With a dynamic plotline and a heartwarming message about overcoming adversity and defying stereotypes, Zootopia proved itself an engaging movie for all ages.
A box office hit, Zootopia has topped the charts since its release, raking in a whopping $479 million.
Although an animation film, a genre thought to be mainly for children, this film is delightful for audiences of all ages due to its engaging dialogue and parallels to actual society, leaving everyone in the theater laughing and tearing up at all the appropriate parts. The cast, starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman and featuring Shakira, Idris Elba and J.K. Simmons, gives life to the characters and the comedy is a must see whether you are with your younger siblings or a group of friends.
In “Zootopia,” the Zootopia Police Department (ZPD) found itself with 14 “missing mammals” cases. Enter rookie Judy Hopps, a “country” bunny who dreams big of being a police officer in the city of Zootopia. She continually finds herself thwarted in her endeavors by those who say she can’t pursue her dream merely because she’s a bunny. With her misfit partner and the predatory fox, Nick Wilde (Bateman), Judy Hopps demonstrates that she’s ready to break the stereotypes prevalent in animal society among predators and prey so that the animals can live harmoniously, and she can overcome the adversity of being a minority herself. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde must work to solve the case of the missing mammals in 48 hours.
Zootopia offers comedic relief in its satirical parallels to society. The sloths that worked at the DMV, who move so slowly that the partners find themselves leaving well into the night, accurately portray how just about every citizen feels when the dreaded day comes to renew their driver’s licenses.
From a feminist perspective, it’s particularly moving. Judy Hopps parallels the plight of many women. She faces a significant obstacle when her male colleagues doubt her ability to complete the same tasks that they are able to perform. Judy Hopps is assigned the menial job of “meter maid” in a scene in which she goes above and beyond her assigned task while comically portraying every “cop” stereotype in the book. In the final scene, Judy proves that with wit, intelligence and determination, she can do anything. The message is overwhelmingly positive and the delivery of the comedy is fantastic.
Zootopia can also be found to be revealing of deeper rifts in society. In a political regime that targets minorities by attempting to expose them as “predatory,” the movie it is eerily reflective of the media coverage of minorities in our society. The actions taken by the animals in this movie parallel how we should idealistically handle these issues in real life.
Judy Hopps also faces socioeconomic adversity when she makes her way from a farming family to the big city world of Zootopia where she must learn to adjust to her new life. Though she worked hard, people criticized her for being a country bumpkin, and she was nicknamed “Carrots” because her family grew carrots. However, through many trials and tribulations, she is able to fight her way above her family farmer name.
Zootopia shows that through hard work and perseverance, community harmony can be achieved regardless of gender, race or socioeconomic status. Though it contains an obvious deeper meaning, it’s a comical must-see for any age.
