Zookeeper parents guide

Zookeeper Parent Guide

These talking beasts and their fumbling human caretaker likely won't endear themselves to children or the parents who have to accompany them on this stinky outing to visit the "Zookeeper".

Overall C+

A bumbling zookeeper (Kevin James) gets a rude awakening when his animal charges start talking to him, hoping to offer him relationship advice.

Release date July 8, 2011

Violence B-
Sexual Content B-
Profanity B-
Substance Use C+

Why is Zookeeper rated PG? The MPAA rated Zookeeper PG for some rude and suggestive humor, and language.

Run Time: 102 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

I can almost imagine this film’s concept meeting with a bunch of screenplay writers sitting around a table throwing out ideas:

“Let’s set the story in a zoo and make our main character a kindhearted but sort of hopeless romantic who runs into things and falls down a lot.”

“But make him a bit of an awkward social misfit whose only real friends are the animals he takes care of.”

“Yah, yah and when he tries to win the girl of his dreams, the animals can give him advice on mating rituals.”

“Like marking his territory.”

“Ha, ha, and we could have him urinate in a potted plant at a fancy restaurant.”

“Yah, yah and there could be a monkey who makes all these jokes about throwing poop and a gorilla who chokes the main character until he passes out. It’ll be so funny!”

Well, it’s not always so funny.

Griffin Keyes (Kevin James) is that main character whose girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) refuses his marriage proposal because he is, of all horrid things, a zookeeper. (She’d much prefer he work as a car salesman.) Brokenhearted, the Franklin Park Zoo’s head employee spends the next five years commiserating over his lost love while the rest of us can’t figure out what he sees in the shallow blonde.

When Stephanie next shows up at a zoo event, half a decade later, Griffin becomes so tongue-tied he can barely manage a hello. Yet he determines not to let her get away again. Worried that he’ll leave his job to pursue his love, the zoo occupants decide to intervene and help him win her over—wild style. (And why shouldn’t audiences believe a chubby character that lumbers around like a bear and pees in public is the kind of man every woman is looking for.)

From the get-go, the clunky script gallops along, seemingly unconcerned about the lack of a coherent story line and suffering from cumbersome editing. It crams in physical gags, a pair of bickering bears, sexual innuendo and animal groaners that aren’t always easy to understand despite the famous voices delivering them. (Nick Nolte, Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Cher, Jud Apatow, Maya Rudolph, Faizon Love and Jon Favreau are some of the featured talent.)

Lacking all the charm of the critters in Babe or Charlotte’s Web, these talking beasts and their fumbling human caretaker likely won’t endear themselves to either children or the parents who have to accompany them on this stinky outing to visit the Zookeeper and his menagerie.

Directed by Frank Coraci . Starring Kevin James. Running time: 102 minutes. Theatrical release July 8, 2011. Updated

Zookeeper
Rating & Content Info

Why is Zookeeper rated PG? Zookeeper is rated PG by the MPAA for some rude and suggestive humor, and language.

Violence: An animal nearly chokes to death on a piece of garbage. A porcupine shoots his quills into a man’s face. A woman is knocked off her feet. Characters crash a party. An animal talks about being cruelly treated and is shown with a facial injury. A man throws a character against a wall. Characters fall into animal cages. A loose lion threatens women. People are accused of lying. A child throws objects at animals. One character chokes another until he passes out. Inebriated characters break objects in a restaurant. Men drive recklessly through traffic. Characters fall from a bridge. A man is thrown over a fence. A character says mean things to another person. Other scenes include depictions of comedic, slapstick violence.

Sexual Content: The script contains numerous moments of veiled sexual humor including one homosexual joke. Animal mating activities are discussed. A man unintentionally exposes himself while urinating in public (no nudity is seen). A man talks about his sexual activities with a woman. Couples kiss.

Language: Frequent mild profanities and terms of Deity are included in this script.

Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters drink at social events on several occasions. Characters appear to be drunk at a restaurant.

Other: A man pees on a plant in a restaurant. Some bathroom humor is included.

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Zookeeper Parents' Guide

What kind of zookeeper is Griffin? How does he compare with the other employees, Shane (Donnie Wahlberg) and Kate (Rosario Dawson)? Do you agree with the concept of zoos? Would it make a difference if the animals were born in captivity rather than the wild?

Stephanie seems to think of Griffin as her man project. What are the dangers of going into a relationship with plans to change the other person? How successful is Stephanie? Is there any justification for her dislike of his career?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Zookeeper movie is October 11, 2011. Here are some details…

Home Video Release: Zookeeper

Release Date: 11 October 2011

Zookeeper releases on October 11, 2011, on DVD, Blu-ray and as a DVD & Blu-ray Combo Pack.

Zookeeper on DVD includes:

- Laughing is Contagious

- Featurettes: Bernie The Gorilla and The Furry Co-Stars

- Creating the visual effects: Making the Animals Talk, Riding An Ostrich and Animal Meeting.

The Blu-ray and DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack also offers:

- Deleted Scenes

- Featurettes: Be The Bear, Behind The Stunts and The Cast of Zookeeper

- Playable game demo of Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One

- movieIQ+sync and BD-Live

Related home video titles:

Kevin James plays another lovable, but romantically challenged character in Hitch, and a security guard with heroic dreams in Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Talking zoo animals are also featured in Madagascar.