NOW IN THEATERS! Writer-director Jared Bush returns to the world of predators and prey with Zootopia 2, guiding the franchise into Disney Animation’s new creative era…hopefully. Why am I skeptical? Check out the D-Files spotlighting the Jennifer Lee era at Walt Disney Animation.
Not long after solving their first major case from the first film, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are now full-time partners on the Zootopia Police Department. Eager to prove themselves among the larger, more seasoned officers, they take on a high-risk operation to stop a smuggling ring. Their plan works, but the chaos caused during the pursuit leads to their demotion. While dealing with the aftermath, Judy and Nick discover signs of a much bigger mystery tied to the unexplained absence of reptiles from Zootopia.
Following a trail of clues, Judy and Nick uncover evidence that reptiles were exiled from the city generations earlier, though the reasons behind it have been buried. Their investigation centers on the Lynx family, credited with developing the technology that powers Zootopia’s distinct climate-controlled districts. A missing patent tied to that technology becomes the central piece of a broader conspiracy. As the pair digs deeper, they navigate the city’s divided zones, confront the Lynx mob, and meet new allies and adversaries, including a beaver named Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster), a snake named Gary (Ke Huy Quan), and his Lynx ally, Pawbert Lynxley (Andy Samberg), who offers information about the forgotten reptile population.
The search takes Judy and Nick into the history of Zootopia itself, revealing long-hidden truths about who built the city’s unique weather structure and why reptiles were cast out of it. Their efforts to uncover the truth put them in the crosshairs of those determined to keep reptiles from returning. Can our heroes find the MacGuffin—which is the patent—and restore the reptiles’ rightful place in Zootopia?
Zootopia 2 marks the new regime at Walt Disney Animation—led by the film’s writer/director (and studio president) Jared Bush. There is a lot riding on this film in regards to the future direction of the studio. Zootopia 2 is a good, not great, start to Bush’s reign. Let’s get into it.
The first half of the film is a bit of a mess. It runs fast and furious with one joke after the next, and one action sequence immediately followed by another. I found myself both annoyed and bored. It’s loaded with references to the first film, when what we really needed was a return to this immersive world of Zootopia. It’s been years. Reintroduce us to this incredible world and why we all want to live there. The plot moves so fast that there are very few breaks to absorb what just happened. If you have ADHD, this part of the movie is for you.
“…Judy and Nick discover signs of a much bigger mystery tied to the unexplained absence of reptiles from Zootopia.”
Thankfully, the film slows down in the second half. Time is spent solidifying the relationship between Judy and Nick (the reason we loved the first film). We also get a better grasp of the film’s plot and the hunt for the patent. Slowing the pace made for a more enjoyable film, ironically resulting in an amazing return for our favorite sloth, Flash (Raymond S. Persi).
Ultimately, no one cares what an adult thinks about a film’s cinematic virtues when it’s made for kids. I get that. With the exception of pacing, Zootopia 2 is a solid film for children, while throwing adults a bone or two. Parents will enjoy that their kids are having fun more than they’ll miss having a movie with jokes for adults.
There was one moment when Judy found herself in a life-threatening situation. The tension in the scene was so strong that the kids in my theater were audibly gasping, praying that Judy would somehow be saved. That’s what a Disney movie should be about. Work to engage children in your story and plead to the screen for the right outcome.
Congrats to Jared Bush and the Walt Disney Animation team for an overall solid effort with Zootopia 2. I can’t wait to see what you have coming next.
"…an overall solid effort..."
