For a bit it seemed like Disney had somehow decided to hand over all the kid-friendly flicks to that juggernaut 500-pound gorilla that is Pixar, a company that has seldom made a film that did not make well over $100 million and almost always ended up in a top ten list with major critics. An animated movie with just the Disney banner might have (to some) felt hokum and rural, with a few standout exceptions of course. Well forget that way of thinking, as Disney decided to step up to the cinematic plate and hit one into the outfield seats. That film comes with the strange name of ZOOTOPIA.
The story opens with a small bunny telling the tale of the movie. There were predators and prey back in the Stone Age. Well over the millions of years, animals have evolved into speaking and thinking beasts that coexist and walk like humans, living in a modern world. Young Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a dreamer bunny who wants to be the first of her kind to become a cop in the giant city of Zootopia. Judy lives the mantra that “anyone can be anything” and exists by that idea. She will be the first cop bunny and the first of her kind to make officer in one of the most deadly jobs around.
In a flash she is an adult and through the police academy, first in her class. But she soon finds out that being accepted by her fellow animals is not as easy as the training. Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) puts the little furry one on parking duty which is the lowest rung on the ladder. Even though the aggressive rookie fur ball shows some strong initiative in a few hours, she longs for a bigger case. Very soon she meets Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a fox who is a scoundrel and a scam artist. Judy has been taught not to trust foxes but she does not believe in the old stereotype. Nick cons her, showing Judy the first instance where Zootopia is not a utopia. The animals get along but they do not get along that well. There is a strong degree of animosity between the different areas of the giant city. They are kept in order by the Zootopia Police Force.
Without giving too much away, the two become a mismatched partnership in the investigation of a missing weasel. As they investigate a single crime, it leads to much bigger and more convoluted case of night howlers. Just as the two think they have figured out everything, another hairpin turn is thrown their way. The third act starts sad right before it kicks into a rollicking finish that is sure to please even the most intense of action junkies.
First off, this is one of the most beautiful cinematic experiences in a long time. The colors just explode off the screen with an artistic flair. Each part of the Zootopia metropolis is a unique land and every type of creature is done justice. There are sight jokes in just about every frame that will require multiple views just to catch. The film follows the 1980s cop flick style but puts a humorous coat on top of the formula, with many moments of hard belly laughs that satisfy even the hardest of sour faces. It is joke upon joke while still giving us action sequences galore. The writing team of Jared Bush and Phil Johnston deliver to the audience a generous amount of different elements while still being entertaining.
There are references to just about half a dozen different classic flicks as the film goes along. While some may not catch all the bits of films from decades gone past, the film geek and fanboy junkies will be pleased with all the sight and sound cues. There are some strong vocal talents in ZOOTOPIA but they are not the kind of voices where the audience necessarily goes “Hey, it’s that person” while watching the film. Jason Bateman plays a sly fox with such a grace that one begins to wonder why he doesn’t work in animated features more often. Bonnie Hunt, J.K. Simmons and Tommy Chong all have small parts but still do outstanding work. But the heart and soul of Zootopia falls upon the voice of Ginnifer Goodwin and she does stellar work. It is amazing how the audience becomes attached to her character in just a few words.
Even though they market just about every kids flick in 3D to make some extra money. ZOOTOPIA is one of the few films that deserves the spare coins. The cinematic experience is layered so that it feels like a real city and not a computer generated world. The colors are rich to a degree that Pixar only wishes it could accomplish. One believes this is a real place and wishes they could visit it. In the end, ZOOTOPIA is now one of my favorite films in 2016 and may still be there by the end of the year. It has everything that someone expects from the best of Disney, which is a family friendly and joyful motion picture experience. It will thrill the youngest of viewers and still have something for the parents and grandparents. There is nothing that will offend anyone and the overall product will entertain just about everyone.
