Is 'We Bought a Zoo' So Sappy It's Good? (And 24 Other Urgent Questions)

On Friday, a story about a family purchasing a zoo arrives in theaters with the daring and bold title of 'We Bought a Zoo.' Matt Damon ('The Rainmaker') stars as Benjamin Mee, a father of two who buys the titular zoo. Is 'We Bought a Zoo' so sappy that it's good? Or will you drown in the sap and die? As a service, we answer every question that you could possibly have about 'We Bought a Zoo.' Q: How many times did you cry during 'We Bought a Zoo'? A: Wait, what? Cry? I certainly didn't "cry" during 'We Bought a Zoo.' Q: So you're saying that you did not, at any point, cry during 'We Bought a Zoo'? A: OK, look, "cry" is such a strong term... Q: Did moisture form in the general vicinity of your eyes at any point during 'We Bought a Zoo'? A: Twice. (Also, I'm only human.) Q: What is 'We Bought a Zoo' about? A: It's about a recent widower named Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) who purchases a zoo. Q: Wait, Benjamin Mee purchases that 1970s PBS show? The one with the kids in the striped shirts? A: You're thinking of 'Zoom.' Q: Why does Benjamin Mee buy a zoo? A: After the death of his wife, Benjamin feels that a change is needed -- especially after the bizarre behavior of his son, Dylan (Colin Ford) -- and decides to move. The perfect home is found, but, alas, it also includes a zoo. Q: What kind of bizarre behavior? A: Dylan has just been expelled from his school for stealing and has a tendency to draw pictures of decapitated bodies. Q: Did Matt Damon's wife in 'We Bought a Zoo' died from Meningoencephalitis Virus One? A: No. The events that transpired during 'Contagion' have nothing to do with the plot of 'We Bought a Zoo.' Q: How does Benjamin Mee afford a zoo? Does he have a very high paying job? A: Actually, he just quit his job as a journalist. Q: Even without quitting your job, could you afford a zoo? A: I'm lucky to afford Zoo Animal Crackers at this point. Luckily for Benjamin Mee, he has a family inheritance. Q: Does Benjamin's family enjoy owning a zoo? A: Benjamin's daughter, Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones), is immediately smitten with the zoo. Dylan, on the other hand, is less than thrilled and misses his friends. But Dylan does develop a crush on one of the zoo's employees, Lily (Elle Fanning). Q: Who wouldn't want to own a zoo? A: Me. Probably you. Q: OK, what idealistic movie character wouldn't want to own a zoo? A: The problem with this particular zoo is that it's not currently in operation and is hemorrhaging money. So, with Mee's purchase, he also has to invest even more of his own money and time into restoring the zoo -- and paying the salaries of the zoo's staff. Q: Does Kevin James, as Benjamin's zookeeper, keep the mood light -- even in times of financial despair? A: Kevin James is not in 'We Bought a Zoo.' You're thinking of 'Zookeeper.' Scarlett Johansson ('The Perfect Score') plays the zookeeper in 'We Bought a Zoo.' Q: If you had to hire either Kevin James or Scarlet Johansson as your zookeeper, whom would you choose? A: This is tough. Johansson's Kelly Foster seems better qualified, but James' Griffin Keyes is funnier when he falls down. I just don't know. Q: What was the biggest surprise in 'We Bought a Zoo'? A: It's great seeing Patrick Fugit in another Cameron Crowe movie, but, boy, did he get really tall since 'Almost Famous.' Q: Is 'We Bought a Zoo' a good movie? A: Under most definitions of the word "good," I'd have to say that, no, it's not particularly "good." But its relentless goody-goody earnestness will win you over. It's actually humanly impossible to resist. Q: Should I see 'We Bought a Zoo'? A: Sure, why not? Just make sure to bring a tissue to wipe all of the sap off of your face. Honestly, this is the Gallagher of sappy movies -- people in the front row should be required to shield themselves with plastic tarps. Q: If it's the Gallagher of sappy movies, should I also expect some racist and homophobic jokes? A: No, I was just making an outdated reference to the guy who used to smash watermelons with a hammer. Forget I mentioned that. Q: Is 'We Bought a Zoo' the most earnest movie coming out this weekend? A: Unbelievably, it's not. 'War Horse' takes that particular title. Q: What's the best thing about 'We Bought a Zoo'? A: The music. I mean, this is a Cameron Crowe movie, after all. Q: If there ever is a sequel to 'We Bought a Zoo,' what are three possibly titles? A: 'We Own a Zoo,' 'We Sold Our Zoo,' and 'We Bought a Zoo 2: Goat Protocol.' Q: What are the odds that you lose your job over the fact that you just wrote the words 'We Bought a Zoo 2: Goat Protocol'? A: Forty-five percent chance. Q: Is either J.B. Smoove or Ken Jeong in this movie? A: Yes. Q: If I'm at a cocktail party and I'm asked what my opinions of 'We Bought a Zoo' are, even though I haven't seen 'We Bought a Zoo', what should I say? A: "Yes, this is a sappy movie; there's no doubt about that. Look, Nigel*, I know this is a cynical world, but Matt Damon's performance left me wishing that, at least, every now and then, we can just all take a moment and enjoy the things in life that we do have. For a change." (*I took the liberty of assuming that you will be talking with a man named Nigel.) You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter [Photo: Fox] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Discovery Sued By Woman Who Claims 'Weed Wars' Was Her Idea

Prashant Gupta / FX FX and Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter have prevailed in a lawsuit filed by an ex-Hell's Angel biker who claimed the idea for the hit drama series was stolen.our editor recommends'Glee,' 'Sons of Anarchy' Added to Amazon Prime Instant Video Streaming Service'Sons of Anarchy' Creator Kurt Sutter on Season 4's Bold Finale and Season 5 PlansFurious 'Sons of Anarchy' Creator Tells DirecTV Viewers 'You're Getting F---ed Over'; Reveals Banned Script Chuck Zito sued FX for $5 million in June 2010 claiming he had developed a show called Nomads (later The Wild Angels) and had agents at ICM set up a pitch meeting in 2004 with FX chief John Landgraf, during which Zito says he discussed ideas for a show about a motorcycle club. FX passed on the project but later developed Sutter's Sons, which ICM packaged and which recently concluded its 4th season as a big hit for the network. "FX was obligated to pay Zito the reasonable value of his ideas, hire him to work on the series and afford him screen credit as creator," the lawsuit alleged. "Defendants breached an implied-in-fact contract with defendant." VIDEO: 'Sons of Anarchy': Ron Perlman Says Season 4 Was a Challenge At the time, Sutter took to his twitter account to blast the lawsuit, saying: "HAVING THE F***ING IDEA IS NOT THE SHOW. THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF OUTLAW MOTORCYCLE TV DRAMAS PITCHED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. NONE OF THEM HAS MADE IT TO SERIES, EXCEPT SOA. BECAUSE THEY SUCKED." STORY: 'Sons of Anarchy' Creator Kurt Sutter on Season 4's Bold Finale and Season 5 Plans Today a Los Angeles Superior Court judge agreed, ruling on summary judgment that Sons was independently created and Zito doesn't have a case. The judge relied on declarations submitted by Sutter, Landgraf and talent agent Matt Solo (now with WME), among others, showing Sutter's development process and the fact that Sons was pitched to several networks, including HBO and AMC, before arriving at FX, which bought the project in a bidding war. The judge saw no reason for the case to continue past the summary judgment phase. We've reached out to Zito's attorneys for comment. FX is represented by Scott Edelman at LA's Gibson Dunn firm and Rick Stone at Jenner & Block. Email: Matthew.Belloni@thr.com Twitter: @THRMattBelloni PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'Sons of Anarchy' Red Carpet Premiere

Boardwalk Empires Shocking Finale Hits Season High, Luck So-So In Preview

Boardwalk Empires second season ended on a high note. The finale, featuring the shocking death of a major character (won’t reveal more for the sake of procrastinating DVR viewers), averaged a season high 3 million viewers at 9 PM on Sunday. Another 834,000 viewers caught the 11 PM replay for a combined audience of 3.8 million. Sandwiched between the two airings of Boardwalk Empire was a preview of HBOs new David Milch/Michael Mann series Luck, which premieres Jan. 29. The pilot episode of the horse-racing drama starring Dustin Hoffman averaged 1.1 million viewers, holding onto a third of the Boardwalk Empire finale audience.

Brad Garrett In Talks to Join Steve Carell in 'Burt Wonderstone' (Exclusive)

Getty ImagesMark Moses Mark Moses is going from Wisteria Lane to searching for who killed Rosie Larsen. The Desperate Housewives star has booked a major arc for Season 2 of AMC's The Killing, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Moses will play Lt. Carlson, a new detective who joins the Seattle police department and the investigation into Rosie's death. He will appear in at least eight episodes of the nuanced drama. The drama's controversial first season ended with Linden (Mireille Enos) boarding a plane to California join her fiancé in California only to learn that her partner, Holder (Joel Kinnaman), fabricated evidence involving their prime suspect in the case. STORY: Season 2 of 'The Killing' Will Reveal Rosie Larsen's Killer, Says AMC Exec Moses is currently reprising his role as Paul Young on the final season of ABC's Desperate Housewives. The Killing role reunites Moses with AMC, where he played Herman "Duck" Phillips on the network's Mad Men from 2007-10. Repped by Innovative Artists and the Coronel Group, Moses' credits also include stints on Criminal Minds, Covert Affairs, Castle and Drop Dead Diva. The Killing returns in the spring. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit Desperate Housewives The Killing

'Anything Goes' on the road

The Roundabout Theater company's strong-selling revival of "Anything Goes" will hit the road in the 2012-13 season. National tour will stop at more than 25 cities including L.A., where the musical will play a stint at the Ahmanson Theater. Roundabout work has been seen on the road before, with the theater in recent years sending out touring offshoots of its Broadway productions of "12 Angry Men" (which played around the country for a total of two years) and of tuner "Cabaret." "Anything Goes" seemingly has the potential for success on the road, where auds often gravitate toward old-fashioned Broadway standards with a familiar title. New revival, which opened last season, also got a profile boost when it scored a couple of Tonys, including one for top revival and another for the dance moves of helmer-choreography Kathleen Marshall. Tour opens in October 2012 at Cleveland's Playhouse Square. Cast and other details for the road version remain to be announced. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

New Releases: 'The Sitter,' 'New Year's Eve,' 'I Melt With You,' 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,' 'Knuckle,' 'W.E.'

It's December! And with temperatures dropping around the country, what better way to spend the second weekend of the month than by heading to a heated movie theater with a large bucket of warm popcorn in your lap? Whether you're into spy stories, romance or raunchy comedies, this weekend's slate of releases is sure to fill your holiday appetite (before you realize it's time to go shopping for gifts). So, which film will end up winning the box office this weekend? Let's find out in the Weekend Movie Preview. NATIONWIDE RELEASES 'New Year's Eve' What's the story: From director Garry Marshall -- who helmed the equally star-studded holiday-themed 2010 film, 'Valentine's Day' -- 'New Year's Eve' follows the lives of several individuals in NY City on the titular holiday. The film stars (deep breath) Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Ludacris, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Hector Elizondo, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank and Sofia Vergara. Box office projection: Based on the amount of NY City subways for 'New Year's Eve,' you might assume this film is poised to break box-office records. It won't, despite the pedigree of 'Valentine's Day,' which had a very nice $56 million opening. Remember: competition in February of 2010 was nowhere near the level that 'New Year's Eve' faces. As a result: $25 million. [Showtime & Tickets] 'The Sitter' What's the story: Non-skinny Jonah Hill stars in this raunchy comedy about a college dropout who starts babysitting. Unfortunately, he doesn't make a very good babysitter, dragging the kids he's looking after to seedy bars and house parties, all while being chased by two drug dealers. Parents, beware. Box office projection: 'The Sitter' will be the only R-rated comedy out in theaters this weekend, so it's likely going to gross more money than people think. That said, there are still plenty of college kids going to see 'The Muppets,' which may take away from 'The Sitter.' $10 million. [Showtime & Tickets] LIMITED RELEASES If you live in a big city (or a town with an independent movie theater), there are plenty of quality releases out this weekend. The midlife crisis, drug-fueled 'I Melt With You' -- starring Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe and Thomas Jane -- opens, as does the documentary 'Knuckle,' about the brutal journey of an Irish Traveller community and their bare-knuckle boxing ways (think a real-life version of the pikeys in 'Snatch'). 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,' starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy and John Hurt (take that, 'New Year's Eve' all-star cast!) has a limited run in NY and Los Angeles before opening wide next week. Charlize Theron's 'Young Adult' is also in limited engagement, before its nationwide debut on December 16. Last but not least are the Madonna-directed 'W.E.' along with 'We Need to Talk About Kevin,' both getting a one-week Oscar run before opening in early 2012. [Photo: Warner Bros.] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Hot Trailer: Iran Oscar Entry A Separation

Iran’s official entry to the Oscars for Foreign-Language Film this week took honors as best foreign independent film at the Moet British Independent Film Awards. Set in contemporary Iran, A Separation deals with the dissolution of a marriage. Simin wants to leave Iran with her husband Nader and daughter Termeh, but Nader refuses to leave his father, who has Alzheimer’s. According to the NY Times, it starts as a family drama, turns into something else altogether and somewhat mysteriously has emerged as a real contender in the category. Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi and distributed in the U.S. by Sony Pictures Classics, it opens December 30 in limited release.