We Bought a Zoo ***

          

We Bought a Zoo is a feel good family flick that’s definitely worth watching with the family… or on your lonesome if you want to indulge your inner child (like me).

I’m not going to say it’s brilliant, but it’s different, possibly because it’s actually based on a true story.

The title pretty much sums up the premise of the film.  Matt Damon’s widower, Benjamin Mee decides to uproot his children, Rosie (the extremely adorable Maggie Elizabeth Jones) and troubled teen Dylan (Colin Ford), moving them to a zoo – helpfully encouraged by little Rosie. 

Buying the zoo was the easy part, the hard work comes in bringing it up to scratch and dealing with his children.  He faces all forms of opposition from his laid back, almost hippy-like brother (the very funny Thomas Haden Church) to the various members of the zoo-keeping staff that come with his new ‘adventure.’

Head of this eccentric bunch is Scarlett Johansson, someone who normally irritates me to the point where I want to gouge my own eyes out, but she was oddly cute and quirky in this.  Equally as odd is her little sister – played by Elle Fanning, also quite sweet in an weird way.

 

But it’s little Rosie that’s the scene stealer.  You look forward to her showing up throughout – usually to lift both the characters and audience’s spirits as this odd bunch try to make a success of a potential disaster.

The film did take some time in establishing a rapport with me.  It almost seemed as if the characters i.e. the family members were just getting to know each other.  The only relationship that seemed believable from the beginning was Benjamin and Rosie’s… and incidentally, Matt Damon was at his least wooden around little Maggie.  Scarlett Johansson’s delivery was occasionally equally as wooden, though this may have been due to her character’s quirkiness.

It was Angus McFadyen’s lunatic that I felt was sorely lacking in scenes.  If he had been given more screen time… with Thomas Haden Church, we could have had comedic gold. 

Nevertheless, it is still a great family movie, and the kids won’t care about anything critical I’ve just said.  So, no problems there.

Drive (2011) ****

                             

Drive – a one word title that could either put you off or have you intrigued.  I love my one-word titled films – especially if they relate to cars.  I know nothing about them, just that some look cool and drive (pun intended) fast.

And yes, this was a very intriguing film.  One which has a very late 70s/80s feel to it.  The retro themed soundtrack also helps in that department (retro themed because they weren’t written at that time).

Drive tells the story of The Driver (Ryan Gosling) – a man so mysterious that we never actually find out his name, or for that matter his history.  He is even billed as The Driver in the credits to add to the mysterious atmosphere that surrounds him.  

The Driver is a part time Hollywood stuntman.  The rest of his time is spent either being a mechanic or a very effective getaway driver – freelance.

The latter is what gets him into trouble when he befriends his very cute neighbour – Carey Mulligan’s (Never Let Me Go, Shame) Irene and her even cuter son Benecio (Kaden Leos).

Technically, it’s actually after her husband returns along with his troubled past.  What The Driver does to keep his new friends safe is what defines part of his character i.e. the fact that he has morals and that is all we truly know about him.  That and the prominent symbolism of the scorpion on the back of his jacket – something he refers to when things come to a head.  A warning, if you will to the bad guys.

Drive is packed full of supporting actors you’ve seen somewhere, many of whom you may be unable to place.  One of my favourites is Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy).  He plays a Jewish thug wishing to be an Italian Gangster.

I love Perlman, especially when he’s playing some form of a psychopath.  His partner Bernie (Albert Brooks) also stood out as the more level-headed bad guy.  Someone whom you spend most of the film trying to like – something I actually did.

What I felt (and this is just a personal note) is ashamed at not recognising a living legend of the silver screen – Russ Tamblyn (see Tom Thumb, West Side Story).  The man is just too cool.

Drive has a very Michael Mann-ish vibe to it.  Pink lettering and all, you almost expect Crockett and Tubbs to jump out at some point (Miami Vice reference to those too young or uneducated in 80s cool). 

Added to this is Ryan Gosling’s outstanding performance in which one stops to think… Who does he remind me of?

For me, it was a young Robert De Niro, circa Taxi Driver i.e. that cool, softly spoken (when spoken) strength, ambiguity and menace.  It is my strong belief that the most softly spoken are also the most dangerous.

I believe Ryan Gosling is an amazing actor.  And the chemistry between him and Carey Mulligan is something that really helps the film.  Though it’s a subtle chemistry rather than an explosive one.  But it’s there… how else could they get away with so little dialogue?

The film seems to be aimed towards people that enjoyed the flashy 80s styled thrillers… so if you’re one of them, this is a definite must for you.  That or if you just like excellent acting.

Don’t watch if you want definitive answers.  You won’t get any.

This Means War (2012) **

Oh dear… where should I begin?  This means War is quite a bit of a mess, which is sad, as I was really looking forward to a good Action Comedy.  I’m not going to say it was all bad.  The man candy was obviously going to be the main draw – and one in which they succeeded in.  But overall – very messy.

The film is about two very appealing CIA agents – Chris Pine’s FDR and Tom Hardy’s Tuck – who decide to wage war against each other for the affections of Reese Witherspoon’s Lauren… after realising that they are both dating her.

Somewhere in there, FDR and Tuck are also trying to thwart Til Schweiger’s bad guy.  I honestly can’t remember what sort of a baddie he was.  He turns up at the beginning, disappears – only to reappear somewhere in the middle to look a little menacing - disappears again, only to once again return for an action packed finale.  I do believe this plot (subplot?) was relegated to the background.  Which again is sad – Til Schweiger is quite man candy-ish too!

Maybe the film would have been better if there had been an iota of chemistry between Witherspoon and either one of the leads.  As it turns out, the only chemistry seemed to have been between Pine and Hardy. 

I’m sure this film would have been absolutely brilliant if the focus had been on FDR and Tuck’s ‘Brolationship,’ rather than trying to force Witherspoon’s cuteness when her character actually came off as irritating, hypocritical and quite frankly – slutty, instead.

Conversely, Chelsea Handler, as  Lauren’s loud mouthed and obnoxious friend was quite likable.  Well… she had me smirking and sniggering throughout - and a little grossed out in one scene.

The best scenes without a doubt though, were those between Pine and Hardy.  And as the film went on, they just seemed to get better and funnier.  Hardy was the one that surprised me the most.  We all knew Pine could do comedy (see Just my Luck, Star Trek), but I’m used to seeing Hardy in serious roles such as Bronson or Wuthering Heights.  I never knew he had the ability to make me descend in to hysterical laughter.  One scene where Tuck and FDR jump up and down like excited girly-girls had me in stitches!

The little reference to Star Trek – everyone would have got that, what with Chris Pine’s role as Kirk.  I sniggered not just because I got that reference, but also because Hardy is also part of the Trekkie franchise!

However, and this is more of a pondering than a complaint.  When our two hunks fight, I can’t help but think that if this was real, Hardy would probably rip off Pine’s head with the greatest of ease… which is probably why I wasn’t too excited in this face-off.  It’s not Hardy’s fault - he just has a naturally powerful presence that he can’t help.  But they are both still adorable… in a ‘I could kill you in a 100 different ways’ kind of sweet.

And what was with the camera shaking?!  Enough already... If a fight ensues – you do not need to have the camera shake!  Especially not for this sort of movie!  Sheesh!

So, in a nutshell, if Withspoon’s scenes had been shortened - or better still her character replaced by an unknown and then her scenes shortened in combination with the emphasis on FDR and Tuck’s relationship… oh and some more focus on the thwarting of the baddie, we would have had the makings of a potentially perfect film. 

Which, basically means – wait until this is released on DVD… then you can fast forward the useless rubbish and enjoy the fun bits.