Review of film: “ZOOKEEPER”

2011, 07-06:

Review of film:  “ZOOKEEPER”

Once again, Adam Sandler [as a producer & actor here] has worked with KEVIN JAMES [as lead actor here]...

...   I saw this movie at a special screening hosted by LatinoScoop at the Regal City 14 theater.  It was so popular, not only was there a “full house” in the theater seating 249 [as shown below], there were more than 150 other requests for it that couldn’t be accommodated...

...  The film starts out with a man named Griffin [Griffon] Keyes (KEVIN JAMES) riding a horse along the seaside with his pretty longtime love, Stephanie (LESLIE BIBB).  He points out a bottle with a note in it...

...  Kevin had placed the note in the bottle, & had her read it (as he had a mariachi band waiting to serenade them).  When she reads it, we learn he’s asked her to MARRY him.  He’s crestfallen when she DECLINES his proposal...

...  The reason she gives him for her refusal is, she thinks his job as a manager at the Franklin Park ZOO [a Zoo of New England near Boston] is not “GOOD enough” for her, she wants someone with a “better” more “impressive” future!...

...  That rejection causes Kevin to in-effect GIVES-UP on romantic relationships, & he continues working at the Zoo, where he becomes Lead Supervisor.  He’s liked by almost everyone there, including his chief Veterinarian named Kate (ROSARIO DAWSON)...

...  Kevin is a bit “klutzy” in how he gets things done (falling over things & the like), but he’s really GOOD & caring with the animals there...  He tries to get bad-tempered co-worker Shane (DONNIE WAHLBERG) to treat the creatures BETTER, especially a gorilla named Bernie...

...  At times, Kevin jokes with co-worker Venom (KEN JEONG), who’s a bit “randy” in how he acts with visitors & others...

...  The time period is like 4 years after his rebuff by Leslie.  Kevin is planning to hold a ceremony at the zoo for announcing the upcoming marriage of his BROTHER Dave (NAT FAXON)--  who keeps urging him to join his car dealership as a salesman to make more money...

...  To Kevin’s surprise & upset, one of the visitors to the event is LESLIE, who’s a friend of Nat’s fiancé...  While she acts “friendly” towards Kevin, he himself is flustered & doesn’t know quite HOW to “react” to her...

...  Around this time, we find out that animals around the zoo can TALK --  which they’ve kept secret from humans...  As they get together, they discuss how SAD it is that Kevin doesn’t know how to behave romantically with women...

...  The animal group is nominally led by a male lion named Joe (voiced by SYLVESTER STALLONE)...

...  But, the one really in “charge” is a monkey named Donald (played by ADAM SANDLER), who’s very sarcastic & keeps pointing out how he’s superior because he has “OPPOSABLE thumbs!” (to which the audience kept laughing each time it was said)...

...  Also in the group is a female lion named Janet (voiced by CHER), whose life was saved by Kevin... 

...  Others there are a giraffe named Molly (MAYA RUDOLPH), an elephant named Barry (played by director JUDD APATOW), and Sebastian the wolf (voiced by MMA fighter BAS RUTTEN)...

...  For “comic relief”, you have two always-arguing bears— Jerome (JON FAVREAU) & Bruce (FAIZON LOVE)...  Not in the mood to “join” the usual group is Bernie the gorilla (later voiced by NICK NOLTE)...

...  Also weighing-in with comments & reactions at times are a frog (DON RICKLES), a nervy crow (JIM BREUER), & an ostrich (RICHIE MINERVINI)...

...  Seeing the difficulties Kevin is having with women, the animals eventually start SPEAKING to him--  which initially amazes & “frightens” him...  

...  But, he decides to take some of their ADVICE in how to behave with Leslie, eventually acting “TOUGH” & “disinterested” with her...

...  Will Kevin learn what really “happened” between gorilla Bernie and keeper Donnie?...  Will the animals all be in “AGREEMENT” on things they should say to Kevin?...

...  Will Kevin’s new “attitude” actually ATTRACT Leslie to him?...  Will he STAY at the zoo, or try to be a car salesman to get more money (which she’s always been interested in)?... 

...  Will he see that Rosario likes him as he “IS”, or will he choose to make another “stab” at a close relationship with LESLIE (who’s also being pursued by a guy named Gale, played by JOE ROGAN)?... 

...  This is a CUTE little movie.  The numerous kids in the audience got a big KICK out of the way the animals were made to “TALK” (via special effects), & were surprisingly good at “catching-on” to the simple HUMOR in the movie (even beyond the slapstick “pratfalls” & the like)...

...  There are some “inconsistent” segments (including some “gross-out” & wildly exaggerated comedy)--  but, it’s a film made mainly for KIDS, & they clearly ENJOYED it a lot...

...  I was impressed with the “seamless” way they interspersed “live” animals with the special effects helping them to “TALK”, & that gave some endearing individualistic “personnas” to the creatures...

...  So, while it’s not anything “great”, it’s a cheerful little movie with a “HOPEFUL” aura, &, since it SUCCEEDS at what it attempts to do, I’m rating it at 7.25 out of 10 stars...

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