We Bought a Zoo (2011)

Director:

Cameron Crowe

Writers:

Aline Brosh McKenna (screenplay) and
Cameron Crowe (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 December 2011 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Plot:

Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.

Plot Keywords:

Zoo | Inspection | Snake | Blocked Road | Family Relationships

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Matt Damon	...	Benjamin Mee
Scarlett Johansson	...	Kelly Foster
Thomas Haden Church	...	Duncan Mee
Colin Ford	...	Dylan Mee
Maggie Elizabeth Jones	...	Rosie Mee
Angus Macfadyen	...	Peter MacCready
Elle Fanning	...	Lily Miska
Patrick Fugit	...	Robin Jones
John Michael Higgins	...	Walter Ferris
Carla Gallo	...	Rhonda Blair
J.B. Smoove	...	Mr. Stevens
Stephanie Szostak	...	Katherine Mee
Michael Panes	...	Principal
Kym Whitley	...	Cashier
Todd Stanton	...	San Diego Vet
Lauren Sanchez	...	TV Anchor
Peter Riegert	...	Delbert McGinty
Roberto Montesinos	...	Hugo Chavez
Desi Lydic	...	Shea Seger (Lasagna Mom)
Erick Chavarria	...	Ernesto
Sam Fox	...	Alison
Dustin Ybarra	...	Nathan
Ben Seeder	...	Bruce
Alice Marie Crowe	...	Parrot Lady
Michelle Panek	...	Sarah Tanner (Vet Assistant)
Gary D. Robertson	...	Male Zookeeper
Nicole Russell	...	Volunteer
Reid Peters	...	Volunteer
Taylor Victoria Cerza	...	Zoo Patron
The Birdman	...	Zoo Patron (as Steven Lee)
Steve Bessette	...	Zoo Patron
Kate Yerves	...	Zoo Patron
Hal Alpert	...	Zoo Patron
Caroline Elizabeth Hanna	...	Zoo Patron (as Caroline Hanna)
Leslie Trotter	...	Zoo Patron
David James Pryce	...	Zoo Patron (as David Lopez)
Benjamin Mee	...	Visiting Family
Ella Mee	...	Visiting Family
Milo Mee	...	Visiting Family
Sammi Yorn	...	Visiting Family
William Crowe	...	Zoo Kid
Curtis Crowe	...	Zoo Kid
Johnny Cicco	...	Zoo Staff
Alexia Barroso	...	Zoo Staff
Thomas R. Baker	...	Pilot
David Dustin Kenyon	...	Pilot
Christie Kittelsen	...	Zoo Lover
Machelle Glassburn	...	Zoo Lover (as Michelle Pickens)
Gabriel Escalante	...	Segundo
Bart the Bear	...	Buster the Bear (as Bart)
Tank	...	Buster the Bear
Crystal the Monkey	...	Crystal the Capuchin (as Crystal)
Katie	...	Spar the Tiger
Felix	...	Solomon the Lion
Ninja	...	Ronnie the Binturong
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Diamond Nicole Landeen	...	Donation Girl
Nicole Andrews	...	Joyce Jameson (uncredited)
Morgan Bertsch	...	Popcorn Stand Girl (uncredited)
Daniel John Chase	...	Zoo Employee (uncredited)
Timothy 'TJ' James Driscoll	...	Parrot Man (uncredited)
Stevie Mack	...	Zoo Patron (uncredited)
Lily Rains	...	Sentimental Mother (uncredited)
George F. Watson	...	Zoo patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Cameron Crowe

Writing credits
Aline Brosh McKenna		(screenplay) and
Cameron Crowe		(screenplay)
Benjamin Mee		(book)

Produced by
Paul Deason	....	co-producer
Marc Gordon	....	co-producer (as Marc R. Gordon)
Jeffrey Harlacker	....	associate producer
Ilona Herzberg	....	executive producer
Michelle Panek	....	associate producer
Aldric La'auli Porter	....	co-producer
Julie Yorn	....	producer

Original Music by
Jon Thor Birgisson		(as Jónsi)

Cinematography by
Rodrigo Prieto

Film Editing by
Mark Livolsi

Casting by
Gail Levin

Production Design by
Clay A. Griffith		(as Clay Griffith)

Art Direction by
Peter Borck		(supervising art director)
Domenic Silvestri

Set Decoration by
Wayne Shepherd

Costume Design by
Deborah Lynn Scott		(as Deborah L. Scott)

Makeup Department
Garry Allyn	....	additional hair stylist
Allan A. Apone	....	assistant department head makeup
Elena Arroy	....	makeup artist
Jeri Baker	....	assistant department head hair
Marc Boyle	....	additional hair stylist
Becky Cotton	....	makeup artist
Brad Look	....	makeup artist
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist
Barbara Olvera	....	hair department head
Lisa Rocco	....	makeup artist
Sherilyn Stetz	....	additional makeup
Heba Thorisdottir	....	makeup department head
Laine Trzinski	....	hair stylist
Teresa Vest	....	makeup artist
Isabella Wiley	....	makeup artist
K. Troy Zestos	....	additional hairstylist

Production Management
Paul Deason	....	unit production manager
Jeffrey Harlacker	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gary Romolo Fiorelli	....	second assistant director: second unit
Thomas Robinson Harper	....	second unit director
John Nasraway	....	second assistant director
Aldric La'auli Porter	....	first assistant director
Joe Roddey	....	second second assistant director
Steven E. Simon	....	second second assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Andrea Babineau	....	set decorating coordinator
Pedro Barquin	....	stand-by greens foreman
Richard J. Bell	....	greens designer
Clint Carney	....	conceptual artist: Dylan's art
Chris Carriveau	....	set dresser
Skip Crank	....	assistant property master
Shannon Curfman	....	assistant set decorator
Shannon Curfman	....	set decoration buyer
Vincent D'Aquino	....	greens foreman
Michael D'Imperio	....	props
Marc Martin Del Campo	....	set dresser
Alex Hill	....	storyboard artist (as Alex Hillkurtz)
Mathilde Hovsepian	....	art department assistant
Mathilde Hovsepian	....	property department production assistant
Patrick Janicke	....	production illustrator
Daniel R. Jennings	....	set designer
John Paul 'J.P.' Jones	....	property master
Richard W. Jones	....	greens gang boss
Mark Kudra	....	set dressing gangboss
Brook Mansbridge	....	propmaker
John Hammer Maxwell	....	on-set dresser
Gary Metzen	....	painter
Charlie Montoya	....	set dresser
Samuel Pactol	....	paint foreman
Frank Piercy	....	paint supervisor
Jamie Rama	....	illustrator
Edmond Scott Ratliff	....	set dresser
David Saltzman	....	second unit property master
Clint Schultz	....	graphic designer
Bruce G. Smith	....	paint foreman
Eric Smith	....	paint foreman
Harlan Spatz	....	set dresser
Angela Stauffer	....	art department coordinator
Naomi Treuherz	....	supervising signwriter
Kurt Verbaarschott	....	set dresser
Mike Villarino	....	construction coordinator
Frank White	....	welder gangboss
Gerard Willard	....	set dresser
Mark Woodworth II	....	painter
Chris Zimmerman	....	on-set stand-by painter

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Ron Bartlett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don Coufal	....	boom operator
Susan Dawes	....	supervising dialogue editor
Tim Gomillion	....	sound recordist
John Guentner	....	foley mixer
Warren Hendriks	....	sound effects editor
Jeffrey A. Humphreys	....	sound utility
Mildred Iatrou	....	supervising sound editor (as Mildred Iatrou Morgan)
R.J. Kizer	....	adr editor
Jonathan Klein	....	foley editor
Ai-Ling Lee	....	additional sound mixer
Ai-Ling Lee	....	supervising sound editor
Skip Longfellow	....	first assistant sound editor
Helen Luttrell	....	dialogue editor
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Ric Schnupp	....	adr recordist
Thomas W. Small	....	foley editor
Jeff Wexler	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
Burt Dalton	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Richard Alonso	....	computer graphics
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals
Christina Graff	....	visual effects producer
Paul Graff	....	visual effects supervisor
Rachel Faith Hanson	....	visual effects coordinator
Joshua LaCross	....	compositor
Philippe Majdalani	....	digital intermediate assistant producer
Adam Matis	....	digital compositor: Crazy Horse Effects
Luke McDonald	....	on-set digital effects supervisor: CHE
Saravanan Sala	....	lead paint artist
Brian Sales	....	lead compositor: Crazy Horse Effects
Doug Spilatro	....	visual effects artist
Carl Stern	....	digital compositor
Judy Webster	....	visual effects coordinator: Crazy Horse Effects
Magdalena Wolf	....	visual effects producer: Crazy Horse Effects

Stunts
Thomas Robinson Harper	....	stunt coordinator
Christopher Leps	....	stunt double: Matt Damon
Chris O'Hara	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Justin Babin	....	rigging grip best boy
Craig Bauer	....	second assistant camera: "A" camera
Mateo Bourdieu	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Steve Brewer	....	grip: second unit
Darwin Montana Browne	....	key grip: second unit
Alejandro J. Castillo	....	lighting technician
Jonathan Clark	....	camera loader
Andrew Crankshaw	....	film loader
Charles Crivier	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Christopher Crivier	....	grip
Joseph Dianda	....	key grip
Anthony Erlandson	....	best boy grip
Mathias Fain	....	videographer
Matt Floyd	....	rigging grip
Lauren Gadd	....	loader: second unit
Chris Gordon	....	dolly grip: second unit
Jerry Gregoricka	....	rigging electrician
Lisa Guerriero	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Chris Haarhoff	....	camera operator
Jonathan Keogh	....	second assistant grip
Benjamin Kilmer	....	grip
Brad Leidholdt	....	grip
Chris Leidholdt	....	rigging key grip
Jim Leidholdt	....	dolly grip
Lorna Leslie	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Greg Lopez	....	rigging best boy electric
Johnathon R. Martin	....	grip
Johnathon R. Martin	....	grip: second unit
Eduardo Enrique Mayén	....	director of photography: second unit
Patrick Murguia	....	director of photography: second unit
Francine Natale	....	lighting technician
Neal Preston	....	still photographer
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, steadicam: second unit
Joel A. Ruiz	....	rigging electrician
Chris Salamone	....	grip
Michael J. Schwartz	....	lighting technician
Brad Shield	....	director of photography: second unit
Zoran Veselic	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Roger Wall	....	assistant camera
Michael Woodside	....	electrician
Randy Woodside	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Cody Bayne	....	extras casting assistant
Jeremy Gordon	....	casting associate
Rich King	....	extras casting
Doug Ritzenthaler	....	extras casting assistant
Alex Zahn	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kohl V. Bladen	....	wardrobe assistant
Sarah Bowman	....	additional costume assistant
Bren Cook	....	ager/dyer
Phyllis Corcoran-Woods	....	costumer
Emily Egge	....	set costumer
Brandon Kelly	....	costume assistant
Beth Koenigsberg	....	key costumer
Barnaby Smith	....	costumer: Mr. Damon
Ivory Stanton	....	ager/dyer
Lori Stilson	....	costume supervisor
Jack Taggart	....	head ager and dyer
Laura Wolford	....	set costumer
Deborah Zimmerman	....	key set costumer

Editorial Department
David Bilow	....	first assistant editor
Kenny Dodson	....	editorial production assistant
Joe Hutshing	....	additional editor
Élodie Ichter	....	colorist assist: Efilm
Lara Khachooni	....	assistant editor
William Kruzykowski	....	additional editor
Yvan Lucas	....	digital film colorist: Efilm
David Matusek	....	assistant editor
Tom Reiser	....	second colorist: Efilm

Music Department
Mark Graham	....	head of music preparation
Joel Iwataki	....	music scoring mixer
Carlton Kaller	....	music editor
Victor Pesavento	....	music preparation
Mauricio Yazigi	....	guitar
Gina Zimmitti	....	music contractor

Transportation Department
Tony Mouradian	....	driver
Dave Robling	....	transportation coordinator
Tom Sweeney	....	transportation dispatcher
Dean Winton	....	driver

Other crew
Lori A. Balton	....	location scout
Chris Baugh	....	location manager
Roger Berard	....	set production assistant
Michael Betz	....	key assistant location manager
Judith M. Brown	....	studio teacher
Bettina Browne	....	animal trainer: tigers
Emma Johnston Burton	....	production assistant
Kellye Carnahan	....	assistant: Julie Yorn
Johnny Cicco	....	stand-in: Mr. Damon
Kevin Collins	....	production assistant
Kimberly Cooper	....	production executive
Nicky Craft	....	payroll accountant
Adam Cuthbert	....	additional set production assistant
Adam Dornbusch	....	production assistant
Justin Duncan	....	key assistant location manager
Erin Engman	....	assistant production coordinator
D.R. Farquharson	....	project manager: Deluxe Digital Cinema
Mark Forbes	....	animal coordinator
Freedom	....	stand-in
Jacqueline Garcia	....	animal department assistant
Elan Garfias	....	additional adr voice
Ana Garrido	....	script supervisor intern
Laura Gary	....	studio teacher
Keith Gaudin	....	assistant accountant
Matt Goldstein	....	set production assistant
Alison Goser	....	production assistant
Brandon Gutierrez	....	projectionist
Curtis Harrison	....	stand-in: Mr. Damon
Traci Richelle Harrison	....	stand-in: Maggie Elizabeth Jones
Robert Hatfield	....	projectionist (as Bobby Hatfield)
Angela Heald	....	production coordinator
Alison Hoberman	....	crafts service
Jossara Jinaro	....	voice
Eric Johnson	....	production assistant
Ben Jordan	....	production secretary
Maxim Knight	....	adr actor
Brandon Koppel	....	production assistant
Jerry Lee	....	construction accountant
Amanda Luce	....	set production assistant
Stuart Magruder	....	production assistant
Stephen Mallett	....	set production assistant
Richard McDonough	....	set production assistant
Justin Mickelson	....	production assistant
Lucas Moore	....	studio teacher
Kristi Mujica	....	key second asst accountant
Brian Nailing	....	cook
Ryan Neary	....	key assistant location manager
Zack Neuman	....	set production assistant
Elizabeth Nouri	....	production assistant
Casey O'Connor	....	location office assistant
Justin Oberman	....	production assistant
Ana Maria Quintana	....	script supervisor
Michelle Roca	....	key set production assistant
Kevin Roy	....	production assistant: second unit
Erin Shelley	....	animal trainer
Helen Sideris	....	first assistant accountant
Jonathan Siebel	....	accounting clerk
Alison R. Smith	....	hoofstock trainer
Julie Ann Snow	....	production accountant
David Sousa	....	animal trainer
Jon Torgerson	....	caterer: second unit
Eric Weld	....	head trainer: lion and tiger
Ben White	....	set production assistant
Anita Wischhusen	....	porcupine trainer
Alex L. Worman	....	unit publicist
Ted Yonenaka	....	craft service head
Ryan Young	....	production assistant: second unit

Thanks
Thomas R. Baker	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (as Twentieth Century Fox) (presents)
• LBI Entertainment
• Vinyl Films
• Dune Entertainment (made in association with)

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (through Warner Bros.)
• 20th Century Fox Norway (2012) (Norway) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2011) (Spain) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Big Picture 2 Films (2011) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Forum Cinemas (2011) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Imperial - Cinepix (2012) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Tiglon (2011) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox C.I.S. (2012) (Belarus) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox C.I.S. (2012) (Kazakhstan) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox C.I.S. (2012) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (through)
• Sea Movies (2011) (worldwide) (all media) (ships)

Special Effects

• BOT VFX
• Crazy Horse Effects (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Allan Padelford Camera Cars  camera equipment provided by (Push Pull Rig)
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Columbia Records  soundtrack
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• EMS Payroll  extras payroll services
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Playback Technologies  video and computer playback
• Reel Security  production security
• Rich King Casting  extras casting
• Sam Hurwitz Productions  EPK produced by
• Scarlet Letters  main and end titles
• Scenechronize  production management software

Also Known As:

"Un zoológico en casa" - Argentina (imdb display title), Chile (imdb display title), Costa Rica (imdb display title), Mexico (imdb display title), Peru (imdb display title)
"Un lugar para soñar" - Spain (imdb display title), Spain (Castilian title) (imdb display title)
"Avem un zoo!" - Romania (imdb display title)
"Az igazi kaland" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"Comprámos um Zoo!" - Portugal (imdb display title)
"Compramos Um Zoológico" - Brazil (imdb display title)
"Düsler Bahçesi" - Turkey (Turkish title) (imdb display title)
"Koti eläintarhassa" - Finland (imdb display title)
"Kupili smo Zoo" - Croatia (imdb display title)
"Kupiliśmy zoo" - Poland
"Kupilismy zoo" - Poland (imdb display title)
"La mia vita è uno zoo" - Italy (imdb display title)
"Makom lahalom alav" - Israel (Hebrew title) (imdb display title)
"Mes nusipirkom zoologijos soda" - Lithuania (imdb display title)
"Nouveau départ" - France (imdb display title)
"O zoologikos mas kipos" - Greece (imdb display title)
"Wir kaufen einen Zoo" - Germany (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and some thematic elements

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #47159) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Ireland:PG | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:All | Hong Kong:I | Mexico:A | UK:PG | Japan:G | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:9 | Germany:o.Al. (f)

Filming Locations:

990 N. Allen St., Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

In the movie, the character, Rosie, refers to her dad, Benjamin Mee, as "more handsome" than the other dads because most of them don't have hair. The real Benjamin Mee is actually completely bald.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Benjaminmakes a joking reference to the 'Chilean Miners' while Rosie is being tucked into her bed that's full of stuffed animals almost covering her entire body.

Quotes:

Benjamin Mee:You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Maltin on Movies: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (#1.56)" (2011)

Why Not?!

-- www.Ramascreen.com --

And the 2011 most feel-good movie goes to WE BOUGHT A ZOO. It's one of the most heartwarming, delightful, pleasant family films you'll see this Holiday season. It's also an excellent grief-themed movie. Great ensemble cast, across the board. This is much lighter than what we usually expect from Cameron Crowe who brought us Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous, and Vanilla Sky, but after leaving us with the meditational Elizabethtown, which I didn't enjoy very much, and then 6 years hiatus, WE BOUGHT A ZOO is a very sweet, very nice comeback, a breath of fresh air…

What I enjoy about Crowe's movies is that there's always something personable about them, and it's no different with WE BOUGHT A ZOO. This film is not preachy, it doesn't hit you like a ton of bricks, it doesn't drag, it doesn't get too sentimental either. It's tender yet firm, a bit predictable yet entertaining. It's one of those movies that make anything seem possible, somewhat of an underdog story, the kind that's generally liked, it's a good way for Crowe to tell the world that he's still in the game, without having to alienate his old fans, while embracing some new ones. Be glad that this is not a talking animal movie. The animals in WE BOUGHT A ZOO serve as a way to challenge the humans on their road to healing and triumph.

Matt Damon is a fantastic actor because he can be action man in one movie and he can be your next door regular neighbor joe schmoe in another. As the single dad, Benjamin Mee, Damon channels a certain vulnerability that comes with fatherhood. And Damon shows the sorrow and exhaustion of a newly single parent. I think it's great to see Scarlett Johansson utilizing more than just her good looks. She shows some range that we remember from Lost In Translation, Girl With A Pearl Earring and The Horse Whisperer. Johansson is not believable as a zookeeper, I mean, let's face it,.. if you were to name someone who handles a zoo or cleans animal crap for a living, Johansson would probably the last person on your list, but she seems self-composed, which allows her character to be Mee's listening ear. Outstanding work by the teens in this film, Colin Ford who plays Mee's angry son, Dylan and Elle Fanning who plays the socially awkward Elle Fanning. Their characters embody stereotypical teens and their usual problems with parents and also with peers their age. Ford and Fanning are actors who are going to rock Hollywood someday, you just wait and see.

Some things don't work for me, although I admit Maggie Elizabeth Jones who plays the little daughter Rosie is absolutely adorable, I think the film plays out her cuteness way too often, way too much. And I think it's sad that Patrick Fugit who was practically the star of Crowe's 2000 Oscar worthy movie, Almost Famous, doesn't get to have a substantial role in this film. All he mostly does is stand there in the background with a monkey on his back, how sad. Aside from the zoo aspect, the story itself, in its core, is nothing unique but that doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing. It's about difficulties of moving on. The loss of his wife, the mother of his children, leaves a mark that can't easily be replaced by the appeal an unconventional new home. But as the film suggests, sometimes plans change, and all of a sudden it's not about you anymore. And it's not a Crowe movie without such memorable lines like 'Show me the money' and 'you had me at hello', WE BOUGHT A ZOO has a hopeful message of taking chances and gambling on life through 20 seconds of insane courage, loving people, and adventurous, unadulterated joy. And if you're still asking why you should watch this movie, just say to yourself.. why not?!

-- www.Ramascreen.com --