I had to recheck my notes to fully grasp that it’s been almost 10 years since the original, wildly successful Zootopia hit theaters. But now, two of its original directors (Jared Bush, Encanto, and Byron Howard, Bolt, Tangled) have returned for a script written by Bush (who also wrote the original and both Moana films). And taking their time creating a sequel has actually resulted in a terrific, all-ages animated joy that continues to examine issues about compatibility, expectations, wanting to be accepted without sacrificing your individuality, and not judging a snake by its skin.
There are a surprising number of moving parts to Zootopia 2, but the one constant is that bunny Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are back as full-fledged partners in the ZPD after busting a big case in the previous film. Set only a week after the events of Zootopia, the film sees Judy and Nick botch a smuggling ring bust. Their commanding officer, Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), threatens to separate them unless they attend a group therapy session, run by Dr. Fuzzby (a quokka voiced by Quinta Brunson), which they reluctantly do. But Judy is distracted by thoughts of a snake skin she found on the scene of their failed bust. Since no reptile has been in Zootopia in years, she believes something nefarious is up, but neither Chief Bogo nor her partner are convinced her clues are adding up. And with the big Zootenial Gala (celebrating the city’s 100-year anniversary) right around the corner, the police have more pressing concerns.
The gala is being hosted by the Lynxley family, lynxes who are descendants of Zootopia’s founder, who discovered a way to create “weather walls,” which make it possible to have separate environments needed for all forms of animal life to live in close proximity to each other. The founder's son, Milton (David Strathairn), is a VIP in this community, for obvious reasons, but it’s made clear early on that he and his kids are no good, greedy, elitist corporate types who don’t care about the city at all, outside of how much money they can milk it for. The one outlier in the Lynxley family is Pawbert (Andy Sandberg), who decides to turn against the family and work with Judy and Nick on their investigation into the snake issue, which they soon find out is tied to the gala and the Lynxley family.
At the gala, a pit viper (Ke Huy Quan) reveals himself and steals a valuable journal that may hold the secrets to how (and why) the Lynxleys want their animal environments separated in the first place. And with our heroes in hot pursuit, this is where things get complicated, and I won’t reveal too much that happens from this point on. With the help of a crime boss, our heroes meet Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster), a podcast host/conspiracy theorist beaver who takes the two to the Marsh Market, a segregated part of Zootopia where a community of reptiles hide, to look for the viper. Shakira pops in as pop star Gazelle; we get a quick return of Jenny Slate’s first-film criminal mastermind and former Zootopia mayor, now in prison for her crimes but working on a way out; and through all of these machinations, it becomes clear that little is what it seems and the perceived good guys are bad and vice versa.
Zootopia 2 is a surprisingly complex maze of mystery, which is not to say that younger audiences won’t be able to follow—they will. And nearly every speaking part is performed by a cast of greats that makes the most of even just a line or two. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear Patrick Warburton, Danny Trejo, Alan Tudyk, Bonnie Hunt, Macauley Culkin, Brenda Song, Cecily Strong, Yvette Nicole Brown, Josh Gad, June Squibb, Tig Notaro, Michael J. Fox, and even Dwayne Johnson and Ed Sheeran (as a sheep named Ed Shearin; get it?). Throughout the story, allegiances are tested, the Judy/Nick partnership is strained, and the animal-friendly metropolis is turned on its head. It’s lively, colorful, and original, which is surprising considering there's very little we haven’t seen in the realm of animated talking animals. But by casting animals in traditionally human societal roles, it makes us consider personality types and what makes these characters tick. More than anything, Zootopia 2 is funny and the complete entertainment package.
The film is now playing in theaters.
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