Zootropolis 2 - Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

ANIMATED sequels quite often take a long time in coming… six years between Frozen 1 and 2, 11 years between Toy Story 2 and 3, and 14 years in between The Incredibles. So, the nine year gap between the first Zootropolis and its 2025 sequel isn’t that baffling. And not a reflection on quality.

For while lacking in the surprising ingenuity of the original, this follow-up is still a worthy successor that builds on what worked so well about the first film without necessarily surpassing it.

That is to say, the same winning mix of mis-matched partners working together to solve an elaborate crime, zany and sometimes absurdist comedy and heartfelt character building remain intact here. It’s easy to see why this follow-up was such a runaway success.

The story follows novice cops Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), the eternally optimistic bunny, and her ex-con-fox partner, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), as they struggle to build on their early success, to the potential detriment of their partnership.

But just as they are threatened with being split up by their superiors, the two uncover a conspiracy that threatens to expose some of Zootropolis’ longest held and darkest secrets.

For decades, reptiles have been banned from the city but the sudden re-emergence of one - Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan) - threatens to expose the real reason behind their banishment, which in turn threatens the grip on power currently being held by a rich family of lynx’s (headed by David Strathairn).

Co-directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, Zootropolis 2 offers a fun ride for the whole family much in the same way that the original capably appealed to all ages with its near-perfect mix of zany humour and clever genre and movie references.

It’s not as fresh or as surprising (and is content to recycle some gags and plot devices). And it’s also so plot heavy at times that it dispenses with some of the more focused character building - neither Hopps or Wilde really grow or offer anything really new as characters.

But it gets by on the pure energy on display. When you’re not spotting references (which range from The Godfather and Silence of the Lambs to Ratatouille and Mad Max: Fury Road by way of The Shining (to name but a few), you’re chuckling along at the witty interplay and gags (there’s some highly amusing plays on words), laughing aloud at some of the more Looney Toons and Tex Avery inspired moments or just relaxing into the easy-going chemistry that continues to exist between Goodwin and Bateman.

Bateman, in particular, has a voice tailor-made for his laidback, sarcastic fox (using his humour as a form of defence), while the animation capably captures his frequent looks of exasperation. He’s a great creation.

But there’s heart to the central relationship as well as comical bickering - as evidenced in a belated therapeutic moment between the two characters that eloquently speaks to the outsider experience (and which will probably be deservedly embraced by anyone who feels part of a minority community).

Indeed, the points it makes about embracing difference and getting along with each other feel timely and relevant - and it’s good that they’re being imparted to young ears.

Elsewhere, there are welcoming return cameos from several of the original’s most prominent supporting characters, including desk receptionist Clawhauser (Nate Torrence), Idris Elba’s gruff Chief Bogo, Raymond S. Persia’s scene-stealing Flash Slothmore and Dawn Bellwether’s villainous assistant mayor.

While standout newcomers include Quan’s misunderstood snake, Strathairn’s villain and Andy Samberg’s underachieving rich kid Pawbert Lynxley.

As with the original, there are also enough twists to keep viewers on their toes (befitting the best kind of crime capers), as well as some typically inventive and colourful animated backdrops that help to create such a rich and diverse universe of characters and locations.

As sequels go, Zootropolis 2 has to rate as a hugely enjoyable success - and one that confidently paves the way for a larger franchise if the mood takes Disney (which it has, given that a third film is now in development).

Certificate: PG

Running time: 1hr 48mins