Zootropolis 2: Christmas cracker

THE long-awaited sequel to the runaway animated comedy hit of 2016 is at last here.

Nine years after the first Zootropolis (or Zootopia, depending on where you live) delighted family audiences and impressed critics alike, it is finally time to revisit the big city world of anthropomorphic animals.

Though our own world may have changed greatly in the intervening decade, the world that Judy Hops and Nick Wilde inhabit is much the same, no doubt some comfort to those who fell in love with the first film.

This sequel features the same blend of buddy cop humour, lighthearted mystery and relentless animal-related word play that proved so successful the first time around, not to mention some predictably splendid animation.

Not long after Judy Hops (Ginnifer Goodwin), a rookie bunny rabbit cop and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) a streetwise red fox, teamed up to uncover a political conspiracy, the dynamic duo have moved up in the world.

Not only are they local celebrities, Nick has now joined the Zootropolis Police Department and they have become official partners.

Despite their fast friendship, their clashing personalities lead to frequent disagreements and mishaps.

Their boss Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) disapproves of the chaos and orders Nick and Judy to take partners therapy sessions.

Judy then hears rumours of a snake on the loose in the city (such animals were banished from Zootropolis long ago) and convinces Nick to investigate the lead. The duo goes undercover at a centenary gala hosted by the wealthy Lynxley family to find the creature.

They confront the snake, a pit viper named Gary (Ke Huy Quan), who tries to convince them he is not a villain and he has uncovered a journal proving that snake are indeed good.

After a series of misunderstandings, Judy, Nick and Gary are framed for a crime they did not commit and are forced to go on the run.

Though they can’t agree on the best course of action, Nick and Judy work together to clear their names and to help Gary uncover the truth about snakes.

The 2016 story of a cop bunny and a petty crook fox teaming up to solve a Chandler-esque mystery and the unlikely friendship that ensues was one of those rare high concept ideas that lived up to its potential and became an instant Disney classic in the process.

This sequel, which has already broken numerous box office records, picks things up in much the same vein.

Though the storytelling is a little less fluid this time and perhaps tries to cram too much in, Zootropolis 2 nevertheless proves a beautifully animated and breezily paced adventure that the whole family will enjoy.

Nick and Judy once again prove to be sharply observed creations, characters with a depth and vitality that you rarely see in Hollywood animated features.

This is thanks not only to the excellent voice work by Bateman and Goodwin but writer/ co-director Jared Bush’s snappy dialogue.

Once again the film is also laugh out loud funny, with the familiar mix of one-liners, sight gags and puns that left the audiences I saw the film with in stitches throughout.

Like its predecessor, the film proves to be quite heartwarming in spite of its postmodern sense of humour and manages to sneak in a little social commentary.

One aspect of the story focuses on the fact that Nick and Judy cannot be emotionally honest with one another and how it gets in the way of their personal and professional connection.

The denouement to this is genuinely touching. The film also examines the effects of prejudice, discrimination and corruption, seen through the new snake character Gary with some degree of nuance.

Zootropolis 2 might have been a long time coming but audiences will find it more than worth the return trip.

RATING: ****

Matthew McCaul