Zootropolis [Zootopia] **** (2016, voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, J K Simmons, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Jenny Slate, Shakira) – Movie Review

Set in Zootopia, a city full of characterful anthropomorphic animals, Disney’s 2016 blockbuster animated comedy is good-hearted and funny. It’s busy, fast paced, inventive and above all loads of fun, both for kids and grown-ups.

Ginnifer Goodwin provides the voice of Judy Hopps, who defies the norm by being determined to become the first rabbit to join the police force. Once on the force, she finds she’s bitten off more than a carrot that she can easily chew. So, to solve a mysterious case and uncover a conspiracy, the rookie bunny cop has work together with a cynical, wily con artist fox called Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman).

Complete with an extended parody of The Godfather (1972), with Maurice LaMarche providing the mumbling Marlon Brando-like voice of Mr Big, it’s from Walt Disney Animation Studios’s top drawer. Mr Big’s home is modelled on Vito Corleone’s place and the office resembles the Godfather’s study, with the action taking place on the day of his daughter’s wedding. 

Just why are they parodying The Godfather? Don’t ask! The movie proceeds with the idea of just chucking in anything that seems funny, and this game plan works a treat here, though I wouldn’t generally recommend it to screen-writers.

Nick Wilde was originally the main character but test audiences said they had a hard time connecting with him and were drawn to Judy Hopps, so the production team decided to change the story. To help out, Rich Moore was hired as a director alongside Byron Howard and Jared Bush. Bush and Phil Johnston are credited with screenplay. Nick’s design is heavily based on Disney’s Robin Hood (1973), who is also a fox.

Nick calls Judy by name only once, usually calling her the derogatory nickname Rabbit or Carrots.

Zootropolis [Zootopia] is directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore and features the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, J K Simmons, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Jenny Slate and Shakira.

Zootropolis crossed the $800 million mark in worldwide box office grosses on 5 April 2016, making it the second highest grossing Walt Disney Animation Studios release of all time on its original release after Frozen (2013). By 4 August 2016 it grossed $1,023,000,000 worldwide.

It won the 2017 Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Animated and the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Movie Review

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/