I took my girl to see We Bought a Zoo this weekend. It was a very spontaneous decision … to occupy the female half of my family while the male half was taking in some football. And I selected that particular movie in an effort to see something marginally grown-up for me (meaning it wasn’t a cartoon) but also kid-friendly for her (meaning PG and featuring lots of animals, her favorite). And it fit the bill well as mom-and-daughter middle ground.
The movie is based on the true story of a man whose wife dies at a young age leaving him alone to raise his two children (older boy, younger girl). And I’m just saying here that I am really glad that I didn’t see this movie two months ago. I’m not so sure I could’ve handled it as well as I can now with my life-changing “Get Out of Jail Free” (aka – the Tumor is Benign) card in my wallet.
Seriously, there should be a card.
Also seriously, if I should ever croak prematurely, Dave would never buy a freakin’ zoo. So, there are no other parallels here.
And, despite hearing mixed reviews about the movie, I’m here to say it was just fine for the two of us. We both enjoyed it but, with my child in attendance, I would have preferred a little less colorful language here and there. Sadly though, my biggest bone of contention was a line in the movie that contained no profanity at all. Attention movie makers – When you rate a movie PG, you can’t include the following line of dialogue (and I’m paraphrasing here):
Father to his 14-year-old son: “You’ve got to pull yourself together and stop being so dark and miserable all the time. Your seven-year-old sister still believes in the Easter Bunny, for Pete’s Sake!”
(Sound of needle scratching abruptly across record – click to hear it)
What?!!? Come on, man. The damned movie’s rated PG! … So, you know what? I wrote another letter. Maybe I’ve found a new calling. Here’s hoping this one gets more play than the last one to AMC.
Oh, but I’m just getting warmed up.
OldDogNewTits 
Oooooooh….
There are times I am a bit sad that my son and I cant enjoy a movie together as the Sensory Integration Disorder “stuff” makes dark rooms with LOUD noises a terrifying experience (I have no idea why though some things, like concerts, he is fine with…) so movies are not an enjoyable experience for him, but then again I AM GLAD because I A) dont have to worry about stuff like the above, or B) dont have to worry about being dragged to bad movies like Chipmunked!!!!!
Throw adoption in the mix???!!! O.M.G. You would be so surprised at how adoption, orphanages and foster families can be portrayed (Despicable Me for example – adopting 3 kids to help with his plan and then giving them back to the orphanage when they are not needed anymore. And the head person at the orphanage puts kids in a “Shame Box”…..OMG). Some friends of mine with kids from China and Russia (orphanages) were completely blindsided….
Then there was Kung Fu Panda which was BEAUTIFUL….”Po – you’re a Panda and I am a Goose”. I fully plan to say the same thing when the time comes too! ;o)
And an activist is born…