While most of us would never have the gumption, the wherewithal or the ability to try to bring a failed zoo back to life, it’s a neat dream, and it’s very cool that somebody actually did it, and now there’s a movie about him.  Based on the true story of the Dartmoor Wildlife Park (Rosemoor in the movie), We Bought a Zoo delivers pretty much exactly what it promises.

Matt Damon stars as Benjamin Mee, a recent widower troubled by his inability to connect with his increasingly wild son (Colin Ford) and care for his young daughter (Maggie Elizabeth Jones).  A move to the country leads to an unexpected find: a zoo that needs someone to renovate the property and care for its animals and human staff.  Mee accepts the challenge upon seeing how much his daughter loves the idea. Complications aplenty ensue, most of them financial, but the experience eventually brings his family closer together and saves a bunch of animals in the process.

Cameron Crowe’s film refuses to sentimentalize the situation or the animals, which is exactly the right tone to take.  It becomes an underdog story, as everyone, including Mee’s brother (Thomas Haden Church), advises against the purchase, but Mee needs a change in his own life, and he believes that his risk-taking wife would have heartily approved.  Rather pat relationship sparkers appear in Scarlett Johansson (for Damon) and Elle Fanning (for Ford), yet even these complications are handled with care.

We Bought a Zoo is a pleasant, feel-good story for the holiday season.  It recognizes that dealing with grief and its emotional hardships is the only way to be able to move forward in life.  Its characters are genuinely likable and I cared about them.  It isn’t a great movie but it’s thoughtful and sincere in its belief that care can rescue even the most damaged hearts.  And it’s got some really neat animals, who could have used even greater screen time, especially the bear.  ✰ ✰ ✰.  29 Dec. 2011.