Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Pointless comedy is a waste of a talented comedic cast.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Zookeeper
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 37 parent reviews
Based on 71 kid reviews
Kids say that this movie features a mix of funny moments and adult humor that can be inappropriate for younger viewers, with some praising it for its comedic cast while others criticize its lack of a cohesive storyline. Overall, opinions are split, with many finding it enjoyable for older kids and tweens, while others believe it's too edgy and not suitable for children.
- humor mixed responses
- adult content
- family viewing suitability
- comedic cast
- storyline critiques
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
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. 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).
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 Kansas' "Carry on My Wayward Son." Of course, the tunes alone aren't a reason to see yet another disappointing live-action talking-animal dud.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 8, 2011
- On DVD or streaming : October 11, 2011
- Cast : Ken Jeong , Kevin James , Leslie Bibb , Rosario Dawson
- Director : Frank Coraci
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Indigenous Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some rude and suggestive humor, and language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate