She’s a rabbit. He’s a fox. They’re detectives. This would have been a great show in 1985. But this isn’t 1985 and we never questioned why “Manimal” got taken off the air. Perhaps it would have lasted more than eight (8) episodes if there had been a Mrs. Manimal, knowwhatI’msayin’? But this does raise the only question that concerned me in Zootopia 2: Are Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde just partners or are they partners partners? I’m going to explore such in a chart, so I don’t need to here.
Thanks to the innovation of climate barriers, the land of Zootopia can accommodate for all kinds of mammals living in all kinds of conditions, but it seems to have little tolerance for reptiles and absolutely no room for snakes. And
wouldn’t you know it? Today’s crisis is about a snake. Go figure. It’s kinda funny how every mammal hates a snake. It’s not just humans. Animated snakes are the modern equivalent of Pepé Le Pew.
Before we introduce Gary De’Snake (voice of Ke Huy Quan), we have to get our heroes in trouble. Rookie officers Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a rabbit and fox, respectively, are fresh off their big bust and unwilling to take a back seat to protocol or orders. While making a high-profile bust, they inspire a fair amount of mayhem. The two are sent to partnership therapy to work on their mildly incompatible personalities. If this seems like a weird plot point, it is. They’re basically given couples counseling as punishment, which doesn’t quite seem to me the best uses of police resources. But what do I know?
Given strict orders to avoid whatever it is they can’t avoid, Judy -a type-A go-getter- opts to go undercover at the Zootennial Gala, where the film delivers two MacGuffins: a journal and Gary De’Snake. Judy and Nick make a dog’s breakfast of the whole affair [is it rude to say “dog’s breakfast” in Zootopia?] and are saved from internal affairs almost entirely because everybody hates snakes.
Man, you guys are so species-ist! This is, of course, the point. We all have to learn a valuable lesson about how the traditional form of Satan on Earth is misunderstood. Especially when it’s voiced by Short Round.
Are the fox and the rabbit incompatible? Well, this is the bigger thesis in Zootopia 2, although I cannot help wondering how material it is. Every police show that has ever existed is about two partners who seem wrong for each other but manage to violate law enforcement rules in tandem when it comes right down to it. The other question is: Was there a pressing need for Zootopia 2? I don’t think so. We learned a lot about Judy and Nick in the original and I cannot say this material took me in fascinating new directions of buddy comedy. While both amiable and entertaining, Zootopia 2 lands firmly on my lower side of good. Like just above a C-plus. My biggest question went unanswered and the best moments of Zootopian comedy BY FAR remain in the first episode. Still, it’s hard not to like the go-getter bunny and the repressed sly fox; I’ll have to try harder for Zootopia 3.
The fox and the bunny are back
With a Zootopia mystery to crack
What’s with the snake?
Is this plot a full bake?
And are they a couple? I need feedback.
Rated PG, 108 Minutes
Director: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Writer: Jared Bush
Genre: Holiday romcom
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Fans of the original
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Fans of wealth
