Over the weekend, I went to the theatre to check out Zootopia with my friend. I’m a huge fan of animated films and of Disney films especially as I was raised on them. Throw in delightful talking animals and animal puns and I’m like SO incredibly sold.
Zootopia is a world where animals have learned to coexist with one another. The impulse for predators to destroy prey has evolved out of them and they’ve more or less become people, but you know, still animals. Zootopia is the Mecca of their world where there are several districts such as the Tundra, Rainforest, etc. that allow a wide variety of animals to live in one BIG city.
The story follows a young country bunny named Judy Hops who wants to be the first bunny cop in history. Everyone tells her that it’ll never happen and that she needs to set her sights on more realistic dreams but she knows what she wants and goes after it with all she’s got.
The story is fun, entertaining, delightful and full of perfectly relevant life lessons that don’t feel shoved down your throat. Animated films take a long time to put together and while tolerance and acceptance are lessons that can be taught anytime, it’s all exceptionally relevant right now (with say, Trump running for president). The film reminds you to be kind and understanding and to not let your ambitions get in the way of being a good person.
Judy Hops is an inspirational character that kids will wind up adoring for years to come. Her fox friend Nick Wilde is a reminder that those who grow up as an outsider and misfit can grow into themselves and find purpose in their lives no matter what people say. Idris Elba plays a buffalo. I don’t have anything to add to that because it pretty much sums up everything else great about this movie. Not ACTUALLY but it IS pretty great.
The voice acting is top-notch featuring talent such as IDRIS ELBA AS A BUFFALO, Ginnifer Goodwin (Judy Hops), Jason Bateman (Nick Wilde), Jenny Slate (Bellwether), Nate Torrence (Clawhauser), Bonnie Hunt, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, and more. However, one of the absolute best things about the film is the stunning animation. As technology continues to progress, animated movies get more and more impressive. With that being said, animated films such as this that feature animals really showcase what the artists behind the scenes can do. The fur is nothing short of incredible to see; it moves with the slightest breeze and looks SO fluffy like fur that it makes part of you want to reach out and try to touch it.
VERDICT
SEE THIS MOVIE! I know I’m late to the party and most people have actually gone out and seen the film, but it was so heartwarming and fun that I felt a mighty need to share my feelings about it. You won’t regret taking kids to this film and if you don’t have any kids to see it with, you won’t regret seeing it on your own either.
Shakira plays a pop star in the film named Gazelle (which is sort of weirdly the equivalent of naming yourself Human) and while I have nothing bad to say about her existence in the film, I’m incredibly disappointed that a movie filled with animals puns missed the opportunity to have SHARKira in the film. HER NAME IS A GIFT TO ANIMAL PUN MAKING, DISNEY. You could’ve made Sharkira a thing and I’m sad you didn’t. Let’s not discuss how a creature that lives in the ocean would fit into this world. It’s irrelephant (GET IT??!).
I’ll be here all week.
I loved this film too. I took my girlfriend to see it and both thoroughly enjoyed. Good write up by you too. Keep it up!