Zootopia 2 (dirs. Jared Bush & Byron Howard)

By: Adam Freed

A good sequel knows how to give audiences more of what they want, where a great one spins a familiar story and characters into expansive new directions.  Disney’s Zootopia 2 falls somewhere in between these two definitions.  The lovable Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back voiced once again by Ginnifer Goodwin (Walk the Line, Big Love) and Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Ozark) respectively.  Also returning is the same lovable world full of big animal personalities, ripe with the joyfully nuanced sense of humor that made Zootopia (2016) a runaway Oscar winner for best Animated Feature.  As one may expect, marquee vocal talents such as Idris Elba, Shakira and Bonny Hunt all return to the sequel, releasing nearly a decade after its predecessor.  Audiences who come in search of more of what they loved from the mammal metropolis won’t feel cheated by the directorial collaboration of Jared Bush (Encanto) and Bryon Howard (Tangled), but are also sure to be delighted by the intriguing new investigation that Hopps and Wilde find themselves pursuing.  The lovable fox and bunny duo have grown notably closer in the years since audiences last encountered them, leaving room to wonder if perhaps a romantic connection may be on the horizon.  But long before matters of their mammalian hearts can be considered, the origins of Zootopia have come into question as the city’s centennial celebration looms on the horizon.  New faces call into question the dark origins of the metropolis, an investigation that seems perfectly suited for the mismatched duo of Hopps and Wilde.

Zootopia (2016) had the luxury of introducing audiences to an immersive new world in which detailed surprises sprang from every corner of the screen.  There is a slight sense of rinse and repeat that children are sure to be immune to early in the film, as Zootopia 2 takes a few minutes longer than necessary to find its footing.  But once its paws are firmly set, the Disney animated delight unfurls a rollicking and mysterious adventure that not only expands what audiences know about the land of Zootopia, but introduces countless meaningful new voices to the proceedings.  Most notable of these new additions is Academy Award Winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) who delights as Gary De’Snake, a character whose mysterious origins become the focal point of Hopps’ and Wilde’s investigation.  Also joining the newly expansive collection of reptilian characters in the land of Zootopia is Jesús voiced recognizably by Danny Trejo (From Dusk Till Dawn).  Rounding out Zootopia 2’s impressive collection of new vocal talents is Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Fortune Feimster (The Mindy Project), Andy Samberg (Palm Springs), and David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck.).  In all, Disney’s sequel to its runaway hit of an animal tale boasts a far more complete and robust cast than its predecessor.  By no means is financial success an indicator of quality in filmmaking, but in the case of Zootopia 2, audience scores and box office results are sure to skyrocket in tandem.

Target Score 8/10 - After taking a beat to find its bearings, Zootopia 2 sets forth on an expansive and delightful adventure that is perfectly suited for families of all ages.  Boasting a robust cast of vocal talent there is very little that feels recycled about Disney’s long-awaited sequel.