Zookeeper

2 stars

We want the same thing from our comedians that we expect of great ballplayers -- that they "leave it all on the field."

And Kevin James does that. From his various team-ups with Adam Sandler to "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," James hurls himself at the physical shtick and never lets on that he knows he's not making art.

In "Zookeeper," James and his stunt-doubles take a pounding -- pratfalls, bicycle spills, porcupine pokes. It's a kid-friendly romantic comedy, a "Night at the Museum" at the zoo. With slapstick and sincerity, James buys into the idea that he's a friend to animals, big and small, and that a guy with his limited prospects and his lineman-gone-to-seed physique has a shot -- several shots -- at a beauty like Leslie Bibb. And he sells that idea to us, too.

It's a talking animals comedy as the hapless Griffin (James), zookeeper at Franklin Park Zoo, receives advice from the critters in his charge. The animals have always kept to "the code," enforced by Joe the Lion (Sylvester Stallone): "No talking to humans." But we've seen Griffin flame out with the fair Stephanie (Bibb) in an epic proposal scene that opens the movie. And the animals have heard Griffin go on and on about this woman for years. Enough is enough. If the friendly zookeeper can't close the deal, the animal kingdom will pitch in and get him up to speed on what they know by instinct -- the mating game.

Joe the Lion suggests "cutting her from the herd," getting her away from her current boyfriend (Joe Rogan, an over-the-top boor). Joe's lioness wife (Cher) talks up the idea of making Stephanie jealous. The bears offer advice on becoming a predator. And when you walk, "Lead with your puddin' cup," Jerome and Bruce (Jon Favreau and Faizon Love) declare. Yeah, it means what you think it does.

The capuchin monkey (Adam Sandler, doing a very funny voice) is lost in reveries about having a thumb. "I've been blessed."

And the elephant (Judd Apatow) has the same solution for any awkward moment -- "Flee. Fleeing is the new fighting."

All along, Griffin can't see how sweet and seemingly available the zoo's eagle expert and vet (Rosario Dawson) is. She's into guys who are into animals.

Griffin, "You're like the frickin' hippo whisperer," she cracks.

Director Frank Coraci, a veteran of Adam Sandler's comic style ("The Waterboy"), is more at home with the slapstick than the would-be romance or the movie's darker subtext. Bernie (Nick Nolte), a forlorn gorilla, has long been kept in a cave so he can't repeat his attack on a cruel zookeeper (Donnie Wahlberg). The film's silliest scenes involve Griffin dragging Bernie along to Bernie's dream eatery -- T.G.I.Friday's -- where Bernie, supposedly on his way to a costume party, is a hit.

The film's mix of digital critters and real animals results in far too many shots of this beast or that one standing alone in the shot, mouth moving, cracking jokes.

But the cuddly, ever-put-upon James takes his comic lumps like a man. His Griffin suffers injuries and indignities and lets us laugh at him as he does. No matter where the script wanders and where the direction founders, at some point, James' comic instincts take over. And this time, they don't let him down.

 

     RSS

 

"Zookeeper" Movie Trailer

 

MPAA rating: PG (for some rude and suggestive humor, and language).

Running time: 1:44.

Cast: Kevin James (Griffin); Rosario Dawson (Kate); Leslie Bibb (Stephanie); and the voices of Sylvester Stallone (Joe the Lion); Cher (Janet the Lioness).

Credits: Directed by Frank Coraci; written by Kevin James, Nick Bakay, Rock Reuben, Jay Scherick and David Ronn; produced by Kevin James, Adam Sandler, Todd Garner and Jack Giarraputo. A Columbia Pictures release.

 

more MOVIE REVIEWS ...

Recent Movie Reviews - Films in Theaters

 

Horrible Bosses

Horrible Bosses
Michael Phillips

In this comedy, three friends played by Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day dare themselves to murder their bosses. Advised by their 'murder consultant,' played by Jamie Foxx, the friends make awkward attempts to off people while hilarity ensues. Kevin Spacey turns in a great performance as Bateman's boss, and Jennifer Aniston does what she can   [Continue ...]

Horrible Bosses
Bill Wine

Call them what you will, bosses aren't always so boss. Thus the premise here, in which three friends commiserate with one another because each of them feels he works for the Boss from Hell. Bateman, Sudeikis and Day play three buddies who are tormented in various ways by their respective employers, played by Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston. So they plot to kill them   [Continue ...]

 

Zookeeper

Zookeeper
Michael Phillips

In "Zookeeper", Griffin (Kevin James), a zookeeper, receives dating advice from the critters in his charge. While Griffin has eyes for the out-of-his-league beauty played by Leslie Bibb, he gets all the advice he can handle from Joe the Lion (voiced by Sly Stallone), Janet the Lioness (Cher), a monkey (Adam Sandler) and even Bernie the Bear (Nick Nolte)   [Continue ...]

Zookeeper
Bill Wine

Zookeeper is family film in which Kevin James talks to the animals. He's the protagonist of this talking-critter comedy, an indifferently made gimmickfest that wants to be childlike but is only childish. Some talking-animal movies charm while others soil the rug. Zookeeper fits squarely in the latter category   [Continue ...]

 

Inside the New York Times

Page One: Inside the New York Times
Bill Wine

This print-journalism-as-endangered-species documentary chronicles the workings and worries, the adjustments and accommodations, the merits and missteps, and the trials and tribulations of the nation's paper of record. The film tries to take the digital-age temperature during the ongoing metamorphosis of serious news reporting, investigative journalism, and the daily newspaper   [Continue ...]

 

The Names of Love

The Names of Love (Le Nom des Gens)
Michael Phillips

Director Michel Leclerc and his co-writer Baya Kasmi illuminate the ethnic, racial and religious issues that have beset France from World War II to the present -- through, surprisingly, the unfolding of a classic romantic comedy plot. 'Le Nom des Gens' ('The Names of Love') is so inspired and insightful that it is frequently hilarious yet does not shy away from tragedy   [Continue ...]

 

Copyright © 2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.