Going into Hoppers blind was probably the best way to see it. I had seen the preview when I took the family to see Zootopia 2, but other than that, I didn’t look much up about it. I kind of wanted to see how well it would play out with no information about the film. And you know what? It was really good! Disney and Pixar’s wild body-swap story has heart and humor that will make you want to see it more than just once.
The setup for the film is basically this. A girl who struggles to keep her feelings in check and who wants animals to thrive and be free learns how to center herself with her grandmother’s help. They both enjoy going to “The Glade,” which is located near her grandmother’s home. Only when her grandmother passes, and the land is deemed necessary to build a roadway that will help the citizens of “Beaverton” get around, does the issue of Mabel trying to save what was once a quiet respite for her and her grandmother.
Now, 19-year-old Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda) must try to figure out a way to save the Glade. Desperate for help, she turns to her college professor for help. Then, once her professor says no, Mabel takes it upon herself to try to lure a beaver to the Glade. Basically, her teacher said that if one beaver moved in, the rest of the animals would follow. So Mabel waits with vegetables and logs to see if she can get any beaver interested.
When she sees a beaver sniff at and then leave the vegetables behind, she gets frantic. Follows the beaver who gets picked up in a van. And then stumbles upon the lab at the college that her professor and a few others have been working in. This is where the Avatar-like theming comes in. Actually, the entire movie is very similar in themes to James Cameron‘s Avatar films. Especially with conservation being the major theme of this film.
Mabel quickly figures out how to save the glade and “Hops” into the beaver robot that they had been using to survey the other animals. Then Star Trek rules go out the window. Whereas before, when the people working in the lab would hop into the animals, they would not upset the balance of nature. Like in Star Trek, when they don’t interfere in the natural development of alien civilizations. But you know, Mabel doesn’t care about all of that. She single-mindedly wants to save the glade. And that’s where the major motivation and drive for the film kicks off.
The voice acting in this film isn’t annoying either. Sometimes, when they cast certain people to play parts, they rely heavily on the actor to play themselves. Think Robin Williams in Aladdin. There were more than a few reputable names in this film, and at no point did it feel like they were distracting from the film itself.
Bobby Moynihan as George the Beaver did a fantastic job of playing it straight, and that really was a good decision for the film. Especially with someone as zany and funny as Moynihan, who could have gone off the rails if directed to. Jon Hamm as Mayor Jerry Generazzo played the mayor in such a way that you don’t hate the man. Despite him being the “bad guy” in the film, you really don’t hate him. Even though it’s his fault the Glade is in danger in the first place. Meryl Streep also shines as the Insect Queen without overshadowing the rest.
Daniel Chong did a fantastic job directing this film. And with his experience in bringing funny animals to life in shows like We Bare Bears, it really helped lead this film in the right direction. He was able to wrap up themes of environmentalism, grief, and the intersection of technology and nature. And he was able to do it in a way that was serious at times and lighthearted at others.
There were moments in this film that gave me anxiety to watch. Hoppers draws you in from start to finish and doesn’t suffer from what I like to call a Disney lull. It had a strong beginning, middle, and end. I would definitely take the family to see it again. And I may want to see it again without the kids, especially so that I don’t have to take multiple trips to the bathroom.
Final Verdict: A solid 8 out of 10
Make sure to check out Hoppers in theaters now.
