Having been super-excited for this movie, I paid special attention to its ad campaign -- teasers, trailers, TV spots, and so on. Some of the ads made me so impatient for this movie that I could barely sit still. Other ads, however, dampened my excitement for the movie so much so that, overall, I'd say my anticipation level for this movie was a mere 7/10.
The movie itself is actually extremely reflective of its ad campaign.
How so?
Well, as for the ads I did like, they showcased the movie's wonderful creativity, humor, and characters.
The other ads, however, gave us a glimpse of the very on-the-nose conversation about racism that would permeate the movie, which is only a problem because of the movie's lack of subtlety about it.
Let's go through the low, medium, and high points of the movie:
LOWS
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1. A lack of subtlety and timelessness as the movie sends its message
I just feel like movies are supposed to be timeless. The best movies hold up decades and decades after their release dates. When movies use terms and makes references that are very era-specific, it makes me cringe a little inside.
What's worse is when movies use era-specific terms to make very on-the-nose statements about racism, sexism...or whatever. When that's the case, I feel less like a story is unfolding on screen, and I feel more like an old person is lecturing me, using "hip" words that they think I'll understand better than plain English.
And that's the thing, really.
A good story should "unfold." It should be subtle. Natural. A lecture, on the other hand, is anything but subtle and natural.
A good story should show, not tell. Lectures are for telling. Stories are for showing. Stories are for getting an audience emotionally invested in characters and taking us along on their journey, toward whatever truth we will learn by their sides.
A good story is much more effective than a good lecture.
Sometimes, a good movie can capably incorporate lecture-y scenes. Sometimes. Most of the time, however, the lecture-y scenes just stick out like a sore thumb.
And that's the case with Zootopia.
Take, for example, when Judy declares that she's "not just some token bunny." I'm not sure exactly how long that usage of the word "token" has been around. I myself have only known of it for a couple of years, and I feel there's a good chance it won't be around for decades. That usage of the word "token" will definitely date the movie.
I'm not saying Zootopia can't or shouldn't bring up the very timely topic of racism. I believe that one of the most important purposes of story-telling is to spread truth. I just think there are classier, subtler, more natural ways to do that than to dip into the vocabulary of pop-culture and outright SAY racism is bad (even if it's not in so many words).
Disney has used cartoon animals to explore the idea of friendship overcoming racism before, with The Fox and the Hound.
And that movie is timeless, not only because it sticks to using terms we still use, and not only because it shows without telling, but also because it doesn't necessarily have to be about racism. It can simply be about friendship overcoming obstacles.
Friendship is timeless. Obstacles are timeless.
Racism, hopefully, is temporary.
So, when kids watch Fox and the Hound 100 years from now, or 1000 years from now, it will likely make as much sense as it always has.
I'm just not sure the same could be said of Zootopia.
MEDIUMS
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1. Characters
I did like Judy and Nick.
I liked that Judy's origin story was one we don't see for female characters very often. Judy was pursuing a career as a cop, and the obstacles in her path included both her small size and the fact that everyone really didn't want her to be a cop.
The movie made me believe, however, in Judy's desire to protect and serve other people, and it made me believe that that desire was strong enough to push her past all the obstacles.
I also liked that Judy was able to constantly outwit Nick, who at first seemed like the boring, charming narcissist who, in the clichéd version of this story, no one would be able to outwit. Nick turned out to be much more likable and interesting as the story progressed, leading him to eventually tell Judy about his actually pretty dark and very vulnerable memories.
On the other hand, I didn't relate to Judy and Nick as much as I was expecting to relate to them.
See, as soon as I found out that a Wreck-It Ralph creator was working on this movie, I got my hopes all up for another movie as magical as Wreck-It Ralph was. I felt such a strong connection to Ralph and Vanellope, and one of the reasons for that was their...average-ness, I guess. But in a good way!
If I lived in a video game, I could see myself as Ralph or Vanellope. Because they achieve about what the average person could achieve in similar situations. Sure, they each have at least one notable skill, Ralph with his wrecking and Vanellope with her driving. But, most average people have maybe one thing they do pretty well.
If I lived in a world of talking animals, I still couldn't see myself as Judy or Nick. Because they're such over-achievers. Both of them are extremely good at their jobs (if conning people counts as a job), extremely smart, extremely cunning, extremely well-connected, extremely cute/charming, extremely physically capable, and so on.
They're just all-around over-the-top.
On the other OTHER hand, I did appreciate the dark and vulnerable childhood memories the writers gifted to each Judy and Nick.
The clean-cut, Disney version of a difficult childhood would involve infinitely kind, supportive parents, one or both of which died and left the child sad but still able to cope and still filled with the happy memories and valuable wisdom their parents gave them.
Judy and Nick had darker, grittier stories than that. They were both physically attacked by other kids. Judy's parents weren't supportive. And Nick -- instead of garnering happy memories or valuable wisdom from his childhood -- was left with a strong belief in the futility of being good if the world sees you as bad.
It felt really personal when Judy's childhood story was shown on-screen and when Nick told Judy his childhood story. When he did, that's what made me feel the connection between Nick and Judy.
On the other other OTHER hand, their connection didn't feel as strong as Ralph and Vanellope's. And I think that problem is the result of poor pacing, which brings me to my next point.
2. Pacing
Wreck-It Ralph was able to take the time to let everything really sink into the audience's brains and hearts. That's why Ralph and Vanellope's connection feels strong. The movie took its time showing it. Wreck-It Ralph was able to take its time because the plot was simple and not a ton actually happened.
A lot happens in Zootopia.
It's all fun, high-energy stuff, but it feels just a little rushed. Judy and Nick's connection feels rushed. Nick told Judy about his childhood, and then almost immediately, he hastened the plot forward with an idea for solving the case. The time needed to develop the characters was eaten up by plot developments, and the pacing felt choppy.
The plot eats up so much time because it's such a big plot. I feel like it could have been simplified, so that character development could come first and so that the pacing could be a bit smoother.
HIGHS
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1. Creativity
This was one of the things I was most looking forward to: seeing all the fun gags and colorful explanations regarding how several different kinds of animals could live together in one place. There are different door sizes on the train, full-body blow-dryers for animals that travel by canal, an area full of cute, miniature buildings for cute, miniature rodents, etc., etc. I gathered all of that just from the ads.
The movie itself did not disappoint me. A+ for world-building using creative concepts and animation that's as beautiful and vibrant as computer animation gets.
2. Humor
Anyone who saw the sloth trailer should be able to guess at the delightful type of humor this movie holds.
3. Creepiness
Don't be worried by the creepiness. The movie is creepy when the animals go feral. However, it is just creepy enough to be memorable. Not enough to be really scary. It's hard balance to find, but Zootopia does it.
4. Timelessness. Believe it or not.
For all my talk of the movie's era-specific vocabulary, I have to admit the movie somewhat saves itself by depicting timeless truths. Anyone can be bad, and anyone can be a victim, regardless of their biology. Likewise, anyone can be good, and anyone can be friends, regardless of their biology.
Despite the fact that the HIGHS section is the shortest, I quite liked Zootopia. It's definitely worth seeing. Maybe even worth seeing twice.
RATINGS
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General: 8/10
Compared-To-All-The-Content-I've-Ever-Loved: 7/10
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