When I first saw the trailer for “Hoppers” I was pretty annoyed that the story wasn’t focusing on a rabbit.
But, the film readily explained itself in no time at all.
Still, I maintain it might have been cuter with a rabbit.
Beyond that point, the movie has plenty for adults and children while encouraging finding common ground and problem solving.
There’s not much more to say then there are cute animals struggling to survive despite human interference and encroachment on their natural habitat – and then the animals get revenge!
Hoppers is an animated science fiction comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures.
Directed by Daniel Chong and written by Jesse Andrews from a story by Chong and Andrews, the film stars the voices of Piper Curda, Karen Huie, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, and Dave Franco.
The movie clocks in at 104 minutes long and is rated PG for action/peril, some scary images and mild language.
In the city of Beaverton, Mabel Tanaka (Curda) spends her childhood with her grandmother (Huie) in a nearby forest glade inhabited by many wild animals, particularly a colony of beavers.
With her grandmother’s inspiration and continued support, Mabel grows up with a deep appreciation for nature and is even watching over the glade after her grandmother’s death.
When Beaverton’s mayor Jerry Generazzo (Hamm) announces plans to replace the glade with a freeway, while Mabel campaigns against the project but receives no support.
Her activism causes her to neglect her college studies, to the disapproval of her biology professor, Dr. Sam Fairfax (Najimy).
While trying to lure beavers back to the glade, Mabel discovers that Sam and her colleagues have secretly developed a new technology designed to enhance wildlife research.
Known as the “Hoppers” program, it allows a human consciousness to “hop” into a robotic animal and experience life as that species.
Seeing an opportunity to save the glade, Mabel hops into a robotic beaver against Sam’s wishes and flees the lab.
Believed by the animals to be a real beaver, Mabel is brought before King George (Moynihan), a beaver monarch who houses the glade’s displaced animal residents in a massive dam.
Mabel discovers an artificial tree rigged with speakers emitting sound waves audible only to animals that Jerry secretly installed to drive them away.
She takes it upon herself to destroy it since the sound has no effect on her at all.
Destroying the fake tree and speaker system ends up causing George’s subjects to begin returning to the glade.
Mabel grows closer to George, who shares his past and eventually asks her to serve as his personal advisor.
Mabel is about to reveal her true identity to George when the animals are driven back to the dam by Jerry, who has installed more sound trees and resumed construction.
Mabel and George arrange a meeting with the Animal Council in the dam, attended by monarchs representing the Insect, Amphibian, Fish, Reptile, and Bird classes, with George representing the mammals.
However, having so many conflicting monarchs voicing their opinions only makes things harder for Mabel and George.
However, you’ll have to check the movie out on your own to see how it ends.
But, I can tell you that everyone lives happily ever after – humans and animals!
