Disney’s surprisingly political 2016 animated hit Zootopia followed a spunky young bunny as she confronted the challenges of being a police officer in a city that’s less utopic than she thought. The film’s allegorical take on prejudice and xenophobia carries over to Jared Bush and Byron Howard’s Zootopia 2, which also places the wealthy and powerful in its crosshairs, specifically those who’ve built their reputations and generational wealth off of the stolen work and ideas of a marginalized group expelled from Zootopia.
When Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) discovers snakeskin at a crime scene, her domineering buffalo superior, Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), doesn’t want to hear anything about it, what with Judy’s relentlessly gung-ho tactics having recently led to massive damage at a public event. Left to her own devices, Judy drags her fox partner—the sly, sarcastic Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman)—into her investigation, believing that a snake, a species that hasn’t been seen in Zootopia throughout its 100-year existence, is on the loose within the city’s borders.
After discovering an old book that appears to have something to do with the slithery suspect, Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), Judy dives headfirst into the mystery, forcing Nick to put his career on the line for an adventure he’s not sure is worth it. Zootopia 2 explores the dysfunctional nature of their friendship and working relationship, giving credence to both Judy’s noble pursuit of truth and justice and Nick’s frustration at Judy’s unwillingness to make sure they’re on the same page before repeatedly risking their lives (and livelihoods).
Had it simply stuck to examining the growing strains between Judy and Nick, Zootopia 2 would likely still have been a more than serviceable sequel. It’s packed full of clever visual gags and animal puns, and even makes time for some very funny references to everything from Ratatouille and Babe to The Shining. The film’s whip-smart humor is enough to keep you on your toes, and its attention to detail in its character design and backgrounds offers a feast for the eyes. We even get a few breathtaking chase sequences, including one boasting the gratifying return of Zootopia’s DMV sloth that wisely doesn’t overstay its welcome.
But Zootopia 2 improves upon its predecessor by adding new and deeper layers to its social commentary, grappling with the more nefarious, long-term consequences of widespread prejudice. Where the discrimination in Zootopia primarily played out on an interpersonal level, Zoopia 2 shows how that prejudice can be weaponized by those in power to manipulate large swaths of citizens into villainizing and displacing vulnerable communities. In this case, it’s the wealthy Lynxley clan, led by patriarch Milton (David Strathairn), who denigrated reptiles for his family’s own gain before summarily organizing their collective exile from Zootopia.
Bush’s screenplay both effortlessly and elegantly weaves Judy and Nick’s personal drama into this larger story about the importance, and difficulty, of exposing widespread corruption and historical erasure. Advocating for the importance of individual action in the face of bigotry codified into law, Zootopia 2 provides plenty of food for thought for its young audience, making a more expansive statement on the dangers of intolerance than the first film, and without sacrificing any of its charm, humor, or visual ingenuity along the way.
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