Not just the big names Matt Damon & Scarlett Johansson, but this film features a favorite actor of mine Thomas Hayden Church (best known from the sitcom "Wings", but you gotta check out his brilliant deadpan performance in the dark comedy-murder-mystery "Don McKay"), making me think it would be an instant hit with me. Add the talents of director Cameron Crowe ("Jerry Maguire" and, hands down, the best 20-something romcom "Singles"), and also add the fact that I love animals more than life itself, and you'd think this movie couldn't fail. Somehow it did, and here's why...
In its efforts to straddle the genres of family film, adult comedy, and deep character drama, it seemed to lose its identity completely. Billed most prominently as a family film, its presentation certainly started off too heavy, dwelling on the complex pain of Matt Damon's character trying to get over a family tragedy whilst single handedly raising 2 young children, one of whom is a disturbed boy who draws violent pictures and keeps getting kicked out of schools. That sentence is a mouthful, isn't it? It sure is, and certainly the film gets off to bizarre start by spending 30 minutes in this subdued, dark theme.
At the same time, it introduces some humor and levity, but to me that was unconvincing. Close up shots of the little girl doing cute things like making a pbj sandwich and cheerfully helping her father throw out old clothes aren't enough to offset the dark, brooding mood. Actually I would've loved if the film had mostly stayed in this zone, because in itself it is very interesting to the adult crowd. But then to fulfill the "family movie" audiences, it abruptly shifts into wacky and somewhat predictable Disney territory once they buy the zoo.
Again, I have nothing against wacky predictable Disney movies. It was just jarring to have the gears shifted on me. I haven't researched the actual writing and production of this film, but I would bet every last dime that the executive producers (financeers) were constantly interrupting the natural flow of filmmaking in order to "keep it family friendly". The result seemed to be a mostly identityless cross-genre compromise.
Highlights: I LOVED Thomas Hayden Church's wry, cynical humor. He was the glue that kept things together for me, through his deadpan commentary on the state of things. Matt Damon himself did a great job of acting, but I think his performance was much more suited for a heavy drama.
I may give this film another go sometime, now that I have a better idea how to approach it. Similarly, if you've read this far, you'll have an idea of what to expect and maybe you'll enjoy the film as a whole. Either way, it's not a bad film; it just didn't live up to the high expectations that these great professionals should be measured against.
In its efforts to straddle the genres of family film, adult comedy, and deep character drama, it seemed to lose its identity completely. Billed most prominently as a family film, its presentation certainly started off too heavy, dwelling on the complex pain of Matt Damon's character trying to get over a family tragedy whilst single handedly raising 2 young children, one of whom is a disturbed boy who draws violent pictures and keeps getting kicked out of schools. That sentence is a mouthful, isn't it? It sure is, and certainly the film gets off to bizarre start by spending 30 minutes in this subdued, dark theme.
At the same time, it introduces some humor and levity, but to me that was unconvincing. Close up shots of the little girl doing cute things like making a pbj sandwich and cheerfully helping her father throw out old clothes aren't enough to offset the dark, brooding mood. Actually I would've loved if the film had mostly stayed in this zone, because in itself it is very interesting to the adult crowd. But then to fulfill the "family movie" audiences, it abruptly shifts into wacky and somewhat predictable Disney territory once they buy the zoo.
Again, I have nothing against wacky predictable Disney movies. It was just jarring to have the gears shifted on me. I haven't researched the actual writing and production of this film, but I would bet every last dime that the executive producers (financeers) were constantly interrupting the natural flow of filmmaking in order to "keep it family friendly". The result seemed to be a mostly identityless cross-genre compromise.
Highlights: I LOVED Thomas Hayden Church's wry, cynical humor. He was the glue that kept things together for me, through his deadpan commentary on the state of things. Matt Damon himself did a great job of acting, but I think his performance was much more suited for a heavy drama.
I may give this film another go sometime, now that I have a better idea how to approach it. Similarly, if you've read this far, you'll have an idea of what to expect and maybe you'll enjoy the film as a whole. Either way, it's not a bad film; it just didn't live up to the high expectations that these great professionals should be measured against.