 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Zookeeper
- Review Date: July 8, 2011
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Pointless comedy is a waste of a talented comedic cast.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this PG-rated Kevin James comedy deals with some grown-up issues about dating and mating that may not interest young kids. The humor, while featuring the predictable amount of animal "poop" and "pee" talk, is largely aimed at older audiences and includes some double entendres about sexual relationships -- marking territory, being forceful, highlighting your genitalia, and other jokes. Language includes words like "idiot," "crap," "shut up," and some scatological terms. Ultimately, the titular zookeeper learns a worthy lesson about just being himself, but by then kids will already have seen him act foolishly for an hour and a half.
What's the story?
Professionally, Griffin (Kevin James) is a successful lead zookeeper at a Boston-area zoo. But personally, he can't get over his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie (Leslie Bibb), who turned down his proposal five years ago. After he spots Stephanie at his brother's engagement party, Griffin vows to win back her affections, eventually using his sweet and attractive coworker, Karen (Rosario Dawson), to make Stephanie jealous. The zoo animals, who adore Griffin, decide to break their vow of silence and speak to him in order to help him with his dating issues. But Stephanie is only interested in Griffin if he agrees to leave his job and become the man she wants him to be -- rich, stylish, and materialistic.
Is it any good?
This isn't so much a movie as a joke between James and his various comedian pals (Adam Sandler, Judd Apatow, Maya Rudolph, Faizon Love, and many more, who all voice animals). With so much comedic talent on board, it's really embarrassing that so few moments are laugh-worthy for adult audiences: Bernie the gorilla (Nick Nolte) driving a car straight into another car, Salem from Sabrina, The Teenage Witch popping up on TV just as Griffin has a meltdown about talking animals, and a couple of one-liners from the animals are about it. And that's being generous.
Fans of Cher, who plays the zoo's lioness to Sylvester Stallone's lion, might want to stay for the credits to hear her (and the rest of the cast) sing Boston's classic-rock anthem More Than a Feeling. In fact, the soundtrack is hands-down the best part of the movie, with particularly memorable renditions of Flo Rida and T Pain's Low; Barry White's You're the First, the Last, My Everything; and Rush's Carry on My Wayward Son. Of course, the tunes alone aren't a reason to see yet another disappointing live-action talking-animal dud.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the appeal of animal-human comedies. Why are they so popular? What makes some succeed and others fail?
What does this movie say about romantic relationships? What dating advice works for Griffin, and what doesn't?
Who do you think this movie is intended to appeal to? How can you tell?
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AGE
Zookeeper is not all that bad.
Although this movie is alot of what has been stated above. It is nice to go see a movie that I think is just relaxing. A clam movie compared to the violet movies that are out today. It is rather harmless, in words and deeds. The animal portrayal of behavior sets them apart from humans.Showing that people sometimes make dumb mistakes but can learn from those mistakes and come to understand more about themselves and their relationships with others. Altough the zookeeper is an animal advocate, and cares about others beside himself, he realizes he is a human and they are animals after all. It is also typical, I am sorry to say, of the attitudes of some in the world today toward those who are attractive and capable of working hard at what they enjoy. There are also some in this world that are typically wealthy lazy people that glut them selves on the riches and finer things of life, as they believe, not having a clue about how the poor middle class actually have to work for a livng. Over all there were some slower parts of the movie and some silliness that many of us can actually relate to. I really though it was a good clean movie and had a lot of posatives come from it. I would not be afraid to take my younger childlren to see it. However it would not appeal to those below the age of about 9. I think more movies of this type need to be produced. Clean, Family viewing with positive messages, with no cursing, and none of the extreme vilence of the movies today. Violence is becoming more and more viewed as the norm and I can see many ramafications that are coming from that in this world today. The violence and acutlism is so prevelant today in the movies and that is exactly what we are reeping the benefits of in our court rooms today.
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AGE
OK But Not For Kids
Then is way too much adult content, grown man relieving himself, one man digging into another's front pocket for keys only to be told begrudgingly that they are in the other pocket.. The animals were funny for the most part.
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AGE
Oigh...
Don't get me wrong here, I'm all for brainless comedy. It's what I do. But there's no need to push the stupidity further then it needs to go (Right. Because everyone takes a Gorilla to TGI Fridays. What are you saying? This is actually weird?! No. Way.)... Another thing I was shocked about was the use of language (no sweetie, lions don't cuss). and since when does a full grown man take "mating advice" from a pack of wolves (really the whole "marking your territory" by peeing in a plastic plant in a restaurant stunt made him so much more attractive)? By about the middle of the movie I just got fed up and checked my email (And yes, I did ask my mom if it was over yet) and apparently I wasn't the only one with the same idea because some kids a few rows behind us started playing their Nintendo! Hint hint media industry. This was an unnecessary-swearing-terrible-reincarnation-of-night-at-the-museum-don't-take-advice-from-wild-animals-safety-warning epic fail. As the only half decent line in the entire movie goes "It's going to be hard to un-see that." Amen.
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AGE
Really funny movie!
This movie is really fun and teaches a good message about being yourself. Violence: Some slapstick violence, but no blood or gore Language: Use of the word "hell" and "crap"
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AGE
Alright, but kevin james was funnier as Paul Blart
The movie was okay, but not as funny as I thought it would be. I thought the best part was when Kevin James took the gorilla to T.G.I. Fridays.
Inapporiate stuff:
* crude innuendos for a PG film
* the h word is used three times
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AGE
Okay...
I just saw this. Some parts weren't that funny. Be aware of the language and sex!
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Kid, 10 years old
July 13, 2011
AGE
His friend's name is KATE not KAREN
I thought this was a pretty good movie. My 10 year old loved it, and while there are innuendos, etc., my children have been taught well and understand the definition of "appropriate." My husband thought this movie was predictable.
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AGE
kevin james only reason that the movie was pretty good
terrible movie is saved by kevin james
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AGE
Seriously nobody here likes this movie except me, I THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME!!!
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| Topics: | wild animals |
| Studio: | Columbia Pictures |
| Director: | Frank Coraci |
| Cast: | Ken Jeong, Kevin James, Leslie Bibb, Rosario Dawson |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 104 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 8, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | October 11, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some rude and suggestive humor, and language |
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