A throwback to the Disney films of yesteryear but with a modern day appeal, this film feels like George Clooney’s The Descendants for kids. Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) is a recently widowed husband and father of two children. Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) is seven years old and her brother, Dylan (Colin Ford), age fourteen, both love their adventurous dad whose life – up until now – was a reporter…a combat journalist. Benjamin’s brother (Thomas Haden Church)
advises Ben to seek some sunlight and some human interaction – especially since he’s got a fridge full of lasagna trays from all the PTA single moms who want to date him. But instead, Benjamin wants to begin anew by buying a house nine miles from town. And this house is attached to a zoo and a staff that would put Jane Goodall to shame. And with these lions and tigers and bears – oh my – comes the zookeeper (Scarlett Johansson) and her adorable niece (Elle Fanning.) Together this healing family learns to feel free and liberated via the great outdoors, by talking not only talking to the animals, but eventually learning to hear…themselves. Four tiaras