Zootopia

Zootopia

Shane Abrams

Yet another anthropomorphic-animal style Disney film has been released into theaters over the weekend, which seems to be an incredibly popular concept these days. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this movie, as it had me and my own little sister rolling with clever jokes that relates to our society now. Zootopia states “failure isn’t the end. Keep pushing onward,” as it’s able to stress social issues such as racism, segregation, crime, and drugs while still being able to maintain a PG rating.

The story tells of an eager and enthusiastic bunny named Judy Hopps, who wishes to become a cop in the most diverse city in their world, Zootopia. The concept of a bunny cop, however, is laughable and alien to those around her, as those who take on the job are large in nature and somewhat intimidating. With the world seemingly and almost literally against her, she’s determined to prove everyone wrong and pursue the dream of her childhood. It eventually lands her onto an enigmatic “missing-mammal” case alongside con-artist Nick Wilde, a wily fox and Judy’s polar opposite, who makes her job even harder at every turn.

A word I keep wanting to use to describe this movie is “clever,” because that seems to cover the scope of the film as a whole. The relatable jokes, for one, to not only our generation but the one before us, making kids and adults alike shake with laughter until the whole theater experiences a low grade earthquake. Due to the population being anthropomorphic animals, certain issues can actually be addressed in Zootopia that other family movies would not be able to get away with. For example, there’s a scene that involves a group of nudists. Racism is involved in a very unique way as well, making its point on our world well without straying from its family-friendly nature.

Zootopia swept me from my chair and took me on a fun and exciting ride that I at times mistook for an episode of Law and Order or Blue Bloods, while injecting fresh blood into the string of animated Disney films of this decade. Even if you don’t have any younger siblings, I recommend you at least give it a second look before categorizing it as just “another kiddie movie.”

Oh, and if you’re a fan, keep an eye out for the hilarious Breaking Bad easter egg littered in the movie. You’ll know it when you see it.