of Bah Humbug that might be trying to sneak ou ..
4.0
You can literally see Bourne star Matt Damon enjoying himself at the centre of this heartwarming family movie and it will make all the difference to y ..
3.0
Its not exactly light fare, but it is one of the better family films of 2011. Movies About
1.5
This lack of real romance and the fact that the film is pitched firmly at the family entertainment market means We Bought A Zoo doesnt really reach a .. NME
2.5
Memo to Cameron Crowe: You cant just put a cute kid in a movie and think thats enough to sell the audience on it.
3.0
Buying Rosemoor fits in line with the bold moves that have often defined the behavior of previous Crowe heroes Lloyd Dobler played In Your Eyes outsid .. Moveable Fest
3.0
Suffers from a case of schizophrenia; some of it is waaay too simple, cutesy and/or sappy for adults, while other scenes are too intense and adult for .. Movie Dearest Blog Spot
3.1
An average movie thats clearly been crafted to bring holiday families together over the popcorn machine. Toronto Star
4.5
Its a sunny, lightweight, crowd pleasing film of a kind that doesnt get made anymore; even the transplanting of an almost true story from Britain to A .. film-authority.com
2.5
So, as you may expect, this film is a continuous tidal wave of contrived dialogue, weak characters and overwhelming schmaltz. Indy Week
3.0
I always look forward to watching director Cameron Crowes films or should I say listen to his superior soundtracks. For this former Rolling Stone jour .. UTV
2.0
Cameron Crowe wont suffer another total commercial and critical flameout, but this is no return to form.
1.5
That tone does have an agreeable warmth; for all of its flaws, the movie doesnt have the hollowness of cynical manipulation; Crowe remains a heartfelt .. The Lmagazine
3.8
Theres an endearing, almost Fitzcarraldo like irrational obsession to his character that keeps you from rolling your eyes as he continues his silly qu .. OK! Magazine
4.5
The whole film is beautifully directed with its gorgeous California scenery within the zoo and, knowing this is based on the true story of a family (e .. Roobla



See Where to Watch We Bought a Zoo