In Theatres: We Bought a Zoo (2012)

Sometimes it Takes Insane Courage to Find Your Power Within to Heal & Transcend

In Theatres:  We Bought a Zoo (2012)

Great inspirational true stories have the power to potentially transform its viewers. We Bought a Zoo is one of those films that take us on a journey (an adventure) of healing.  In the face of loss, when we lose our way in this world, we look for experiences that can provide inspiration, hope and strength.  It is so simply majestic when the serendipity of a viewer connecting to the lead character’s main struggle and pain become a unified experience for two hours.  As the character on screen shows his transformation, a viewer is being transformed simultaneously. Now for some the transformation may be greater than others, but even the most subtle change plants the seed to get us on the right path once again. 

In ‘We Bought a Zoo’, both the brilliance of Director Cameron Crowe and leading man Matt Damon channel the journey of healing through the audience, especially in anyone whose heart is seeking a healing experience.  Matt Damon, portraying a single father of two trying to find a way to move on from the passing of his wife six months earlier, conveys every nuance of loss with such authenticity.  His desire for sanity and in trying to figure out how to be there for his two young children results in an act of what may appear to be utter insanity.  It certainly rings true for anyone who has gone through a very painful period that we may make drastic changes and seemingly insane decisions at times.  Whether it’s a new passion, a new person, a new environment or buying a zoo, it doesn’t really matter what your reaction is, only that this new direction created some kind of spark. It may only be a spark to start, but any spark has the potential to turn into a glowing, warm and comforting flame. 

However, not all healing requires drastic changes to be made in our lives, but what it does require, which this film so magically demonstrates is that we must stand up against the pain. In other words, if we confront our fear with utter determination and tell ourselves that we will overcome whatever has left us feeling damaged and unable to move or even breathe, we take back our inner power and we put ourselves on track to become whole again.

As Damon says it so perfectly, “if we can muster only 20 seconds of insane courage something amazing can happen.” Sometimes just one 20 second act isn’t enough, but 20 seconds at a time everyday is manageable, and every time we do it makes it easier the next time and then without even realizing it we are eventually transformed.

I loved this film, not only for how well done it was, not only for it being an incredible inspirational true story, but because it does what films can do better than anything else and that is to help us find a way in the world.  It allows us to engage ourselves privately in a shared experience and come out of that experience feeling inspired, like everything is going to turn out okay. If you need that kind of support, extra courage, more strength, a light of hope or just that something to make you feel better so that you can move and breathe again, I highly recommend seeing ‘We Bought a Zoo’.  It may not suddenly fix all that you are seeking to repair, but any tear that you shed while watching this film is one more tear giving you strength to overcome your pain and struggle – I promise! (-: (for AMP)

Jinkles Rating out of four: 

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389137/

Jinkles Film Reviews are followed by a final rating – Rating System is as follows:

     Best Movies of All Time         1/2  Outstanding      

     Great         1/2    Good              Okay  

  1/2     Not Too Good                  Terrible