Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde, team up again to crack a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.
Chuck says;
Adhering to the maxim that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Disney’s “Zootopia 2” follows much the same template as the original. Writer/directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, who were also behind the 2016 hit, once more weave timely, vital social commentary into this kid-friendly animated feature, all it suffused with a sly, subversive sense of humor that will keep parents amused. And while their approach is the same, that doesn’t prevent the film from being one of the most striking visual animated features of the year as well as one of the cleverest.
Riding high after having uncovering the widespread corruption that ran through the halls of Zootopia’s government, Judy (voice by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick (Jason Bateman) are riding high. Yet, despite their hero status, they’re still looked down upon by their police officer peers as being “newbies” and unworthy of the accolades heaped upon them. However, they get the chance to prove themselves when a rare book, the Lynxley Journal, is stolen. It contains the plans and patent to the innovative Weather Wall system that allowed different climates to neighbor one another, which made Zootopia a reality.
The culprit is Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), a viper, which is rare unto itself. All reptiles have been banned from Zootopia, relegated to live in Marsh Market, where snakes, beaver, seals, walruses and other swamp-based creatures live. Seems they were pushed out of their own environment to make way for Tundra Town, a development owned by Milton Lynxley (David Strathairn), grandson of the inventor of the Weather Wall.
Why a snake would expose himself and steal the Lynxley Journal is the question Judy and Nick set out to answer and, of course, it turns out to be much more complicated than they suspected. Before their investigation is complete, they realize they can trust no one as they uncover another nefarious plot.
The jokes come fast and furious, most of them landing than not. Clever puns (the Daily Gnus, Ewe Tube) abound as do numerous funny moments in which the opposite nature of the characters is mined for humorous effect. A Mismatched Partners therapy group, which finds an elephant paired with a mouse and a badger with a deer, results in one big laugh after another, while Nick’s numerous sarcastic quips never fail to elicit a sardonic grin.
The visuals are equally inventive as well as densely rendered. Marsh Market, with its weathered wooden piers, half-sunken ocean liner, seedy waterfront bars and murky depths is a wonder of detail. Accented with signage that parodies its real-life counterparts only adds to its overall ambiance. Equally impressive is an abandoned light tower where the climax occurs, a shadow-laden, icy locale bathed in blues and blacks which underscore its dire nature.
The only objection is the manic pace in which the too-numerous action scenes are rendered. Manic and at times, incomprehensible, these are the sort of moments seizure sufferers are warned about. Much like their real-life action counterparts, they don’t entertain as much as pummel the audience, leading to disinterest, confusion and ultimately tedium. The exception is a third-act set piece taking place on a collapsing, icy ledge that is quite spectacular.
Thematically, Bush and Howard espouse the dangers of marginalizing those deemed “different” and the corrosive effects of societal racism. The reptiles are the species that’s been pushed aside and set for extinction, progress and greed being the driving forces behind it. While the movie’s intent will be obvious to grown-ups, the message will be easy to understand to the younger set. Whether they catch additional barbs leveled at climate change denial and wealth disparity is questionable.
In the end, “Zootopia 2” handsomely pulls off what I want from every animated film in that it appeals to adults and kids. I was never bored as this adventure played out and was more often amused than not, particularly by Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster), a conspiracy theory espousing beaver. Visually dynamic, consistently clever and wholly entertaining, “Zootopia 2” proves to be perfect holiday fare for everyone, delivering its message with vibrant flair and admirable intelligence.
3 1/2 Stars
