have to confess that I’ve been a fan of talking animals since my first childhood Disney-animated experience.
So, when “Zootopia 2” appeared in our local theater, there really was only one rational decision on what this week’s movie review column would be about.
Zootopia 2 easily builds upon its 2016 predecessor “Zootopia” and expands the voice-acting cast with an awesome assortment of actors and actresses.
I think my favorite part of the entire film was how several other movie franchises were referenced throughout – sort of like Easter Eggs hidden for adult viewers.
After all, it’s a kid’s movie, so, anytime there’s an adult joke either visually or something clever being said in reference, I enjoyed it just a little bit more.
While I found the soundtrack fading into the background, the overall animation was smooth and the storyline moved at a decent pace all things considered.
Zootopia 2 is an American animated buddy cop comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
It’s directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard and written by Bush.
Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, Alan Tudyk, Nate Torrence, Don Lake, Bonnie Hunt, and Jenny Slate reprise their roles from the first film, with Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, and Danny Trejo joining the cast.
The movie is 108 minutes long and rated PG for action/violence and rude humor.
One week after Judy Hopps (Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Bateman) have become official partners at the Zootopia Police Department (ZPD), their clashing personalities constantly complicate their work.
While ZPD Chief Bogo (Elba) begins assigning officers roles for a smuggling ring sting operation only to find that Judy and Nick have gone in on their own and ignored the assigned duties he’s given them.
Unfortunately, Judy and Nick’s interference is utter chaos and destruction across Zootopia to the point that Bogo threatens to separate them unless they attend a partnership therapy session.
Judy begins to believe there might be a snake roaming Zootopia after finding a piece of shed snake skin during the smuggling raid, but Bogo won’t hear of it.
Further clues indicate that the snake might be at the Zootenial Gala, celebrating the centennial anniversary of the city’s founding, hosted by a family of lynxes who are descendants of Zootopia’s founder Ebenezer Lynxley.
At the Gala, Judy befriends Pawbert (Samberg), the awkward youngest son of the Lynxley family, while Nick notices an infiltrating hooded figure, who reveals himself to be a pit viper named Gary De’Snake (Quan).
As everyone panics, Gary kidnaps Milton (Strathairn), the Lynxley patriarch, and uses him to access an old journal detailing the creation of Zootopia’s weather walls.
Judy catches up to Gary, who convinces her that snakes are not bad animals and that the journal contains the proof he needs to help his family.
Seeking to protect the Lynxley name, Milton accuses Judy and Nick of aiding the viper to have them arrested.
The situation is worsened when Gary accidentally bites Bogo during a scuffle.
Nick and Judy escape with the journal while an unknown motorcycle driver saves Gary.
Now fugitives, Judy and Nick seek help from crime boss Mr. Big (LaMarche) and his daughter Fru Fru (Latham) and she directs them to conspiracy theorist Nibbles Maplestick (Feimster), who knows about reptiles.
Still, there’s more to Gary’s story than meets the eye and, while predictable, there’s an unexpected twist in his quest to reveal the truth about the Lynxley family and his own.
Overall, it’s a cute movie with an entertaining cast, happy ending, and character growth for Judy and Nick.
