Zootopia 2, my friends, is better, smarter, and funnier than the original, a blast of mainstream animated entertainment that has something for everyone.
If you’re a fan of Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and the other furry friends from the first Zootopia, you undoubtedly will find more of the same—only with even more confident storytelling and an even sharper script.
Hopps and Wilde spend their time unpacking a new case that could rock the city once again, exploring their budding partnership, and meeting new friends—including a mysterious snake and a mouthy beaver. There are a few things that impress me about their newest adventure:
One, the mystery at hand is a pretty good one, smarter and more complex than what you’d expect from a kid’s cartoon. We’re not talking Sherlock Holmes level, of course, but writer and co-director Jared Bush clearly put plenty of thought into the story, how it would unfold, and what would be revealed. Needless to say, it’s an intelligent kids movie.
Two, the world building is terrific. The city of Zootopia has so many minute details it’s impossible to keep track of them all; the richness of every scene all emanates from the screen in rewarding ways. From all the silly little things going on in the background to passing moments like where Wilde’s soda can gets stuck in the vending machine, requiring him to alert the mouse that works inside the machine to jar it free, it’s obvious that a lot of care has been put into making this world feel lived in—while simultaneously heightening the entertainment value. Contrast it to the world of Oz from the Wicked movies, which is colorful yet static and largely bland, and it’s incredible what a difference it makes.
Finally, Zootopia 2 is downright funny. I laughed a lot and smiled much of the rest of the time. The movie sags just a little toward the end as Bush attempts to layer on a tad too much sentimentality, but it’s a rip-roaring good time from start to finish. Fast-paced, action packed, and often hilarious (a scene involving a walrus ferry is particularly funny), Zootopia 2 really has it all.
The first one is great, but it could easily be argued that its sequel improves upon the OG in just about every way. That’s no easy feat.
Review by Erik Samdahl. Erik is a marketing and technology executive by day, avid movie lover by night. He is a member of the Seattle Film Critics Society.