DAVID ADAMS finds plenty to like about Zootopia...
Zootopia (PG)
In a word: Boisterous
There were high expectations for Zootopia, Disney Animation Studios’ latest animated feature. And thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint.
Zootopia is a first class production in every respect with plenty of character and a quirky and humourous storyline which keep you involved right up to when the gazelle sings (yes, I said gazelle).
In an world of “evolved” animals in which animal instinct has been over-ruled by the desire for the good life, Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) is a rabbit from the rural community of Bunnyville which means that when she mentions her dreams of becoming a police officer, she’s greeted with laughter by most and told not to aim too high by her parents (“there’s never a been a bunny police officer”).
But Judy is determined to break the, er, turf ceiling and, having fought her way through the academy and graduating at the top, she garners the support of Mayor Lionheart (JK Simmons) and his sheepish assistant Bellwether (Jenny Slate) who ensure she is placed in a station right at the heart of the great city of Zootopia (yes, the play on utopia is deliberate).
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Judy Hopps, Zootopia’s newest police recruit takes down the bad guys. PICTURE ©2015 Disney. All Rights Reserved. “Zootopia is a first class production in every respect with plenty of character and a quirky and humourous storyline which keep you involved right up to when the gazelle sings (yes, I said gazelle).” |
As one can imagine, her arrival isn’t received well among the hardened cops – in particular the station’s Chief Bogo (a waterbuffalo voiced by Idris Elba) – and Judy finds herself shunted to parking duty while “real” cops – read bigger, stronger animals – are all put on the case of the moment – the mysterious disappearance of a number of Zootopia residents.
But Judy once again shows her grit and, throwing herself into her work handing out parking tickets, encounters a con-artist fox named Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman), the beginning of what turns out to be an unlikely – and unwanted – partnership as the pair end up joining the hunt the mysterious gang behind the recent disappearances – at which point the movie turns into something of a crime mystery.
It’s a fast-paced, action-filled story but there’s also plenty of humour along the way. Much of the fun comes from the setting itself – Zootopia is a city made up of many zones, each tailored to to suit different animal types and ranging from the frozen Tundra to a rainforest.
But it’s with the different (and in this case exaggerated) sizes of the animals that the animators have the most fun they play with the idea of a world in which a giraffe and rhino live peacefully alongside a mouse. (Not to forget a hilarious scene with a sloth who tries to help them out).
There film carries some strong positive messages around stererotyping, discrimination and the value of the individual, but don’t be alarmed – while they are heavy-handed, they’re not too heavy-handed and don’t detract from overall enjoyment. And the film isn’t afraid to tackle ideas of political correctness head-on – just when is it OK to call a bunny cute? Answer: Only if you’re another bunny.
The film ends, of course, with the standard dance number (as so many animated films targeting kids do) and in this one we see singer Shakira reborn as a pop-star gazelle, named, Gazelle. It’s become a bit of a tired trope to end this way, but again, nothing that detracts from overall enjoyment.
Suitable for kids of all ages although those in the seven to 15 age range will probably get the most out of it – and there’s plenty there for adults too with enough sub-texts to keep you smiling. Light-hearted and entertaining, yet with a strong moral message, this is good stuff for all ages.
THREE MORE FILMS…STARRING ANTHROPOMORPHIC ANIMALS
Hoodwinked (2005) – A slick whodunnit which breathes new life into age old fairytales
Kung Fu Panda (2008) – Jack Black and a panda named Po – what could go wrong?
Ratatouille (2007) – A rat fancies himself a gourmet chef and ends up wowing the world
