Zootopia (2016)

Disney has a thing for anthropomorphic foxes. Sure, there has been many a Disney-related film, but for some strange reason, most of the time the foxes never really, truly stick out in our memory.

I am glad to say that this time, they have got it completely right.

'Zootopia' is one of those Disneyfilms that fortunately does not shy away from loftier themes besides the 'there is so much more to me than this'.

No really, every bloody Disney princess has a song where she laments that no one takes her seriously and that she can be and do so much more. And once you have noticed this, it becomes terribly tricky to unnotice it.

That is not to say that the premisse of this one is all that different. Bunny Judy Hopps wants desperately to become a police officer. No one believes she can do it, because bunnies, but she perseveres and eventually can join the police force in the big city known as Zootopia (or Zootropolis in Europe, because of some silly copyright issue with a real life zoo, apparently). However, she quickly learns not all is cake and roses (as you do). She also teams up with a street hustler called Nick, who is the aforementioned fox, in order to solve a missing persons (animals?) case no one has been able to crack thus far in order to cement her reason for being on the force.

Do not be fooled by the rather by the numbers plot. Most films have a by the numbers plot. The reason 'Zootopia' stands out is thanks in the largest to the clever and snappy writing. Not only are the characters loveable and likeable and distinguishable, they also have fairly normal reactions and no one is played as a true hero or supervillain. You can empathize with everyone, because they are all trying to do what everyone does in a big city, and that is survive.

The voice acting is also spot on. The character designs clearly influenced whoever was selected for the role and that plays out wonderfully. To name an example: Idris Elba as the jaded police chief walks the fine line between authority and being bored to death of his job, because all in all it does remain rather menial.

There are truly dramatic moments that tug the heartstrings and that is good, but the comedy also sets this film apart. There is flat out comedy, but it is sprinkled throughout and that makes it all sustain a levity that is sometimes needed. Stand out parts are the sloths at the DMV (for those not in the know: that is where you go to register your vehicle in the US and I presume it is a pretty hard jab at the efficiency of said department) and the scenes with Mr Big, who has more than a passing resemblance to Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather'. Not only are some lines lifted pretty much verbatim from that film, but who has also noticed that both his house and drawing room where everyone is brought before him are exact replicas from Coppola's masterpiece?

Except for the ice. But then again, that could be metaphorical. Or not.

'Zootopia' is fast paced, clever and enjoyable and even though the villain reveal is not as spectacular or intriguing as it might have been, that is only a small flaw in an otherwise fun and entertaining animated film, the likes of which Disney had made only too few in the years leading up to this one.

But it could have done with less Shakira, to be honest. I know they had to plug the song, but really. Too much Shakira.