Zootopia Review:
The experience of watching a movie as a kid is special experience within itself. Allowing that kid to get some great life lessons from said movie is something that's magical. Giving that kid the experience to watch the greatness of imagination of an talented filmmakers is like no other. Adults being able to enjoy it as well can be a hard thing to do. Imagination in people get lost in time as we humans begin to grow up, and experience new types of movies. Though being able to come back to a kids movie with enjoyment is a special thing to get in a movie. It's at that moment when all those childhood dreams/moments come swirling back. This isn't new for Disney, as they've proven time and time again that they can create movies designed for children, with themes geared toward adults.
Zootopia follows the story of an energetic Judy Hopps (played by Ginnifer Goodwin). She's a bunny who has dreams of being a cop. The world of Zootopia is almost like an alternate universe of our own and shows the evolution of all animals. Zootopia is a city in a fictionalized and civilized animal world that houses all types of animals. There's small to big, cold to warm, fat to skinny, etc. They act and behave like a civilized human society. Hopps is cop who becomes the first bunny cop ever. Hopps is thrown in a meeting about random string of disappearing animals that appear to be kidnappings. Chief Bogo (played by Idis Elba) doesn't believe that a bunny should ever be a cop and instantly dismisses Hopps from being a real cop. He puts her on meter cop duties, but it doesn't faze her. She attacks the job like if it was the real thing and doesn't complain until a couple clues connects a burglary to one of the disappearing animals. She now has to team up with a fox to stop what now looks like an even bigger problem than just a string of disappearances.
Zootopia story is quite cliche in a way as it follows an underdog to success (not a spoiler, just common sense). Hopps physical nature makes it very difficult to tackle the struggles that are presented to her, and all of this really shows the underlining meaning of Zootopia. Yes, this movie is a kids film and it is geared towards kids. Though there are many incidents of drugs, violence, sexual themes, and even racism. These plot points will go over the head of most children in the room, allowing both the children and parents to enjoy the movie together. This unity is special and is normally seen in a Disney film. However, we've haven't had this level of maturity in a Disney film for a long time. Pixar, their partner in crime, have been showing these ideas for as long as their first movie, Toy Story. However, Zootopia would also be considered their most mature film to in a long time too. Majority of the plot follows down a path, which crosses a lot of these these adult type of themes and ideologies.
The plot itself is actually very unique and hasn't been done in a kids movie. They soon find out that these kidnappings aren't even kidnappings, but a string of animals that all of sudden become uncivilized and start to go back to their primal ways before Zootopia. That's majority of the plot I'll be able to give to you as the plot is actually more complex than that. However, that would evolve some spoilers, which I'm adamant not to disclose. There is a aspect of the movie I will discuss with you though. Sooner or later the movie hits a point where the mystery is "solved" and they could have ended it with a cliche ending. Though they pushed that racial theme in the movie by showing that only predator animals become uncivilized all of a sudden. It does explain why this isn't the case and irony does settle into the actually ending of the movie. What do I mean? It finishes with an unsatisfying twist that's predictable. Though it does have somewhat of a fresh ending as well. You'll just have to see it for yourself.
Zootopia is something to be amazed about because it really shows that great filmmakers can come together to make a string of great children movies that adults will love. Disney and Pixar have been doing it for years. The critical response to the this movie really shows what I'm talking about. Every critic is an adult and they can respect what the film gives its audience. Everything down to the voice casts are well polished. Jason Batman has been in some great movies lately and he gives life to a great chacter; a fox named Nick Wilde. Everything works in the movie and there are just a few nick picks here and there that didn't work. I'm referring to the twist ending that's more predictable than the movie Salt. However, Zootopia is successful on the merit that it's a kids movie that can really get down deep to show us adults a great message. It also has a few messages for kids and those are always great as well. Not every kids movie has to have a great messages for kids as well. Not every movie has to have messages for both demographics, though it does make it more special when there; instead of just showing some mindless entertainment to entertain those kids for two hours.
Overall, kids and adults will enjoy Zootopia for completely different reasons, and that's the magical part of the movie. Very rarely do we see this in a movie and its refreshing that a studio can succeed at doing this. Zootopia would have been a top five Disney movie of all time, if it wasn't for a few flaws towards the end of the movie. I would recommend this to Disney fans alike and also to families. However, I would also recommend this movie to people who love a fun heartfelt movie with a lot more adult themes than kid themes. While its a kids movie, it certainly a fantastic adventure that going to approve through multiple viewings
A-
9.1/10
