“Zootopia 2” is pure delight, every bit as exciting and heartwarming and imaginative as the Oscar-winning original and maybe even funnier. It has hilarious animal-word puns and sly references to cultural touchstones from streaming platforms like EweTube and HuluZoo, where you can watch shows like “Only Herders in the Building,” as well as a quick shot inspired by one of the most terrifying moments in “The Shining.” All of our favorite characters are back, even the sloth from the DMV, the rat mob boss, the gazelle voiced by Shakira, and Bellweather (Jenny Slate), the sheep who turned out to be the villain of the first film (the sequel has a very brief recap for those who haven’t seen it or don’t remember).
Most importantly, this movie is an ode to community, those who fight for justice, to being open-minded about who to trust, and most of all, to friendship, presented in a gorgeously designed world where animals of all sizes and habitats live together in peace.
Well, almost all animals, and not as peaceful as they assume. As we will learn, while it is a marvel of design for a wide variety of species, Zootopia is just for land mammals, from enormous animals, such as giraffes, to mice, and cold-weather creatures like polar bears, to those designed for intense heat, like elephants. What it doesn’t have are sea creatures, even those that are mammals or rodents. And our heroes will discover how that happened and how to fix it.
Those heroes are, again, the opposites-in-temperament Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a bunny who is bright, enthusiastic, and fiercely committed to justice, and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a fox who is a former con artist, a loner, and fiercely dedicated to avoiding danger. They met on opposite sides of the law in the first film, but now Nick has joined the police department, and they are partners.
They immediately get into trouble after ignoring orders from Police Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) and end up on a wild chase after a perpetrator in a catering van labeled “Amoose Bouche.” Bogo threatens to separate them if they get into trouble again. So, of course, they get in trouble again. Bogo also sends them to a support group for partners who are having trouble adjusting to each other, led by Dr. Fuzby (Quinta Brunson), who notes that when she asks them a question, Judy answers without consulting Nick or noticing how he is reacting.
Following up on the catering van, Judy and Nick attend a fancy gala where a treasured book by a revered Zootopia founder will be displayed. The book belonged to an ancestor of the Lynx family, the one who created the system that enabled the different habitats by providing just the right weather for each neighborhood. And at the gala, the book is stolen, leading Judy and Nick on an adventure, investigating the crime, with some setbacks along the way, including conflicts that put their relationship and even their lives in jeopardy.
This brings a bunch of terrific new characters into the story, including a pit viper named Gary (Ke Huy Quan), a conspiracy theory podcaster named Nibbles (Fortune Feimster), and an awkward but friendly member of the imperious Lynx family named Pawbert (Andy Samberg). And it brings a bunch of new environments, each more marvelous than the last, including a desert, an Alpine-like mountain, and a coastal setting for the water mammals (do NOT call the sea lion a seal!).
The details are dazzling, rewarding repeat viewings. Disney magic radiates from every texture and movement, and a near-vertiginous sense of space and momentum. There are car chases through the streets and one where characters travel by Tube, not as in the London Underground but as in a miles-long, water-filled tube, and it’s all visually dazzling.
The story gets complicated, with many moving parts and a lot of action, but the focus is always on what Nick and Judy are learning about choices, strategies, and being good friends. There is a joyful ebullience throughout. The action is exciting; the humor is endearing.
Stay all the way to the end for a glimpse of the next adventure. Hopefully, it doesn’t take almost a decade for another trip.
