Review: Zootopia 2
Released in March of 2016, the Disney-Pixar movie “Zootopia” earned over $1 billion worldwide, winning the Academy Award for “Best Animated Feature.” Almost a decade later on Nov. 26the sequel premiered, and similarly to the original “Zootopia,” the sequel grossed more than $1 billion in just 17 days.
“Zootopia” concluded with the city-saving duo of police officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her partner Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) successfully bringing down the corrupt mayor and his assistant. “Zootopia 2” begins with the crimefighting duo getting demoted after a failed attempt to take down a minor antagonist. The demotion results in them being denied the ability to work big cases.
This chain of events introduces Judy and Nick to a new set of animals that hadn’t been featured in the first “Zootopia” movie, reptiles and fish, for example. Judy and Nick learn about snakes and other reptiles living in the shadows in Zootopia, and out of fear of the famous Lynx’s journal getting stolen by a snake, Judy visits the Zootennial Gala to make sure nothing happens. The Lynxes are a wealthy, influential family, and the famous journal holds the plans for the Weather Walls that separate the different climates of Zootopia.
While at the Gala a snake leaps onto the stage and steals the Lynxes journal, causing Judy and Nick to embark on their journey in a chase for the journal and the truth.
The various plot twists are consistent with the original movie’s formula, although it still keeps viewers interested and guessing, by creating drama between characters and suspenseful scenes. Additionally the introduction of new animal species adds a new aspect to the movie franchise, such as the involvement of reptiles and how they are seen by the other animals. Both the old and new characters also develop more over the course of the movie, providing a new level of depth and emotion. For example, Nick and Judy get into multiple arguments and learn how to compromise and see things from each other’s perspectives.
Although the movie keeps the viewer entertained and invested, its arrival after almost a decade after the first “Zootopia” took way too long. Despite the wait, the movie is a commercial success that keeps viewers watching, a welcome expansion to the Zootopia universe.
