Disney Animation has been on a total winning streak recently. From The Princess and The Frog to Tangled to Winnie-The-Pooh to Wreck-it Ralph to Frozen to Big Hero 6, they have been cranking out win after win. However, of all their projects, everyone believed that Zootopia would be one of their lesser projects. Now people didn't think it would be bad, as it was being dirrected by Byron Howard (one of the directors of Tangled) and Rich Moore (the director of Wreck-it Ralph). However, another Disney Animation film is coming out this year, Moana, which will come from the directors of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Zootopia just seemed to pale in comparison to Moana. However, the film has been getting rave reviews so far. It's even getting better reviews than the films mentioned above. So, is Zootopia the big surprise people are claiming it is?
CONS (Or Nitpicks)
The premise does seem like a typical buddy cop film. The serious cop with the jokester con artist. How many times have we sat through this? Plus, the film is a mystery. As the movie went on, I was always a couple of steps ahead of the main characters on the big twist. Also, this next part isn't a problem, but more of a warning. The last three Disney Animation films (Wreck-it Ralph, Frozen, Big Hero 6) all had twists. If you are getting tired of said twists, there's one in Zootopia. Just saying.
However, all of these are nitpicks. It doesn't matter how predictable or familiar-sounding it is. What matters is how the movie is executed. And Zootopia is executed amazingly.
PROS
I think I should start with what everyone loves about this movie: The message. From the trailers, the movie looks like a generic "Don't let people get in the way of your dreams" film, that isn't the fim's message. The message is to not judge other groups of people by stereotypes and to stop being a bigot. I'm serious. They even use the words in the film. But they use "Predators" and "Prey" as a metaphor. This is genius way of getting the message to the film's target audience (kids) and getting it through to them without dumbing it down. Plus, with everything going on right, a movie like this couldn't have come out at a better time.
Now, the message does apply to a lot of the characters. Why can't a bunny be a police officer in a squad filled with larger animals. Is a fox really sly all the time? These questions apply to the two main characters, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Both characters have suffered ridicule their whole lives for the type of animals they are and both are trying to prove it. Judy is trying to prove to everyone that she can more than just a cute little bunny and Nick is trying to prove he can be more than a sly fox. This makes them some of the most well-developed protagonists in a Disney movie.
The comedy is also relly funny. Jokes from the trailers like the nude club, the DMV, and the Godfather parody, are not only funny but they also help forward the story. As can be said for a lot the side characters , like Yax, Flash, and Calwhauser. Even characters you think are overused, are actually done well here. Like Cheif Bogo (Voiced amazingly by Idris Elba), who, at first, seems like a the typical big, angry, jerk cheif. But as the movie goes on, you just see he's trying to look out for the city. Then there's the already mentioned twist. As I said before, I did see it coming. However, without giving anything away, it does have to do with the message.
Last thing. The animation is fantastic. The textures on the animals is fantastic. The character design and animation is spectacular. The backgrounds are amazing. With the idea of an all-animal city, it leaves no stone unturned. Every thing for every animal is thought out.
VERDICT:
I remember when I thought Moana would be better than Zootopia. And while I think Moana will be fantastic, it's gonna have to do something big in order to be as good as Zootopia. This movie is funny, charming, and even smart. Adults will love the movie, especially it's message. As for kids, right now they'll love it for the characters and humour. However, when they get older, while they'll probably still enjoy those moments, they'll learn about what the movie was saying and appriciate much more. It's the same with Inside Out from last year. And I'm gonna say something big here: I think Zootopia is just as beautiful, enjoyable, emotional, and fantasic as Inside Out. It's that great. Go see it.
10/10