Zootopia 2 review

ZOOTOPIA 2: 

JUDY AND NICK RETURN IN SOLID SECOND CASE! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

DISNEY

Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and Gary De’Snake in Zootopia 2

 

            Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back to solve another case in Zootopia 2, the latest animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios and follow-up to the 2016 critical and commercial smash, Zootopia. The first film I’ll go on record and say is not just one of Disney’s best CG animated movies, but one of their best animated features in general and really made me change my perception of what makes a Disney film with bold, thought-provoking social themes like prejudice, racism, political power, and underestimating those that appear unqualified for their jobs or aspirations. 

            Yes, it is a movie about a big city that’s populated by anthropomorphic talking animals, but the parallels between it and reality are undeniable. It’s a film that spoke to both kids and adults on equal levels and provided strong messages that either one can take something away from on top of just being a fun mystery with a very lovable and endearing rabbit and fox duo in the form of Judy and Nick behind the wheel. 

            It was hailed by critics and was a massive box-office success becoming Disney’s second highest-grossing animated film at the time behind 2013’s Frozen. Because of that, it spawned the Disney+ series, Zootopia+ which I have not watched yet and the inevitable sequel movie. 

            I was…curious about Zootopia 2 when it was initially announced though I wasn’t really super pumped for it because I felt the first movie worked exceptionally well as a self-contained film and I wasn’t that enthusiastic about the last Disney sequel, Moana 2 which wasn’t bad or anything, but it was very generic and subpar compared to its predecessor. 

            Well, thankfully Zootopia 2 is a much better Disney sequel than Moana 2 and Frozen II though I wouldn’t call it a sequel that surpasses the first, this isn’t the Toy Story 2, Shrek 2, or Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse of Zootopiamovies. I felt the first Zootopia had a tighter story with stronger social commentary and even some really heavy scenes (The scene where child Nick gets bullied and has the muzzle put on him is still pretty messed up!), but I still very much enjoyed my time with Judy and Nick’s second adventure. 

            The film follows Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin-Mona Lisa Smile, Walk the Line, Once Upon a Time) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman-Arrested Development, Horrible Bosses 1 and 2, Bad Words) who are now partners in the Zootopia Police Department (ZPD), but their clashing personalities makes them an incompatible pairing. However, a mysterious reptilian resident enters Zootopia known as Gary De’Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan-Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Goonies, Everything Everywhere All at Once) and turns the mammal metropolis upside down as Judy and Nick go undercover to crack the case, explore unknown parts of the city, and put their growing partnership to the ultimate test by following the snake’s trail. 

            The film also features the voices of Idris Elba (Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Jungle Book (2016), Sonic the Hedgehog franchise) reprising his role as Chief Bogo, Fortune Feimster (Last Comic Standing, The Mindy Project, The L Word: Generation Q) as Nibbles Maplestick, Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Hotel Transylvania franchise, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers) as Pawbert Lynxley, David Strathairn (A League of Their Own, L.A. Confidential,Lincoln) as Milton Lynxley, Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld, Family Guy, The Emperor’s New Groove) as Mayor Brian Winddancer, Danny Trejo (Desperado, Spy Kids franchise, Machete 1 and 2) as Jesús, Nate Torrence (Get Smart, Supernatural, She’s Out of My League) reprising his role as Benjamin Clawhauser, Bonnie Hunt (Rain Man, Jumanji,Toy Story franchise) reprising her role as Bonnie Hopps, and Don Lake (Hot Shots!, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Best in Show) as Stu Hopps. 

            Overall, Zootopia 2 isn’t as clever or deep as its predecessor and probably won’t leave as big an impact as that movie, but it’s still a really solid sequel that builds upon the first, expands the world, and introduces new characters and dilemmas. Yes, I said I didn’t think it was as good as the first, but not once did I call this a carbon copy or complete retread of the previous film, everything was different enough and did progress the story along. 

            Where the first Zootopia dealt with prejudice among other social issues, this one focuses more on the mystery behind the town’s history and why reptiles were outlawed. I guess you could argue it’s like how people were forced out of their own homes due to war or invasions, but it didn’t feel as impactful to me as any of the things from the first film. 

            The animation is gorgeous once again and is definitely worth experiencing on the big screen, the city itself really is the true star of these movies and there are some neat sequences that show it off. 

            Most of the humor landed for me whether it was jokes or witty lines of dialogue said by Judy and/or Nick or the supporting characters, visual or written gags such as the bootleg Disney movies (Which was also in the first film) and a joke involving a YouTube comment. The climax even features a little homage to The Shining which was something I was certainly not expecting to see in a sequel to Zootopia.

            Judy and Nick are once again a very lovable duo and have great chemistry, I love seeing and hearing them banter while also expressing their own personal struggles with this film really testing their partnership and loyalty to one another. Honestly, Judy and Nick are some of the most endearing and relatable of Disney’s characters in terms of both comedy and charm. 

            The chase sequences are fun and filled with a lot of creativity, very fast-paced, crazy car chases that take advantage of the big screen. Very energized and funny, one of them even takes a page from Fast & Furious which I just love. 

            Zootopia 2 is a long overdue reunion with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde and the best Disney Animation movie sequel since Ralph Breaks the Internet in 2018. The social themes aren’t quite as powerful this time around, but it is guaranteed to provide a brightly colored, funny, and incredibly charming animated film for the family…it’s called a movie review, sweetheart!