3/18/17
80 odd years ago, Disney started making cartoons, and then expanded to feature length films. And now today, Disney continues this with Zootopia, a race relations story told through the lens of animals living in “harmony” together. A little long, but Disney coherently tells a story that comments on race relations with a “who-dunnit?” story about Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), Zootopia PD’s first bunny cop, and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) a foxy con artist who happens to be a fox. They have to Liam Neeson their way to a missing otter, and it’s all mystery and a great message of acceptance. They’re a likable pair, and the other characters are fun to watch. Their interactions with them and each other develop them. And the whole scenery is gorgeously animated, with each frame advancing the “who-dunnit?” story and showing animals as they live in a human-like world, with anything from totally-not-iphones to innovative ways to get around and accommodate biological necessities. What also makes it relatable is Shakira’s (or in their world, Gazelle) song “Try Everything,” which acts like a mantra reinforcing the theme in the same way The LEGO Movie did, while also connecting to the idea of overplayed pop songs. There’s also a score by Michael Giacchino, who’s always a win. It’s used properly and Mr. Giacchino conveys all the appropriate emotions in it. Overall, Zootopia is a fun, heartwarming movie with a deep message we could all use at any time: be the best person you can be, don’t jump to conclusions, and don’t be afraid to try new things.
3/5/17
In the ancient times of animation, Walt Disney, a man with a vision, made cartoons about a mouse. Now, his company makes an animated movie about a variety of animals living together! Zootopia opens with a look at ancient animal (AKA our real-life animals), which then cuts to a cute little talent show that our protagonist Judy Hopps (Della Saba as child, Ginnifer Goodwin as adult Judy Hopps) performing an idealistic skit that ends with her confessing her life’s dream: to be a cop in Zootopia. For her, it will be challenging because she is a bunny, which is a humorous connection to not-so-humorous-struggles of women in the real world. After failing at everything in the police academy from dangerous microcosms of tundra/desert/other natural habitats, to going to the bathroom in a way-too-oversized-toilet! “You’re dead!” she keeps getting yelled as she fails. After more practice and hardwork, she is eventually the first bunny to graduate from the police academy. It helps that there’s an “mammal inclusiveness” program in the police force, so Judy gets her dream job at ZPD as class valedictorian introduced by Mayor Lionheart (JK Simmons) who is just there (at first) and Deputy Mayor Bellwether (Jenny Slate), who’s excited to see prey getting a break for once. Judy sets out on her new life, and on her first day, she gets: parking duty. She gives out so many tickets to expired meters, and ends her morning with helping a fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) get his “son” (Tom Lister Jr) an elephant-sized popsicle, because his “son” wants to be an elephant. Judy helps them, but then discovers they’re con-artists who turn a profit on the popsicle, and her following Nick ends with them becoming partners in crime solving when she is given 48 hours to solve a case with limited resources. Now, I have to address an elephant in the room (and no, it’s not an elephant’s birthday): to all the cop-haters, this is not the movie for you, and to all cops friends/family of cops or those who just respect them, this movie is not one-sided: there are good ones and bad ones, there are incompetent ones, just a police-force that serves and protects the city of Zootopia. There is good highlighted when Judy stops a thief (Alan Tudyk) from getting away with loot that seems meaningless at first, but plays a larger role later on. There is well-meaning-but-harsh highlighted when Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) screams at her for endangering the rodent district (although she did save a woman who helps her later on (Leah Latham)) instead of waiting for smaller officers. There is however, a cringe-worthy moment when an animal child says something so cringeworthy, I cannot in good conscious repeat, but it is a statement: that there are people who have that kind of opinion, but it’s only one compared to a vast majority who show tolerance/respect (Even Maurice LaMarche’s “Mr. Big,” a mob boss, shows respect to Judy for her assistance). The point: this movie is not Black Lives Matter anti-police, but it is not Blue Lives Matter pro-police either, just cops doing their jobs and animals being people-like animals in a true detective story full of laughs and character moments along the way, like Judy becoming hell-bent on being the first bunny cop after a traumatic altercation with a fox makes her want to be a cop more, and Nick’s traumatic backstory about what it’s like to be a predator in a prey world. Other than that, most of the characters are quick, but memorable, especially the not-so-quick Flash (Raymond S. Persi), Officer Clawhouser (Nate Torrence) and pop-singer Gazelle (Shakira), along with others I may or may not have mentioned. I feel like the plot was a little slow, but given the detective story, that should be expected. The animation is Disney’s modern glory, creating a believable, almost tangible world, and one that isn’t so different from our own, with smartphones, mass media, and civilization’s ups-and-downs. It is an expression of humanity’s deep-rooted issues and greatness expressed with anthropomorphic animals in people’s place. Michael Giacchino's score does the minimal job, but with Shakira’s “Try Everything,” the message is expressed: Anyone can be anything (to a reasonable extent). The story, main characters, and beautiful animation all work together with that song (and somewhat present score) to send that nonbias message!