We Bought a Zoo (2011)

We Bought a Zoo is a 2011 movie with heart.  If you are in a cry-baby mood, this is the movie for you.  Even if you are adverse to sobbing pretty much through the entire film, this is the movie for you.

If you are stepping out into the unknown, in life, in love, this movie is for you.

Also this flick reminds us to always have "circus money"--mad money, money to follow your dreams.

And, sometimes, your defense in an argument, or when asked to explain why you are chasing your "crazy" dream, is none other than:  "Why not?"

With Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson headlining, plus two wonderful actors playing the children:  Colin Ford as Dylan and the scene-stealing Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Rosie, we are blessed.

But we need comic relief in this sad story of losing a wife, a mother, so who better than Thomas Hayden Church as the brother to the recent widower and John Michael Higgins as the big, bad zoo inspector.

The cast is filled with quirky characters who serve as zookeepers and the stunningly beautiful Stephanie Szostak, a French-American actress who plays the deceased wife/mother. All mixed to a nice soundtrack.

Based on the memoir of Benjamin Mee (published 2009), here is the short story, straight off the real zoo's online site:  http://www.dartmoorzoo.org/your-visit/the-dzp-story.html.

Since I love movies and books and quotations, finding wisdom everywhere I look, just gotta share some from this movie.

~ ~ ~ 

Benjamin:  You seem really calm [pre-inspection]. . . . . Have you been drinking?
MacCready aka Mac:  All night long.
Benjamin:  Thanks for that [otherwise he'd attack and "kill" the zoo inspector].
Mac:  Any time.

Lily:  If you have to choose between people and animals, really quick, who would you choose?
Kelly:  [Thinking while looking at Benjamin and his kids.]
Lily:  Me, too.  People.  [My response would be:  People who love animals.]

Rosie [to her dad, when she can't sleep because of the neighbors partying]:  Their happy is too loud.

Benjamin [upon meeting who would become his wife]:  Why would an amazing woman like you even talk to someone like me?
Katherine:  Why not?

Benjamin [to his son]:  You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage, literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery and, I promise you, something great will come of it.

Benjamin:  Do you remember what you told me when I was a kid?
Duncan [brother]:  You only have to be courageous for twenty seconds.
Benjamin:  It has guided me my entire life.

~ ~ ~ 

Amen.  Go forth.  Be courageous.  Twenty seconds at a time.

Denise Barker, author + freelance copy editor
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