ZOO (2017)

Name: ZOO (2017)
Item: ZOO (2017)
Author: Review

"[ An Unforgettably Heartwarming Tale of Bravery and Kindness"

Family Content: +1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

Credits →

What You Need To Know:

ZOO is a heartwarming tale of a teenage boy and a group of misfit friends who fight to save a baby elephant during air raids on Belfast in 1941. This touching British film is a captivating tale of friendship, taking care of others, and doing the right thing - especially during wartime. Tom Hall has an instant connection to the new elephant at the zoo. But with World War II, his father is sent to war. Tom finds that they are killing zoo animals before they escape during the bombings. He cannot let any harm come to Buster and takes matters into his own hands with help from a group of misfits. Will they be able to keep him safe?

With a strong moral worldview, ZOO is a poignant tale of kindness in a cruel world, the direct innocence of youth, and how imperfect people may surprise you with unexpected goodness under hardened exteriors. An excellent work of acting by recognizable British actors, and a well-told story that will leave an animal-loving audience with a full heart. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for young children due to explosions, gunfire, alcohol use, and mild language.

Content:

(BB, H, L, VV, A, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

A strong moral worldview due to Tom Hall’s bravery and drive to save Buster despite the odds. He is a strongly moral character and finds other misfits to join him and protect the elephant. Surprisingly, there are many adults who do end up helping them and doing what is right for Buster usually in self-sacrificing actions, despite the consequences (losing a job, threatening their home, putting their reputation on the line if caught, etc). This provides a beautiful series of plot twists that leave the audience once again believing in good. There is also a Humanist worldview present as the systems that are stacked against the fight to save Buster: such as the government making awful but necessary choices in the face of war. The security guard who follows the rules to a T, the patrolman walking the neighborhood at night demanding answers, the zoo manager setting a reward to find the elephant, the bombings creating constant danger and more. The sheer bravery of Tom Hall and the group truly shines a ray of hope against so much negativity. Religion is not discussed, however there is a scene where the teacher has the students praying for those taking care of the injured and the firemen from all over Ireland who came to help the town after a bombing. Ultimately, the story is about taking care of those you love in desperately brutal times and not letting the brave actions of those who helped go to waste.

Foul Language:

2 instances of sh** and 1 use of h*ll. References to “elephant pies.” And one instance where a boy is hiding in a public bathroom and claims, “it’s gonna be a two flusher.”;

Violence:

Several instances of explosions from an air raid and some injured and minor blood shown, gunshots but no animals are shown harmed, one student punches another in the face;

Nudity:

No nudity;

Alcohol Use:

One adult is shown having alcohol withdrawal symptoms and shown drinking from a flask. Boys make fun of a girl for her father being a drunk. Some people shown drinking;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

None: and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

Many instances of children disobeying or telling minor lies to their parents to protect the secret of Buster, they “steal” the elephant and medicine from the zoo, and it is implied that Jane’s father doesn’t take good care of her.

More Detail:

ZOO is a heartwarming movie about the tale of a teenage boy and a group of misfit friends who fight to save a baby elephant during air raids on Belfast in 1941. This touching British film is a captivating, almost-fairy tale of friendship, taking care of others, and doing the right thing, especially in the face of brutal wartime struggle.

The story begins as a narration by the story’s main character: a grown-up Tom Hall recounting his most unforgettable tale. We see a ship arriving and a baby elephant arriving at Belfast Zoo. Tom Hall, a kind and gentle teenage boy, has a natural connection and love towards animals as his father works at the zoo. Tom is eager to meet the new addition, but the surly security guard at the gate says the zoo is closed. Tom’s father sneaks him in and introduces him to the new elephant. It’s love at first sight between them. The zoo owner, Mr. Shawcross, says the elephant is special and needs considerable attention, for which this zoo is known. He allows Tom to name the elephant Buster. Tom continues to work with his father after school, caring for all the animals, but his heart is clearly with Buster above all the others.

There’s news on the radio of the war moving closer to home, but Tom’s school will continue and conduct bombing safety drills (gas masks, under-desk drills, etc). Tom’s father has been called into service, leaving Tom and his mother. He specifically asks Tom to look after Buster; however, his overprotectiveness of the elephant seems to be an issue for the new veterinarian. The owner decides that Tom needs to leave as his father is no longer employed at the zoo, much to Tom’s protests.

At school, a bully and his brutish cohort, Pete, pick on Tom for his elephant obsession and liken him to the “witch” who is also seen with animals in the neighborhood. The bully claims to be swiping and torturing animals from her house, but Tom manages to save a guinea pig. He goes to her place to return it. This woman, Denise, is a widowed recluse who is always wearing a mourning scarf on her head. When no one answers, Tom enters the home, as the door isn’t latched, to find a wonderful space filled with an assortment of animals: hedgehogs, parrots, ferrets, turtles, and rabbits. He continues outside and sees the woman in the back garden, who is alarmed and distrustful of him. She immediately throws him out, and he tells her through the door, “I would never hurt an animal.”

With air raids at night and school during the day, Tom is still worried about Buster. Walking to the zoo the next day, he hears gunshots and sees British soldiers. He overhears on the radio that they are killing animals at the zoo (we later find out that this is due to the bombings, potentially letting the animals out and putting the public in danger). He falls from a tree and is knocked unconscious. Waking up dazed, he finds Buster unharmed, but the vet tells him that he may not make the next round. He and Jane, a friend from school, begin working on a plan to help Buster escape through an unknown back gate to the zoo. However, they cannot open it alone and need to enlist the help of Pete, the brutish and strong boy from school. Pete thinks that Tom is an “animal-loving weirdo,” but if Jane wants his help, then he will do it.

After working out the logistics together, they decide to do it tonight. With unexpected and surprising help, they manage to get Buster out, but Tom finds he cannot keep Buster safe in the woods as he planned. He sees the only other person he knows can help: Denise, and he begs for her help. It is such an earnest request, and she already has a distrust of people. She has no choice but to agree. But will they be able to keep Buster safe in a neighborhood with so many eyes watching?