Buy in to Fun with ‘We Bought a Zoo’
No need for the usual “suspension of disbelief” to enjoy this family entertainment offering from Twentieth Century Fox, as this rather whimsical premise is based on the real experiences of a real family. Nine-year-old Anthony Aranda, enjoying the perks of a film critic as one of last year’s KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search winners, got to preview the movie prior to its upcoming release on Dec. 23. (The KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search for next year’s youth film critics is open through Dec. 31.) The movie has its sad parts, KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Anthony shares, but many more funny parts that kept him laughing.
We Bought a Zoo
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda
(See his full review on video.)
Hello, everyone. My name is Anthony Aranda from KIDS FIRST! and I am reviewing a really cool movie called We Bought a Zoo. I really like this movie; it is kind of funny, a little sad, but really cool.
This movie is all about Benjamin Mee, played by Matt Damon, who is living with his family in the city trying to deal with the death of his wife and raise his two kids. His son Dylan is not doing so well and keeps getting into trouble. Dylan finally gets expelled and so they have to find him a new school. Benjamin decides that it’s time for them to move and start a new life, and they find a really cool house out of the city and want to buy it. But they soon realize that this house comes with a zoo. His daughter Rosie loves the house, though, so they decide to give it a try.
Some of the main characters in the movie are Benjamin Mee, Kelly Foster, Duncan, Dylan and Rosie. My favorite character is Benjamin because he is a really funny character. When he gets mad he does some really funny stuff like throwing a tantrum all by himself, which kept me laughing. He is also a really good dad even though he doesn’t exactly know what he’s doing.
My favorite part in the movie is when Benjamin Mee is inside the porcupine pit and he thinks they are nice at first but then the porcupine starts running after him and he jumps over the fence and lands on pointy stuff. So when they try to take them off he keeps screaming! That was really funny.
I would recommend this movie for ages 10 and up because there are some scary parts in this movie that younger kids might not like. The movie is sad because the mom dies and the family is still trying to deal with that. The pictures that Dylan draws are kind of violent and scary and there is also some kissing in the movie that is not appropriative for younger viewers. Go out and see this movie in theaters on December 23rd.
Photos: We Bought a Zoo poster (top), Anthony Aranda (bottom)
