To say that Pixar is no longer held in the high regard it was during its creative peak would be something of an understatement. Once known for making bold storytelling choices that respected the intelligence of both the kids and adults in the audience, the studio’s output instead has begun to feel very “designed-by-committee” and sometimes even pandering. There have remained bright spots however and their latest film, Hoppers has proved to be another.
When Mabel Tanaka’s (Piper Curda) parents decide to relocate from the city of Beaverton, she instead opts to remain behind and live with her grandmother (Karen Huie) near a lush forest and a picturesque pond brimming with animals. She forms a deep connection with nature as a result, so years later—now a college student—she’s become a persistent thorn in the side of Mayor Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm), fighting every development plan that threatens the local ecosystem. When his next project targets the very pond that she grew up loving, she becomes especially irate and sets about trying to stop it.
She decides to turn to her biology professor Dr. Fairfax (Kathy Najimy) for help but instead discovers that she has developed and is testing a new technology that allows humans to inhabit robotic animals and communicate with real creatures undetected. Mabel instantly decides that she can use this device to rally the local fauna to her side and, despite her teacher’s protestations, takes control of a beaver and scurries into the woods. Despite not knowing the nuances of animal society, she manages to build some strong friendships, particularly with their leader, a beaver named King George (Bobby Moynihan), and together they try to fight back against Mayor Jerry’s proposed superhighway. But even the best-intentioned plans can have unexpected consequences, and the fight takes a turn that Mabel did not see coming and will struggle to fix.
The animals are universally adorable, even the spiders, and the animators frequently do a superb job of capturing the serene and stunning beauty of nature. The script may be a little light on jokes, but the cute critters are so enjoyable to watch that little ones should have no trouble remaining engaged. That said, Hoppers is not all fun in the forest. The openly environmentalist story means there is no ignoring humanity’s complicity in habitat destruction. There are several harrowing moments, one very unexpected death, and a potentially nightmare-inducing primary villain, voiced with demented glee by Dave Franco. All of this is handled well and usually followed up by something sillier, so most kids will be fine with it. Many of the animated features we saw as kids got far darker than anything here and we turned out fine, but if you have an easily frightened child, be prepared to offer a reassuring hug or two.
As usual for Pixar, the voice cast is perfect, with a host of celebrities popping up in small roles. Between that, the excellent art design, and the compelling story, this is easily the most entertaining movie of the year so far. Anyone who enjoys getting out into nature will be glad to see the focus on ecology and our role in it, and hopefully it will inspire more people to be more mindful and appreciative of the wonders that exist around us every day. The strong focus on teamwork and friendship is also sweetly moving, allowing for some genuinely earned emotional moments. I don’t yet know that I would rank this among Pixar’s absolute best films, but it is the best they’ve released in years, and one that many viewers will treasure for years to come. ★★★★½
rated pg for action / peril, some scary images, and mild language.
★★★★★ = Excellent | ★★★★ = Very Good | ★★★ = Good | ★★ = Fair | ★ = Poor
-
-
-
-
-