Zootopia

Starring:  Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate

Year:  2016

Running Time: 108 minutes

Besides being cute, clever and extremely funny, Zootopia includes some very important messages that the world needs right now – and the impressionable children of the world even more so.  It touches on the dangers of stereotyping and the prejudice and discrimination that follow, how divisive labels can be and how those who have been stereotyped unfairly tend to internalise the labels assigned to them.  In the highly charged climate of xenophobia that seems to dominate society right now, the film has a lot to teach both adult and younger viewers about labels, without coming across as overly preachy. 

The film opens with the Carrot Days Talent Show, in which a young Judy Hopp shares her optimistic message with the audience:  “Anyone can be anything”.  This is a mantra that she carries with her throughout the film, regardless of what life throws at her.  Her parents, however, are a little less optimistic.  When asked how they became happy, they respond with “We gave up on our dreams and settled”.  Another piece of advice for their daughter: “If you don’t try anything new, you’ll never fail”.  Despite their cynicism, Judy is determined to become the first bunny cop in the big city of Zootopia.

Fifteen years later, at the Zootopia Police Academy, Judy harder than the other recruits (who are all physically larger than her) and refuses to give up on her dream.  Eventually she graduates top of her class and is assigned to a precinct in the centre of Zootopia, much to the concern of her parents, who warn her about the dangers contained therein, especially foxes.  Shakira (who provides the voice and vocals for pop star, Gazelle) provides the perfect soundtrack for Judy’s journey to the big city -  a soaring, feel-good number titled Try Everything.

At the precinct, the Chief of Police announces that there are fourteen missing mammal cases and assigns all of the officers to the cases , except for Judy, who is given parking duty.  Nevertheless, she carries out her job with her usual enthusiasm, determined to be the best parking attendant she can be.  While doing her job, she tries to help a fox named Nick, who is posing as a father trying to buy an ice cream for his “son”.  Soon she realises Nick is just a scam artist who hustles others for money.  Nick tells her he is a sly fox and she is a dumb bunny and that is all they can be.  Of course, the remainder of the movie will challenge these preconceived ideas.

Judy is then reprimanded by the Chief for her attempts to catch a thief, which caused some chaos in Rodent Town.  Their meeting is interrupted by a distraught otter, whose husband has been missing for ten days.  Judy takes on the case, much to her boss’s chagrin.  He comes close to firing her for insubordination but changes his mind when he realises Judy has connections at the Mayor’s office.  He gives her 48 hours to find the missing mammal or she has to give up her badge.  Judy hops right on it, enlisting the help of Nick the fox, whom she threatens with tax evasion charges if he doesn’t help.  And so begins an adventure in which they put their prejudices aside and work together – they even come to like each other, until fear and stereotyping once again cause a division between them.

•  Judy’s “Carrot for One” microwave meal containing a single, shriveled little carrot
• “Life isn’t some cartoon musical where you sing a little song and your insipid dreams magically come true.  So let it go.” – Chief Bogo
• The New Jersey shrew talking about leopard-print jeggings after shopping at Mousy’s and Targoat
• The bat-eared fox posing as a toddler
• Naked yoga at the naturalist club
• The sloths working at the DMV – Flash’s painfully slow laugh in response to a joke is particularly hilarious
• Mr Big (the most feared crime boss in Tundratown) and his “Godfather” voice
• Nick eating a tiny cake with a tiny fork at Mr Big’s daughter’s wedding
• “Doug is the opposite of friendly.  He’s unfriendly.” – Duke Weasleton

I love puns and word play and there are plenty of both in this film.  The punchlines are funny without being cheesy or clichéd while the underlying message is inspiring and relevant.  I certainly hope that a Zootopia 2 is on the cards.