Review | Zootropolis

★★★★★

The film Donald Trump wouldn’t want you to see.

Setting up the entire film within the first few minutes, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is an ordinary anthropomorphised bunny who believes she can be anything. What she wants to be is a cop, in Zootropolis. Zootropolis is supposed to be the place where anyone can do anything, however there is considerable pushback from her small town parents to be what they believe she was meant to be, a carrot farmer like every single other bunny in her town. Already breaking moulds as female breaks what is supposed to be her place, Zootropolis sets this tone for the entire film as Judy Hopps is set to take on the case of a lifetime after she graduates from the academy.

Opposing her in her belief in that she can be whoever she wants to be seems to be the entire city of Zootropolis, especially her new boss Chief Bogo, a tough buffalo voiced by Idris Elba. After all her work in the academy, Zootropolis’ first bunny officer is immediately assigned parking duty with seemingly no chance for discussion on the matter, especially when a bunny would have to confront a buffalo. As well as Bogo, there is the Jason Bateman voiced fox Nick Wilde, who has been used in much of a marketing for the film. In Wilde you have a sneaky con-artist who is perfectly happy for the most part living up to the idea that bunnies cannot trust foxes as he professes ‘you can only be what you are’.

Filled with Easter eggs, fittingly named for this time of year, Zootropolis sends Hopps and Wilde on a real case after they encounter mammals going missing whilst others are turning ‘savage’, returning back to we, humans, considered animals to act. This is what Zootropolis is all about. Without really realising it, the droves of Donald Trump supporters taking their kids to see this movie are having their entire case for keeping out refugee Muslims by simply rooting for the heroes in this film. Mixed in with a great story, fun jokes for the parents with jokes about The Godfather and Breaking Bad, there is a key ideology within the film that centres on acceptance, understanding and a willingness to work with those of all creeds and colour, in a peaceful way.

Zootropolis confronts the ideology of the majority who think they’re the minority head on, understanding that the people who control our lives don’t deserve a head start. Judy Hopps is a character which embodies the belief that you can be who you want to be, a message that’s always been a strong favourite for films aimed at children. Promoting a message of rehabilitation instead of isolation, Zootropolis deals with incredibly problematic and tough issues especially when aiming such towards a young demographic; yet it does it with such froth and happiness about it that the film is enjoyable no matter what you bring to the film yourself. Using a simple story to convey intellectual and well thought out ideas, Zootropolis (or Zootopia as it is known in other areas) has somehow outdone the brilliant offerings Disney has had for us over the past few years in Frozen and Big Hero 6.