We Bought a Zoo

We Bought a Zoo is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 2,964 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Matt Damon sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Disney Plus.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, We Bought a Zoo is worth clearing space for. We Bought a Zoo gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Benjamin has lost his wife and, in a bid to start his life over, purchases a large house that has a zoo – welcome news for his daughter, but his son is not happy about it. The zoo is in need of renovation and Benjamin sets about the work with the head keeper and the rest of the staff, but, the zoo soon runs into financial trouble. Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2011. What keeps We Bought a Zoo from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in We Bought a Zoo. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Matt Damon's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.