Zootopia 2

Disney animation’s Zootopia was a mega-hit back in 2016 that grossed over $1 billion and has become one of the studio’s crowning achievements from the past decade. Its unique premise and delightful characters made it a recent staple in Disney’s catalogue. Despite taking nine years to come out with a follow-up, the sequel has been worth the wait. This sequel is a great deal of fun, one that skillfully balances thoughtful commentary and silly humor to winning effect.

Courtesy Disney

Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is now partners with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), who are both struggling to be taken seriously, despite uncovering a major corruption case at the end of the first film. After getting sidelined by Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) when an under-the-table smuggling case blows up in their faces, Judy and Nick look to gain more credibility within the department. When the two decide to chase a lead at a dinner celebrating the 100th anniversary of Zootopia, a mysterious viper, Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), crashes the party and takes off with a special book with secrets regarding the city’s creation and a forced reptilian underground. Judy and Nick decide to follow the viper and are then framed by the evil Lynxley family. As fugitives on the run, the two misfit partners team up with a conspiracy theorist beaver named Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster) to help them locate Gary and try to clear his name all while escaping the clutches of the Lynxley family’s powerful control over the city’s police force.

Helmed by returning filmmakers Jared Bush and Byron Howard, Zootopia 2 successfully maintains the zippy fun of its predecessor. While the sequel may not have the revelatory element of surprise that the first film had, the filmmakers conceive of a clever enough story with thoughtful sociopolitical shadings and genuinely funny humor that it works on its own right. Taking the detective aspect of the first film, Zootopia 2 doubles down on the buddy-cop dynamic that made that story so refreshing and unique. This film actually has more in common with a Lethal Weapon sequel than many other Disney animated films. The gorgeous animation consistently dazzles, while the banter between the two leads is as witty and sharp as ever. Bush and Howard also explore the moral differences between Judy and Nick. Judy is eager to succeed at her job, doing whatever it takes to uphold justice, even if it means putting her life at risk. Nick is still a bit of a cynical know-it-all who is not the type to immediately throw his life in jeopardy at the cost of the greater good. These differences cause a rift between the two, putting their adventure in question.

Courtesy Disney

The first film was able to subtly explore institutional racism through the prism of its lively animal-centric setting. This film manages to touch on systemic corruption, oppression and gentrification all while maintaining a zippy pace. The reptiles have been shunned from all of Zootopia, used as scapegoats for policies that sought to demonize and “other” communities that are deemed lesser than. It’s a genuinely sharp piece of commentary that blends well with the breezy plot and inspired humor.

A solid voice cast rounds out the film with the great Danny Trejo making a killer appearance as Jesus, a reptilian smuggler who helps Judy and Nick find passage. David Strathairn voices the evil head of the Lynxley family, Milton Lynxley. Andy Samberg is Pawbert Lynxley, the black sheep of the family who helps Nick and Judy on their quest to find Gary De’Snake. Some side characters, namely Fortune Feimster’s obnoxious conspiracy theorist beaver are more grating than humorous, but are unable to detract from the magnetism of the core characters.

Courtesy Disney

Zootopia 2 is a delightful return to form for Disney Animation. A fun and smartly-conceived sequel, the long-awaited return to Zootopia is chock full of snappy banter, laugh-out-loud comedy, propulsive action and clever hijinks. This is the kind of film that features numerous third act back-stabbings, a car chase featuring a fan-favorite sloth and a killer Kubrick homage. Even if it’s not as strong as its predecessor, this is one of the better Disney animated sequels in quite a long time.

Zootopia 2 is now playing in theaters.