Run
Time: 108 minutes
Country:
USA
Director:
Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush
Production
Company: Disney
Distributer:
Disney
MPAA
Rating: G
Disney ended the year adding Rey to
their stable of iconic female characters. This spring the mouse has added yet
another strong female character in their latest animated feature Zootopia (2016). Police officer Judy
Hopps is a female action hero voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin. Ms. Goodwin is no
stranger to the Walt Disney Corporation playing Snow White in the television series
Once Upon a Time. Disney has always dominated the little girl demographic with
their iconic Disney princesses but in a few short months they have added two
new female characters to their toy box of I.P. and these ladies are no
princesses who need rescuing. They are full on actions heroes. 
Several references in Zootopia (2016) will most likely go over
a child’s head but the adults or “big kids” in the theater will thoroughly
enjoy them. Two of the more memorable references that are also large set pieces
are The Godfather (1972) and Breaking
Bad. The Breaking Bad reference was complete with Yellow hazmat suits, a blue
drug being produced in a lab, and two guys (rams) named Jesse and Walter. The
audience reaction in the screening I attended was very positive. Queens College
undergrad and cinephile Anita Korosi said, “I loved it, I thought it was really
funny and cute. It’s the best Disney film’s I’ve seen in the last few years.”
The dichotomy of predator and prey
in Zootopia (2016) is used as allegory
for race or any group that can be deemed as the “other”. The word “token” and the
cities “inclusion campaign” are overt references to race. When Judy Hopps meets
the officer working the police stations front desk the films allegory is
strongly conveyed when she explains to officer Clawhauser, “… a bunny can call
another bunny cute but when other animals do it’s a little...” and he quickly
apologizes, “I am so sorry. Me Benjamin Clawhauser the guy everyone thinks is
just a flabby donut loving cop stereotyping you.”
Zootopia
(2016) encourages acceptance and inclusion. The motto of the titular city is, “In
Zootopia, anyone can be anything." Unfortunately in a city that postulates
anyone can be anything the only characters who have any sort of subtext of
maybe being queer is Judy Hops’ angry neighbors. For obvious political and
financial reasons Disney execs most likely saw having overtly queer denizens of
Zootopia as problematic but it would have been nice for Disney to be a little
brassier with their social commentary. It’s no secret that for years Disney has
been far more gay friendly in its offices and corporate culture then in the
media they produced.
Della Saba’s voice performance is a
scene stealer voicing the young Judy Hopps. This iteration of Judy might be the
most memorable because these early scenes depicting Officer Hopps as a child
are also the most biting satirically. Like the scene where Judy’s folks Stu and
Bonnie give her some advice, “It's great to have
dreams.” Says her father. Her mom chimes in, “, just as long as you don't
believe in them too much.” Her father continues, “Judy, ever wonder how your
mom and me got to be so darn happy?” “Nope.” Judy retorts. Her father continues
on, “Well, We gave up on our dreams and we settled, right mom?” “Oh, yes.
That's right Stu we settled hard.” Her mother adds. Sadly Zootopia wanted to
focus on the main allegory and didn’t stray often to lampoon other areas of
society that a plot and world like Zootopia
(2016) would allow a filmmaker to do. Much like science fiction a film like Zootopia (2016) can use periphery distracting
elements allows the storyteller to hide deeper often subversive meaning.
Academy award winner J.K. Simmons’ voice performance as Mayor Lionheart
calls to mind the bluster and self assuredness he brought to the role of J.J.
Jonah Jameson in Sami Raimi’s Spiderman
trilogy. Idris Elba voices Officer Hopps a no nonsense police chief (another classic
cop movie trope). It appears Zootopia
(2016) will be the first film in the Idris Elba Disney trilogy with The Jungle Book and Finding Dory due out later this year.
The wide shots of Zootopia as Judy
arrives via train are some of the most beautiful of the movie. I was really
hoping for more shots that depicted the vast size and scope of a city like
Zootopia and its many specialized zones (jungle, tundra, etc.). In an animated
movie where you don’t need a budget from cranes, helicopters, and CGI you just
need talented animators to make literally anything from your imagination come
to life, I would have loved to seem more of the detailed and imaginative world building
that is depicted in Zootopia (2016).
For movie goers who are bit too
serious and stoic to appreciate anthropomorphized gerbils in adorable teeny
tiny business suits Tommy Chong has a cameo at a naturalist club where the
bears go bare (if you get what I’m throwing down) that lampoon the idea of
animals in clothes. Adults and children will both love Zootopia (2016). In a world where Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) exists smart funny animated films that
can be enjoyed by all ages should be championed and supported.
