“Zootopia 2” A Hilarious, Heartwarming Adventure That Will Easily Charm Audiences

For last week’s edition, I checked out the 2016 family favorite “Zootopia” and it is still one of the most entertaining Disney movies that have been recently released! So, now, its highly anticipated animated sequel is now playing on the big screen and family and fans of the 2016 movie will absolutely love it!

In “Zootopia 2,” detectives Judy Hopps and Nick find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who turns the mammal metropolis of Zootopia upside down. Testing their growing partnership like never before, they go undercover in new parts of town to crack the case.

The latest animated sequel from Disney, “Zootopia 2” delivers incredibly stunning animation, more sharp humor and so much fun for the entire family! Just like the still popular 2016 movie, this sequel does a tremendous job balancing entertaining adventure with meaningful social commentary. And, even though it’s been almost nearly a decade since the first movie, this is worth the wait.

“Zootopia 2” takes place not long after the ending of the previous movie and this sequel’s story places the central duo in a “partners in crisis” dynamic, which tests their bonds and that allows for personal growth between the fan favorite characters. This actually adds more emotional depth to their partnership and it makes the character’s relationship stronger.

The sequel features more witty humor banter between these two characters and their banter together is still just as hilarious as the first movie. A popular and entertaining plot that involves Judy and Nick are the “partners in crisis” therapy sessions that we see throughout the movie, providing both comedic elements and genuine insight into their communication issues.

One interesting aspect of the sequel is that it centers on a new mystery involving the arrival of a mysterious reptilian character (Gary De’Snake), which forces the city to confront its hidden past and expands the world, showing us some unexplored territories. This part of the story reveals the origins to Zootopia and the reason why reptiles were historically excluded from the main city, which adds a deeper layer of

social structure to their world.

Just like the 2016 movie, this animated sequel delivers us some fairly memorable moments that the whole family will really enjoy. There’s a sequence in the movie where Nick ends up being wrongfully imprisoned and, as he escapes, accidentally releases the other prisoners, which is a humorous moment. There’s also a scene towards the end that involves a snowy hedge maze that is actually inspired by “The Shining” (and even incorporates a few notes from its iconic score) which ended up getting quite a few laughs from some of the parents (and myself) at a showing I attended. And, of course, the scene-stealing Flash the Sloth makes a return!

“Zootopia 2” is definitely one of the best movies that Disney has recently released and is great fun for the whole family. The animated sequel also features quite a few clever puns and pop culture references that can easily entertain both children and adults without resorting to cheap humor. The animation is incredibly beautiful and the sequel (just like the first movie) also tackles some weighty themes, including social exclusion, in a very thought-provoking way.

So, if you have enjoyed the 2016 movie, you will most definitely enjoy this sequel! It’s a worthy and enjoyable sequel that delivers a great mix of heart, humor, depth and some fun action. There’s even a few hints during the end credits of a potential third movie.

Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin (Judy Hopps); Jason Bateman (Nick Wilde); Ke Huy Quan (Gary De’Snake); Fortune Feimester (Nibbles Maplestick); Andy Samberg (Pawbert Lynxley); David Strathairn (Milton Lynxley); Idris Elba (Chief Bogo); Shakira (Gazelle); Patrick Warburton (Mayor Winndancer).

Writer/director: Jared Bush (writer and co-director) (Moana 2; Encanto; Zootopia); Bryan Howard (co-director) (Encanto; Tangled; Zootopia)

MPA: Rated PG for action/violence and rude humor   (runtime 108 minutes) 

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• When the two Hippo cops crash into the docks, several apples are rolling towards them, and they eat them. This is a reference to the game "Hungry Hungry Hippos," where hippos eat different-colored balls in the same way.

• The chase in the snow-covered hedge maze at the end of the film is a tribute to a similar sequence in The Shining (1980). A snippet of that film's score even plays over the establishing shot of the maze.

• The koala Robert Furwin is named after his voice actor Robert Irwin, an Australian conservationist whose career was inherited from his late father Steve Irwin.

• Although Zootopia 2 was released nine years after the first film, it is set just one week later.

• The names of the prison inmates Michael J the Fox, Big Tig and Tailen Smalls are all based off their respective voice actors Michael J. Fox, Tig Notaro and Taylen Biggs, whilst Gramma Taller's name is instead based off Rachel House's character Gramma Tala from the Moana films.

• This sequel expands beyond the all-mammal cast of the first film by also featuring reptiles and marine animals and explain why they were not present in the first film.

• In just 48 hours it made back 130% of its 180 million dollar budget.

• Michael J. Fox's first fully animated feature length film since Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), released twenty-four years prior, which is also from Walt Disney Animation Studios.