Zookeeper
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: July 8, 2011 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
30
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
10
Negative:
15
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertJul 7, 2011
It's not the romcom that's so entertaining, anyway; it's the slapstick. Read full review
75
Tampa Bay TimesSteve PersallJul 6, 2011
Sure, it's silly without shame, and predictably sentimental. But Zookeeper is the most thoroughly enjoyable movie for the entire family in theaters right now. I can't believe I just typed that about a Kevin James flick with talking animals. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanJul 7, 2011
Zookeeper (I can't believe I'm even writing this) is a dumbed-down "Paul Blart." Read full review
63
Washington PostSean OConnellJul 7, 2011
Pratfalls and agonizing tumbles appear to be James's business, and man, business is booming. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleJul 7, 2011
As far as complete wastes of time go, Zookeeper is not especially offensive. Yet it is surprising that everything you might expect to be charming in it just isn't - namely all the bits involving animals. Read full review
50
Orlando SentinelRoger MooreJul 6, 2011
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. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubKeith PhippsJul 7, 2011
As a study in insanity, Zookeeper is mildly interesting. But as a kiddie comedy, it's something to watch only once the little ones have worn out their "Dr. Doolittle" DVD. Read full review
40
EmpireNick de SemlyenJul 25, 2011
Some sparks of comedy and fun but largely a flat and unrewarding comedy. Read full review
40
The New York TimesRachel SaltzJul 7, 2011
It's hard to completely dislike a movie in which Mr. James makes like Fay Wray, hitching a ride on the back of his gorilla pal, Bernie (voiced by Nick Nolte), as Bernie clambers up a bridge. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesRobert AbeleJul 7, 2011
Zookeeper has the territory-marking scent of a franchise product from the Sandler-produced stable: pratfalls, caricature and aggression, which the likeable-enough James isn't as effective at getting laughs with as he is the more recessive, aw-shucks moments. Read full review
40
TimeRichard CorlissJul 7, 2011
It's all mildly deplorable and instantly forgettable. Kevin James remains a potentially appealing movie star - if only he didn't have to be in Kevin James movies. Read full review
40
The Hollywood ReporterTodd McCarthyJul 7, 2011
Although one would never have expected to find her in a film like this, Dawson, by dint of enthusiasm, is the only actor who rises above the material with her dignity intact. Read full review
40
Boxoffice MagazinePete HammondJul 7, 2011
Almost totally devoid of charm and genuine laughs despite the presence of star Kevin James and a wonderful veteran voice cast for the creatures. Read full review
40
Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzJul 6, 2011
It's stupid, then it veers toward the absurd, but with James at its center it remains sort of sweet throughout. You can't hate James or the movie; both are just sort of dopey but well-meaning. Read full review
38
Philadelphia InquirerDavid HiltbrandJul 7, 2011
The film would be a moth-eaten mess without the wisecracking animals. Not that it's funny with them. Read full review
38
USA TodayScott BowlesJul 7, 2011
There isn't much in the way of plot to get in the way of Sandler's world: There's poo, ripped pants and hot girls falling for fat guys. Read full review
38
Boston GlobeMark FeeneyJul 7, 2011
As for other voices, the most notable are Adam Sandler, whose capuchin monkey wears out his welcome pretty quickly; Maya Rudolph, whose jivey giraffe comes perilously close to aural blackface; and Nick Nolte's gorilla. Read full review
30
Chicago ReaderJ.R. JonesJul 16, 2011
The best thing I can say about this sleep-inducing kiddie comedy is that the need to bring in a PG rating must have precluded the endless series of giant-turd gags promised by the title. Read full review
30
VarietyBrian LowryJul 7, 2011
Ultimately, it's a marketing pitch in search of a movie that proves punishingly flat. Read full review
25
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerJul 8, 2011
Numbingly inane comedy. Read full review
25
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jennie PunterJul 7, 2011
Unfortunately, nobody had the good sense to call the comedy authorities and shut this Zookeeper down. Read full review
25
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliJul 7, 2011
The "special effects" employed to have the animals' mouths form words might have been state-of-the-art 20 years ago, but they're outdated today, and the gorilla looks like a guy in the monkey suit that was abandoned after the 1976 version of "King Kong." I guess CGI was too sophisticated for the technical crew. Read full review
20
Time OutMatt SingerJul 12, 2011
Fans of the spectacle of Kevin James falling over (nine times in 104 minutes!) and shockingly brazen product placement ("Is T.G.I. Friday's as incredible as it looks?") may dig this deranged comedy; everyone else will be scratching their heads. Read full review
20
New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierJul 8, 2011
A children's comedy about talking animals that feels as if it were written by children or, perhaps, by talking animals. Read full review
20
MovielineMichelle OrangeJul 7, 2011
The talking animals, though less tough to look at than those in "Marmaduke," are murder on the ears: Maya Rudolph as a neurotic giraffe and Sandler voicing a monkey could take the paint off of a Buick. Read full review
12
New York PostLou LumenickJul 8, 2011
Zookeeper barely avoids a zero-star rating because of James. Read full review
10
Village VoiceNick SchagerJul 7, 2011
A comedy whose cliché-embracing stupidity borders on the surrealistic. Read full review
0
Austin ChronicleKimberley JonesJul 7, 2011
I'm not gonna sugarcoat this: Movies don't have to be this bad. Read full review
0
Slant MagazineSimon AbramsJul 6, 2011
It's monumentally terrible. "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son" now has competition for worst picture of the year. Read full review
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