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We Bought a Zoo

We Bought a Zoo

Drama · Comedy · Family · 2011

Benjamin has lost his wife and, in a bid to start his life over, purchases a large house that has a zoo – welcome news for his daughter, but his son is not happy about it. The zoo is in need of renovation and Benjamin sets about the work with the head keeper and the rest of the staff, but, the zoo soon runs into financial trouble.

Movie details

We Bought a Zoo

“A true zoo story.”

2011 Drama · Comedy · Family 2h 4m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Benjamin has lost his wife and, in a bid to start his life over, purchases a large house that has a zoo – welcome news for his daughter, but his son is not happy about it. The zoo is in need of renovation and Benjamin sets about the work with the head keeper and the rest of the staff, but, the zoo soon runs into financial trouble.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over We Bought a Zoo?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Cameron Crowe

Written by

Cameron Crowe · Aline Brosh McKenna

Matt Damon

Matt Damon

Benjamin Mee

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson

Kelly Foster

Thomas Haden Church

Thomas Haden Church

Duncan Mee

Colin Ford

Colin Ford

Dylan Mee

Maggie Elizabeth Jones

Maggie Elizabeth Jones

Rosie Mee

Angus Macfadyen

Angus Macfadyen

Peter MacCready

Elle Fanning

Elle Fanning

Lily Miska

Court is in session

Put We Bought a Zoo on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.