"Life isn't some cartoon musical where you sing a little song and all your insipid dreams magically come true. So let it go." - Chief Bogo (hahahaha, nice one Idris Elba)
Initial thoughts before viewing: I saw this in theaters and remember thinking that it was funny, clever, and thoughtful. Then it made my head hurt the more I thought about it.
If you'd like to read a recap of Zootopia here is a link to the movie's Disney Wiki page where you can read the entire plot summary.
Highlights:
-Zootopia is packed with important messages without being preachy. The movie invites kids and parents to talk about nature versus nurture, and the origins and debilitating effect of stereotypes. Simply put, Zootopia is about what it means to be suspicious of somebody else, simply because of who they are. And by situating that story among animals — who already have natural, antagonistic predator-prey relationships — it can explore that dynamic without feeling too preachy.
-Zootopia shows that even the most good‐natured person can be susceptible to putting stereotypes on another person. Protagonist Judy Hopps is clearly our hero character, but even she is not immune to unconscious bias & stereotypes, particularly towards foxes. She shows her flaws and eventual growth throughout the film as her relationship with Nick Wilde develops.
-Shakira as a pop star named Gazelle? I'm into it. Once you get over the weirdness of Shakira's voice coming out of a singing gazelle, every moment with Gazelle is bloody brilliant. The song she sings called "Try Everything" is catchy, makes you want to dance, and is a great way to close out the movie.
Disliked:
-Zootopia uses certain stereotypes for comedic effect. But aren't ALL stereotypes harmful? Many of the animals make self-deprecating jokes at the expense of stereotypes about their species (such as Judy Hopps volunteering to do math for Nick Wilde, telling him, "If there's one thing we bunnies are good at, it's multiplying"). For a movie that is constantly asking its characters to look past species stereotypes, and not use species-ist language or repeat hurtful assumptions, this feels odd.
Random Thoughts I Had While Watching:
-Are Judy Hopps (a rabbit) and Nick Wilde (a fox) a nod to Disney's notorious Song of the South? Zootopia can be interpreted as an attempted mea culpa for Disney after Song of the South, the 1946 feature in which Uncle Remus relates the story of Br’er Rabbit, who is persecuted by the ax-wielding Br’er Fox. If you’re familiar with Song of the South, it’s likely because of its clumsy portrait of the Reconstruction-era South, which presents former slaves as jolly, contented storytellers. Unsurprisingly, Disney has never allowed the film to be released on video. It can't be a coincidence that Disney decided to have the main characters of this modern fable to be a rabbit and fox too, right?
-Otters are considered predators? I can't be the only one who was surprised by this nugget of information (but I looked it up, and yes it's true).
Closing Thoughts:
Zootopia is most successful at building a fully realized and diverse animal world with lots of Easter eggs for adults to snicker at and appreciate. As for the movie's takeaways, it’s a lot to ask for an animated film to explain concepts of privilege and systemic injustice in a way that won’t have people running for the exits, but Zootopia does a decent job of tackling this complex topic.
The bottom line: At its core, Zootopia is a touching story of an unlikely friendship steeped in popular culture and a sharp critique of modern society. It's a smart and ambitious animated film that will make you think.
My Rating: 7.5/10
