ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Nearly a decade ago, Disney movie fans were introduced to the world of “Zootopia” and many of its inhabitants, namely sly fox Nick Wilde and energetic new bunny cop Judy Hopps. I remember seeing the movie at the theater here in town and absolutely loving it – so much so, I ended up later purchasing it on DVD.
Nearly a decade later, fans have the chance to return to the colorful world with the newly released “Zootopia 2,” which has already shattered multiple cinematic records, and for good reason. This outing reunites Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) as they find themselves on the twisting trail of Gary De’Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan), a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia and turns the city upside down. To crack the case, the duo must go undercover, and their growing partnership is tested.
The cast from the original film returns, and I could not be happier everyone was able to come back. Ginnifer Goodwin remains perfect as Judy and manages to make her bright and spunky and optimistic while also showing some maturity. Goodwin slips back into this role so, so easily, and I can’t imagine anyone better for the role. Jason Bateman also remains perfect as Nick Wilde, and I loved how he was able to maintain Nick’s cynicism and also show some vulnerability later on in the movie, especially during a scene when he finally admits he cares about Judy as a friend. Like Goodwin, Bateman slips back into this role VERY easily, and the vocal chemistry between the pair remains totally on point.
Another particular standout for me from the cast was Ke Huy Quan as Gary De’Snake, he makes Gary so sweet and awkward and lovable, and I feel like he had A LOT of fun with this project, because he puts forth a lot of emotion throughout. Also, Gary proves himself to be such a pure soul on multiple occasions, and I was rooting for him the entire movie. Comedienne Fortune Feimster is absolutely hilarious as Nick and Judy’s beaver ally Nibbles Maplestick, and she was totally able to capture that conspiracy theorist/crackpot vibe without necessarily becoming a total caricature. She also has some of the best comebacks in the movie, and if you’re a parent/guardian, don’t be surprised if your little one starts beginning multiple sentences with a deadpan “Hey Bub” for at least the next few weeks (trust me, you’ve been warned). Overall, the casting was SOLID, and I was so glad everyone from the original movie was able to come back.
Like the original movie, I loved the overall look and vibe throughout the movie. I love how every town in Zootopia has its own distinct look and feel, and I felt like nearly every shot was pure art. “Zootopia 2” definitely maintains the brightness and vibrancy of its predecessor, and there was clearly a lot of care taken to make sure everything came out right. There are multiple scenes feature many different animals, and I can’t imagine how much time and effort it took the animators to bring everything together to the quality level they did. Michael Giacchino also returns to do the musical score, which ends up being a win throughout the entire movie. Overall, the VFX/production crew did a wonderful job bringing Zootopia and its inhabitants back onscreen.
In terms of the story/screenplay, “Zootopia 2” continues its predecessor’s trend of warning not to judge others simply on what they look like or what species they are and gently tackling themes of racism other social issues. Even Shakira’s new song for the film, “Zoo,” is an anthem about how we all need to come together and stop judging each other based on what are ultimately unimportant differences when there is so much that actually connects us. Gary’s story, which is shared piecemeal throughout the movie, should sound especially familiar to anyone who’s studied early U.S. or world history for more than five seconds, because it’s reminiscent of certain ethnic groups getting shoved out of their homes by others simply because they wanted the land for land’s sake. Those themes will most likely go over the heads of younger viewers, but I think the movie could be a good conversation starter for when parents are ready to have those types of conversations with their youngsters. Along with that, the movie is also a great expression of two “odd couple” partners coming together and truly learning to appreciate and care about each other, and there’s a particular scene featuring Nick and Judy oversharing near the end of the movie that’s both hilarious and heartfelt at the same time. Overall, “Zootopia 2” definitely matches its predecessor in terms of being full of heart and heft while also being entertaining.
My only gripe with “Zootopia 2” is why did it take so long for a sequel to come together? I remember the first film being pretty popular when it came out, so I’m somewhat confused as to why Disney didn’t strike while the iron was hot and make things happen more quickly.
Overall, it was a very nice return to Zootopia and all of its inhabitants, and I would give this outing a solid “A” grade. The voice cast is on point, with Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman slipping back into their leading roles with ease, and I also found Ke Huy Quan and Fortune Feimster particular standouts. The animators were able to help maintain the first movie’s overall look and vibe, and they did an amazing job bringing Zootopia back to the screens. The story and screenplay are also solid, and like the first movie, it’s full of heart and heft while also being entertaining, and there are also some deeper meanings if you care to look. If you’re a fan of the first “Zootopia” film, you’ll definitely enjoy “Zootopia 2.”
