Zootopia (2016) Review

You know what Disney's been lacking recently? Subtle lessons in racism. I'm kidding, of course. This was just released for rent and I scooped it up not really knowing what to expect, except that I heard some things about it being about racism or something.

The story is that animals evolved and now are anthropomorphic and live their lives like us. They live in a world divided into climate controlled districts based on the various ecosystems they inhabit. Judy Hopps is a bunny from a small farming town who dreams of being a cop, regardless of her size. No one believes she can do it, even her own parents (mostly because they fear for her safety). When she does manage to become a cop, she is sent to Zootopia where everyone thinks she's a joke. But when a legit investigation begins on some missing animals, she thinks this is her big break to prove to everyone she's the real deal.

Zootopia is a beautifully animated film with some decent voice acting and a smart script. The scene where Judy arrives at Zootopia was almost jaw dropping, thanks in part to the wonderful score by Academy Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino. What makes the script smart is how it balances its messages for both kids and adults. What kids see is a movie about  treating others with respect and not judging a book by its cover. What adults see is a movie about how we as a society have stereotypical preconceptions about people who are different than us and therefore, we don't show others kindness or respect. The film's entire premise and plot revolves around these ideas and that's why it is a great lesson-teacher to all ages and races. One thing I can definitely give this movie credit for is a couple of scenes I laughed HARD at, particularly a clever scene involving sloths. The strongest emotional scene of the film involves a supporting character's sad backstory. This and a few other scenes involving speciel profiling are really where the film's strength is, not in the wacky pop culture references or over-the-top cartoony action. Another metaphor the film uses is Judy Hopps' first-bunny-cop-ever as a reflection of women in male-dominated workplaces.

I really don't have too much to complain about with this movie, probably because there isn't anything special or unique about it on a purely entertainment basis. We've all seen cute furry animal movies before and this one isn't really any different, except that it's not as annoying as say...Ice Age, which seems to be targeted at three year olds. This film has a lot of scenes of exposition, or scenes dedicated to explaining to the audience what's going on, so I found myself a little bored. Because of the racial profiling undertones, to an adult, it's really seems like they are beating the audience over the head with the message. Especially with lines like "A bunny can call another bunny cute, but you can’t," and "I’m not just a token bunny!” Not very subtle. But is this the intent of the filmmakers? We'll never know unless they tell us, and even then, should we know? What makes the film's messages so powerful is that we take out of it what we want and interpret it in our own way. I refer back to my studies in film theory, particularly the essay on "Intentional Fallacy", which says that the text, or in this case the film, is the primary source of meaning and that the intention of the author is useless in judging the success or quality of the art. Whether or not the filmmakers were trying to hit us over the head with messages of racial profiling in the U.S. or beyond, what's important is what the characters themselves say and the messages they impart to us, the audience. Also, in a film that does so much world building, there is never an explanation as to why the predators and prey stopped their old ways and evolved.

I recommend this movie to all ages, races, creeds, etc. it had some funny scenes and some pop culture references that only adults will get, but that's typical of a Disney movie. I think the only thing unique about this movie is the conversations it will spark. Whether it be between people or kids of different races, adults and their children, and between kids themselves. It's a very important message in today's politically-correct driven society that we treat others of all kinds with respect. Sure the film has some muddled versions of our race and gender relations, but the main message of treating others with respect is what we shouldn't lose sight of. So maybe the movie itself won't be considered an instant Disney classic, but the messages put forth by the characters are timeless.