Movie Review: ‘Zootopia 2’
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return to the scene of the crime in Zootopia 2.
Disney fans treasured the original film nine years ago. Does the new movie match it in quality?
‘Zootopia 2’
Here’s a glowingly positive review of Zootopia 2, the kind of Disney movie we all want.
The Story of ‘Zootopia 2’
Nearly a decade ago, Walt Disney Animation Studios released its 55th full-length film.
Zootopia instantly charmed everyone with its adorable premise: an entire world of anthropomorphic animals.
Nick Wilde & Judy Hopps Meet & Greet In Disney’s California Adventure
Predators and prey alike rub elbows every day in Zootopia, a place where sloths work at the DMV.
Disney mined the humor of the premise and introduced several ridiculously over-the-top characters.
Photo: Disney
Clawhauser, the chunky cheetah, is the proverbial fat cat at the police precinct.
The crime boss, Mr. Big, was anything but. As an Arctic shrew, he embodied danger in miniature form.
Clawhouser
The animation crew had a ton of fun playing in this sandbox, with an endless array of sight gags and puns.
Still, the hook of Zootopia, the aspect that kept us all engaged, was the unlikely comedic pairing.
Photo: Disney
A shamelessly optimistic bunny and a criminally inclined fox worked together to solve a mystery.
Since foxes have an *ahem* complicated relationship with bunnies in nature, the team-up seemed unlikely.
Photo: Disney
Anyone who watched the movie knows that Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are perfectly paired, though.
So, we’ve all been anxiously awaiting a return to Zootopia and a rekindling of their friendship.
Photo: Disney
To make that happen, Zootopia 2 introduces new elements to its universe while solving a mystery.
Where were (almost) all the lizards in the first film? Well, as fate would have it, there’s a reason they were missing.
Photo: Disney
Apparently, even in the animal kingdom, snakes remain unwelcome due to their…well, that’s the thing.
As we learn in the second film, something happened a century ago in Zootopia.
Photo: Disney
The snakes are responsible for something heinous, which is why they’re outcasts.
That knowledge creates awkwardness for Judy when she bumps into Gary De’Snake.
Gary De’Snake
As a snake, Gary isn’t welcome in polite Zootopia society, and he knows it. So, why is he there?
The Charm of ‘Zootopia 2’
While the plot of Zootopia 2 is surprisingly multi-layered and nuanced, it’s really just a buddy cop movie.
Now that Nick has joined the force, the question becomes whether he and Judy can coexist.
Nick & Judy
The other police officers, including the new and delightful Ze-bros, certainly don’t treat them as equals.
Judy’s relentless need to prove herself and Nick’s forced displays of apathy push others away.
To a larger point, they worked together in the first film out of necessity. Will they do so willingly?
Also, will their relationship change now that they’re officially cohorts? And then there’s the other thing.
Photo: Disney
Is Nick, a rather amoral creature, well-suited for law enforcement? That’s the crux of the story.
How well can innate do-gooder Judy get along with “still in it for himself” Nick?
Photo: Disney
Even though this is a Disney movie, the formula’s no different from classic buddy films like 48 Hours, just…cleaner.
Zootopia 2 also introduces several new characters, including Disney fave Patrick Warburton.
Photo: Disney
Best known to Disney fans as the captain on Soarin’, Warburton portrays Mayor Brian Winddancer.
As a horse and action movie hero, this character provides comic relief in every scene he’s in, but there’s more to it.
Patrick Warburton
Remember that both the mayor and assistant mayor of the first film were shady.
The new mayor isn’t outwardly evil, but he’s got his own motivations in the story.
Photo: Disney
Many of them involve the newly revealed power players of Zootopia, the Lynxley family.
Yes, they’re lynxes, and yes, they’re absolutely gorgeous creatures.
Photo: Disney
They’re also the equivalent of Zootopia’s Kennedy family, as their ancestors originally powered the town.
As is usually the case with nepo babies in stories like this, their motivations are unclear but probably not benevolent.
The Pros and Cons of ‘Zootopia 2’
I’ll start with the cons here, as there aren’t many of them.
The police department doesn’t play as much of a role as you’d expect, given the plot.
Photo: Disney
That means Clawhauser’s presence here is sadly insignificant. Similarly, Flash doesn’t show up much.
Thankfully, virtually every major character from the first film appears in some capacity.
Photo: Disney
Still, I wish we’d seen more of a couple of favorites from last time. Instead, we get the newer characters.
Several of them aren’t as fully formed, but that’s a trivial concern in the greater scheme.
Photo: Disney
I say this because something has changed with the Zootopia brand since the first film.
Imagineers constructed an entire themed land and an E-ticket attraction at Shanghai Disneyland.
Photo: Disney
At some point, someone obviously created a Zootopia animal kingdom bible.
There’s much more thought put into HOW the world of Zootopia works. We get a full map and everything.
Photo: Disney
In addition, the exploration of the various lands feels very much like a theme park visit.
The animation team also loads up on puns and in-jokes, even biting the hand that feeds it a few times.
Photo: Disney
Off my head, I noticed an exceptional Ratatouille joke and some illicit Frozen merchandise for sale.
To a larger point, I missed some of the dialogue at times as I got swept away by the animation.
Photo: Disney
We already knew how Zootopia looked, but the technological improvements between the two films are cavernous.
Every new scene during Zootopia 2 establishes a new bar for what’s possible with digital animation.
Photo: Disney
My mouth hit the floor a couple of times, including a mountain shot.
Then, the characters reached the top of the mountain, and their surroundings blew me away even more.
Photo: Disney
This is a visually stunning movie, even by Disney’s lofty animation standards.
Final Thoughts
Still, what I admire the most about Zootopia 2 is that it feels like a comfortable family reunion.
The gang’s all here, and the story plays out like a family meal.
Photo: Disney
Sometimes, you don’t get to talk to certain family members as much as you’d like, but all the conversations are heartwarming.
Plus, you meet new people – well, animals – along the way, and they’re charming, too.
Photo: Disney
Zootopia 2 delivers an hour and 45 minutes of happiness, something the children at our theater will confirm.
They laughed loudly at all the right spots throughout the movie, which confirmed my overriding thought.
Photo: Disney
People often claim that Disney just needs to get back to making instant classic movies.
That’s what the company has done with Zootopia 2. It’s a movie that’s hard not to love.
‘Zootopia 2’ sign
Everything about the story and characters is cozy and comfortable. It’s a warm hug of a film.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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