Disney’s latest film, “Zootopia,” has been a mega hit in theaters. It’s the perfect movie for kids and adults. “Zootopia” does everything right, from having a strong leading female character to battling the issues of race.
Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin (“Something Burrowed”) is a bunny from a small town that lives with her parents and 225 brothers and sisters, but ever since she was a little girl she’s dreamed of being a cop in Zootopia where both predators and prey live in one large, urban city. As Judy grows the audience can see the struggles she has to make her dreams come true of being an officer, but since she is just a bunny it is harder for her to achieve her goals. Judy ends up graduating top of her class and is the first bunny to be an officer. Though her parents are terrified with her career choice, they are easily settled when she is forced to be an ordinary meter maid by police chief Bogo, voiced by Idris Elba (“Beasts of No Nation”) who fails to see Judy’s talents because she is a bunny. Bogo makes it difficult for Judy to excel her true potential because she’s “just a bunny.” So she takes up a deal with Chief Bogo to find the missing otter in two days or to resign.
Prior to that, Judy meets a sly fox named Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman (“Horrible Bosses”), and she witnesses his scam and forces him to help her for the investigation by threatening to arrest him for tax evasion.
The magic duo begin by going through numerous adventures filled with strange situations and hilarious moments from groups of animal nudists to sloths running the DMV.
Writer Jared Bush did a fantastic job with incorporating jokes meant for the older crowd. The animation of the film is beautifully crafted and gives a variety of views of animals ranging in all kind of sizes and styles in a very adapted human like city. The concept idea for “Zootopia” is very original from the idea of making the leading role be a female to carefully discussing issues of race among the animal world with concept of prey and predator.
After news breaks out about the issue of predators reverting back to their ‘traditional’ ways, some animals, especially prey begin to racially profile the predators with fear. The audience gets a glimpse of Nick’s past being a young fox, being forced to limit himself to society’s views of a fox being a sneaky and tricky. This creates a subtle but moving statement that brings up questions of race that people face. “Zootopia” brings up a hard topic and simplifies the concept of race for children to understand which is very interesting, especially with the recent news pertaining to racial prejedice.
Besides the problems discussed in the film, Shakira’s song “Try Everything” discusses the idea of always trying new things and never being afraid to fail and work hard because one day your dreams will come true which is always a basic theme in many Disney films. Overall, this movie presents an inventive way of bringing up certain issues of society that could eventually open the door to a possibility for a spin-off show or something more, with its witty dialogue and the message to pursue your dreams.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
