All Animals Are Equal, but Some Animals Are More Equal then Others

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.

           

             Zootopia (2016) employs the plot device of a cop teaming up with a criminal. This is a classic buddy cop movie trope that’s been used in films like 48 hours (1982) starring Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte and Midnight Run (1988) starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. Children will enjoy the juxtaposition of the two lead characters and the comedy it inspires and adults will appreciate the nostalgia of the classic movie trope.

        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.