Over the past couple years, Disney’s reputation for making great animated films has been going down. Recent original films such as “Strange World” and “Wish” have not been very successful financially, and have received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and audiences. Due to their original films not being as successful as they used to be, they have fallen back and decided to make more sequels to some of their previous films. While those have been more financially successful, they’ve still received generally mixed reviews from critics and audiences, with some even considering them awful cash grabs. The most recent example, “Moana 2,” facing backlash from fans for being a cancelled Disney+ miniseries stapled together at the last minute.
Therefore, many fans were skeptical about “Zootopia 2.” While the trailers looked promising, fans were still unsure whether or not the film was necessary. However, when it finally released, it received high praise from critics, audiences, and fans. Many claim that Disney “finally made a good sequel,” and that it’s just as good, if not better, than its predecessor.
“Zootopia 2” follows main characters Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) in their partnership at the Zootopia Police Department (ZPD). Despite being eager and willing to work together, their clashing personalities make things difficult to work with. Hopps becomes suspicious that there might be a snake roaming around Zootopia after finding a piece of shed snake skin. Further clues lead to the snake being at the Zootopia Gala, hosted by a family of lynxes who are descendants of Zootopia’s founder. After the snake was discovered trying to steal an old journal about the creation of the weather walls controlling Zootopia’s climate change, Hopps chases him down, but he convinces her that snakes are not actually bad animals and that the journal proves it. In the process however, he accidentally bites Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) and flees the scene, and Hopps and Wilde are accused of aiding the snake. They escape with the journal and go after the snake and an unknown motorcycle driver.
The rest of the story involves Hopps and Wilde trying to solve the case while on the run, meeting many new characters along the way. Other starring actors include Ke Huy Quan as Gary De’Snake, Fortune Feimster as Nibbles Maplestick, Andy Samberg as Pawbert Lynxley, and several others.
“Zootopia 2,” while not necessarily an incredible or amazing film, is a very solid sequel that strikes a good balance between following the footsteps of its predecessor and not just copying it entirely. While the plot does consist of Hopps and Wilde trying to prove themselves as worthy police officers, it does it in a new way that expands upon the morals of the first film, retaining the character growth built in the first film. Story repetition is something many Disney (and Pixar) sequels suffer from, as it feels like the main characters just forget about their growth from the previous film(s). “Zootopia 2” also does a good job of putting in character conflict without it feeling forced or cliche. Plus, it has a plot twist that is actually surprising and works well, which many Disney films have tried to do but haven’t always been successful. Overall, “Zootopia 2” gets a 7/10. Not a spectacular film, but still a good one.
