After 10 years of waiting, fans of Zootopia rejoice as its progeny hits the theaters.
But the questioin rises: Will it be on par with its predecessor?
“Zootopia,” a world-wide hit film released in 2016, is famous for tackling complex themes such as racism, prejudice, and discrimination, all while remaining a lighthearted movie that kids could enjoy. Nick Bramante, reporter from The Blue and Gold: Malden High’s Official Newspaper, remarked that it as a “brilliant take on one of the world’s most prevalent . . . problems . . . offering an experience that is simple enough for young children to understand, and complex enough for adults to enjoy.” Zootopia’s fans, now 10 years older, wait patiently for its sequel to come out, eager to see if it can live up to the first.
The movie is set one to three weeks after the events of the first movie occurred, with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde now a popular cop-duo across Zootopia. Judy and Nick find themselves on an adventure after Gary De’Snake arrives in Zootopia and causes chaos. Along the way, Judy teams up with Pawbert Lynxley, a shy member of a powerful family. Throughout the story, Judy and Nick discover an underground secret about Zootopia, and the Lynxleys’, while tackling their personal problems with each other.
Without completely spoiling the movie, I found this plot to be entirely too similar to the first Zootopia. While still challenging the same problems as its predecessor, it also sets up the same narrative of the “nice guy” turning out to be evil all along. I assume the creators wanted to keep the rhythm going, as the first was such a hit. But sadly, I found the story line forced, and the characters lacked depth. Some from Rotten Tomatoes describe it as “beating the same drum.”
While there are many who found the second movie redundant, there are also many reviews that remark it as a “fun follow up,” “a rare sequel,” and “[their] kids loved it.” While I do have to acknowledge these reviews, I wonder if people are just enraptured by their children’s excitement and that they aren’t necessarily looking at the actual movie. A movie like “Zootopia” will always be an excellent film for kids, with the animals, colorful animation and plot twists. But, if you are looking at “Zootopia 2” with a critic’s eye, you might find it disappointing.
A positive that I could not refuse through the movie was the chemistry with Nick and Judy. I could argue that without these characters, the movie would fall flat. The dynamic of the charming, sly, and street smart character with an optimistic, energetic, and driven character has captured their audiences’ hearts. This dynamic is very popular, with characters like Ladybug and Cat Noir from “Miraculous Ladybug” and Han Solo and Princess Leia from “Star Wars” included. All of these characters are beloved by their respective fandoms, and Judy and Nick are no exception. “Each possesses qualities the other lacks, and that’s what makes them such a dynamic duo,” says the Walt Disney Company.
I also cannot deny the beautiful vibrancy “Zootopia 2” presents. The producers of the first “Zootopia” made a comeback for the second, and definitely do not disappoint. The animation is smooth and visually pleasing, and critics express their admiration for the visuals by describing the “bright colors, with so much detail that it seems like you could watch the film several times and just keep noticing things going on in the background.”
While my eyes were pleased, I still found myself let down and indifferent when the credits rolled. The plot twists and surprises weren’t surprising enough, and many of the jokes missed the mark. If you are interested in this movie for your child, I recommend it whole-heartedly. If you are thinking about watching it for yourself, you might feel you’ve wasted your time.
