Zootopia 2: A wildly funny follow-up

The first Zootopia definitely caught me by surprise. A Disney film about anthropomorphised animals can certainly be entertaining, but what I didn’t expect was how resonant it would be. Underneath the thick surface of animal puns and slick animation, there was a profound message about prejudice, brought forward through the unlikely friendship between a fox and a rabbit.

Given how impressive the first film was, I expected Zootopia 2 to wow me with the same sharp social commentary, wrapped in a series of wacky wildlife scenarios. But because sequels so often disappoint, the film would have had to deliver a genuine surprise to truly win me over.

It’s with great pleasure that I can report the second adventure of Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps is just as clever as the first. The two are found in the throes of their police partnership and suffering from success. As heroes of Zootopia, they’re lauded for their efforts, but in their day-to-day, tension arises. Zootopia 2 sets its stage by underscoring the differences that set its two protagonists apart, threatening the very peace they worked so hard to establish in the first film.

It’s a remarkable way to anchor the stakes of the film to the plight of the characters. Though not overtly said, Zootopia 2 feels like the very foundation of this zoological utopia could be torn asunder if Nick and Judy can’t get along. At the same time, the film includes a celebrity horse turned mayor played by Patrick Warburton, and is full of similarly ridiculous elements throughout that balance the grave story beats.

In its deluge into difference, Zootopia 2 spends much of its story focused on the ostracised reptile community. The most prominent being Gary De’Snake, who is dead set on redeeming his family name and diffusing the instinctual aversion other animals have toward his kind. Zootopia 2 presents reptiles as strange, off-putting, and simply weird, but maintains that despite how different they are, deep down inside, they’re thinking and feeling creatures, just like you and me.

Zootopia is that rare breed of film franchise that’s certainly aimed at kids but is nonetheless a continuous laugh riot for audiences of any age. It’s also well written with a message that matters in a brightly coloured package with top-of-the-line animation. The attention to detail on the characters and in the world itself is enough to warrant repeat viewings. Thankfully, the rest of the movie is worth watching too.

Rating: Big Screen Watch

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.