Film Review - Zootopia 2

Images courtesy of the Walt Disney Company.

I have to set things right. 

This film was disgusting… 

Disgustingly good. 

Rest assured I attended the Zootopia 2 premiere with the lowest of low expectations. Which is understandable given Disney’s - as well as the rest of Hollywood’s - current aversion to creating anything new, creative, and just generally of any significant substance. Instead,insisting on releasing worn out sequels, prequels, and remakes that are so half-hearted you can smell the corporate desperation for money. So you can imagine my surprise when Zootopia 2, a 108 minute animated film directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard was absolutely delightful, starring Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman again as the iconic rabbit-fox detective duo of Julie Hopps and Nick Wilde, with their usual sizzling on screen chemistry. It should probably be illegal to ship a cartoon rabbit and fox this intensely. Joining them is Ke Huy Quan as newcomer Gary de’Snake whose presence answers half of the age-old discourse that has plagued Zootopia fans since 2016: Where are all the birds and reptiles? Well, the answer is quite simple, they’ve been displaced. 

Building on the first movie’s herbivore vs carnivore prejudice, Zootopia 2 introduces similar themes such as ethnic cleansing, upper politicians, stolen land, and gentrification through the lens of mammals versus reptiles. The latter having  long been looked down upon as lesser and dangerous by the majority mammal population due to an incident years ago that has seen them completely eradicated from Zootopia society - or so we thought. Following a lead, Hopps and Wilde work together not only to solve the case of the expelled reptiles, but also to prove themselves (again) to the rest of the police department. Despite having saved the city in the last film, the unlikely duo are still treated as one hit wonders and mocked at each and every opportunity - a surprisingly brutal portrayal of workplace discrimination for a kids film, but since when has Zootopia shied away from hard-hitting themes? It’s not all politics, Zootopia 2 also expands on the Hopps and Wilde relationship that sees them expressing their vulnerabilities as they navigate their new partnership, albeit doing so with incredibly therapy-speak-inspired language that could have very easily teetered into the domain of clunky, but instead managed to lighten the incredibly introspective moments without diminishing their importance. 

Were some of the same political and social commentary simply reframed repetitions from the first film? Definitely, but that’s just reality. The screenplay was tight and creative enough to feel like a refreshing extension of the original plot rather than a worn out rehash, and is filled with genuinely funny dialogue that perfectly balances being appropriate for all ages. Additionally, the world building itself is so entertaining and clever, it’s one of those films that justifies a rewatch just to soak up all the subtle pop culture nods. Honestly, the film was a little too good that I fear Disney will use it as an excuse to continue not creating anything new and simply stick to the safe path of remakes -  something Zootopia 2 itself pokes fun of in a well-timed meta joke about sequels. The post credit scene itself inevitably opens up the possibility of a Zootopia 3 centring the other creatures we’re yet to see - birds.  

So if you love Shakira’s vocals, slow burn romances, justice, and films that encourage critical thinking, then Zootopia 2 is the film for you. 

4 out of 5 “Hey Bub”s.

Zootopia 2 is screening in cinemas now. For tickets and more info, click here.