Benjamin Mee (Damon) is a Los Angeles newspaper columnist and adventure writer who, as a single father, faces the challenges of raising his two young children. Hoping that a fresh start and a new life will restore their family spirit, Mee quits his job and buys an old rural house outside the city with a unique bonus feature: a zoo named the Rosemoor Animal Park, where dozens of animals reside under the care of head zookeeper Kelly Foster (Johansson) and her dedicated team. With no experience, limited time and a shoestring budget, Mee sets out with the support of his family and the local community to reopen the zoo. Now, Benjamin is no longer reporting an adventure story; he’s living it in his own backyard.
MY REVIEW:
What a fantastic adventure this family is taking. After the loss of his wife Ben moves his two children, 13 year old son and his 7 year old daughter away from it all. They move to the country and buy a house, not just any house though. Everyone wants to have a nice home with some acreage but this was a little more than he expected. A zoo, A ZOO, he bought a zoo, but he is up for the challenge because his daughter has fallen in love. Thinking this would have a great impact on the three remaining members of his family Ben packed everyone up and left the world they knew behind. In doing so he has enraged his already troubled 13 year old, who feels his father hates him. And why wouldn't he, he feels ignored, neglected, left out in the cold. This movie touched my heart in so many ways. If I lost my husband I’m not sure I could bare to continue this life that we have, I would try for the sake of my children, but just as this man did I would likely end up starting new somewhere.
I have a daughter who is nearing her teens and she is always pushing my buttons and testing my limits as children often do to their parents. There was an outburst in the movie because of a misunderstanding of what Ben said to Kelly and his son started screaming and wanting to go back "home" and it made me think of what I know is to come soon with my oldest daughter and eventually with the others. This movie was so fantastic in every way. I was thrilled to watch it with my children. It is such a real and believable story, okay, well maybe not the zoo part, I don't know many people who would be able to buy a zoo, but the rest is very true. I love this movie, it made me tear up at the fight between father and son, although that could just be my own fear of what's to come with my children. I love this movie, it has so much heart and soul in it, it truly is a great family movie and I will enjoy it many more times, likely alone when my husband is working late at night, but it will be seen again on the screen of my TV!
I give this movie 11 out of 12 thumbs up!!
~~I received the movie mentioned above for free for a written review of my honest opinion. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers~~
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