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"Zootopia" is visually splendid and creatively alive, but it is a strong,
spirited, determined rabbit named Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) who is
the film's most invaluable component. Living on a planet where anthropomorphic
predators and prey now coexist (mostly) in harmony, Judy has dreamed since
childhood of growing up to be a police officer. She faces plenty of adversity
from a male-dominated field that has never before had a bunny in its ranks, but
she defies the odds to graduate at the top of her police academy. Her
capabilities matter none to Zootopia Police Department's Chief Bogo (Idris
Elba), who assigns missing persons cases to the rest of the force and saddles
Judy with parking duty. When dedicated husband and father Emmett Otterton
disappears under questionable circumstances, Judy is given 48 hours to either
crack the mystery and find Emmett or agree to resign. Teaming up with wily fox
Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) for the mission, she experiences an education of her
own about the dangers of preconceived notions and judging an animal by his or
her species.
Disney has hit a home run with "Zootopia," a grand entertainment with an
ingeniously developed, socially conscious message. Directed by Byron Howard
(2010's "Tangled") and Rich Moore (2012's "Wreck-It Ralph"), the film's
significant appeal traverses all age groups, playing like many of the best
family films on different levels for children and adults. Non- preachy but
refreshingly thoughtful while touching upon timely real-world issues—about
sexism, race relations, prejudices and profiling—which go far beyond the usual
"believe-in-yourself" morals of most animated features, the film proves to be a
useful learning experience. Beyond this, it is also an exceedingly clever,
frequently laugh-out-loud comedy (a scene where Judy and Nick visit a DMV run by
very, very slow sloths is uproarious) and a takeoff on moody film-noir thrillers
(complete with a flurry of film and television references best left for viewers
to discover).
Ginnifer Goodwin (2011's "Something Borrowed") irresistibly voices Judy Hopps, a
21st-century heroine who explains that only other rabbits can call a fellow
bunny "cute" without it being offensive. One cannot overstate just what a
wonderful protagonist Judy is, an ambitious, working-class young woman who
leaves behind her small-town life in Bunnyburrow for a destiny she knows in her
heart she was meant to fulfill. Hard-working and diligent, spunky and
intelligent, not above making mistakes but sure to find her way, she strives to
be the best without misplacing her kind nature. Simply put, Judy is an onscreen
role model fit for anyone of any age or gender, and she is a joy to follow in
the story. Voicing Nick Wilde, a con artist with a soft side, Jason Bateman
(2015's "The Gift") is Goodwin's ideal match, sparring prey and predator
opposites who become friends while discovering they have more in common than
meets the eye. As Bellwether, the underappreciated assistant mayor of Zootopia
facing her own workplace challenges, Jenny Slate (2012's "This Means War")—and
her white-woolen sheep character—is an energetic scene-stealer.
"Zootopia" is vividly mounted with a breadth of vision worth celebrating. From
the miniaturized rat city Little Rodentia to the foggy, snowswept Tundratown to
the sultry, wooded Rainforest District, there is a different climate and terrain
for every occasion in the eclectic, beautifully imagined Zootopia. The
screenplay by Phil Johnston (2011's "Cedar Rapids") and co-director Jared Bush
equally excels, developing into a twisty, offbeat investigation into the
disappearance of an otter whose wife, Mrs. Otterton (Octavia Spencer), is
convinced would not run off on his own volition. "Zootopia" expertly unpeels its
narrative and thematic layers while keeping viewers laughing, guessing, thinking
and feeling. And though Zootopia doesn’t have the emotional heft of the finest
of these animated affairs, it has a gutsiness that’s impressive.
For most of the slowly shifting history of Disney animation, straightforward
representation has been offered — different cultures, different settings,
different princesses. But Zootopia is a movie about representation, and what it
means to face expectations that have nothing to do with your actual identity.
Talking animals have come a long way. |
