Cut to the chase: Pixar’s got its groove back.
After a slate of unsuccessful, non-franchised releases, “Hoppers” is a reprieve for sore tails, restoring viewers’ faith in the studio that gives human-to-animal conscience transference the technical, albeit kid-friendly, heft of “Avatar” with the joyously chaotic emotional upheaval of “Up.” There is something for everyone, so hop on over to catch this one in its natural habitat of the big screen.
What if you could talk to animals and understand what they’re saying? (Photo courtesy of Disney/Pixar)
Hoppin’ Synopsis
Set in the fictional town of Beaverton, “Hoppers” follows a young girl named Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda) who is on a quest to save the local forest glade where she and her beloved grandmother used to spend time. Nature has become an important tool to help curb Mabel’s anxious tendencies. Now, as a college student, she has found her voice as a protector of the natural world. Mayor Jerry (Jon Hamm) is in direct opposition to this, campaigning to build a colossal freeway through Mabel’s glade, destroying the ecosystem of plants and creatures in its wake.
Desperate to stop him, Mabel discovers that her professor Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy) has developed a secret project known as “hopping” which uploads human consciousness into a lifelike robotic animal, allowing the user to live amongst wild animals and, most importantly, communicate with them. Mabel “hops” into the body of a beaver and makes her plea to the local wildlife, urging them to return to the glade and thereby halting the construction project. King George (Bobby Moynihan) is the jovial beaver leader whose kind disposition leads him to follow Mabel’s plans. As events unfold, the animals wage war on the humans, and it is up to Mabel to prove that there is a way for everyone to live together in peace and harmony.
Disney and Pixar’s HOPPERS. (Photo courtesy of Disney/Pixar)
Bleeding Beaver Heart
There are so many commendable aspects of this film. For one, representation is at the forefront of its story. Mabel is a young, Asian-American woman, a marginalized demographic who proves she is strong and smart enough to take the white, male antagonist head-on.
On the flipside, Mayor Jerry, while ignorant and blinded by his privilege, isn’t completely villainized. He is given room to grow and learn, a point I found important for young viewers to see: just because you were on the wrong side of things at the beginning, that does not mean you can’t make amends by the end.
There is always room for personal growth and reparations for the wrongs you may have committed. Like so many films before it, “Hoppers” reminds viewers, young and old, of the importance of caring for our natural world. As Mayor Jerry prepares the glade for construction by coercing the animals out, the creatures are forced to live in cramped and unsustainable conditions. And when the fight between the humans and the animals reaches its crescendo, a fire brings them together, reminding everyone of the importance of teamwork, cooperation, and compassion, for those who look like you and for those who don’t.
Beaverton University scientists Dr. Sam and Nisha explain how a revolutionary new technology gives them unprecedented access to the animal world in Disney and Pixar’s “Hoppers.” (Photo courtesy of Disney/Pixar)
Know Before You Go
- MPAA Rating: PG for action/peril, some scary images, and mild language
- Recommended Age: 6+
- Runtime: 105 minutes
- Where to Watch: Theaters
- Nightmare Inducers: The action in this film is fast-paced, though it never overcomplicates the story or the characters. Just as there are plenty of fluffy and endearingly animated creatures, “Hoppers” is surprisingly horror-coded. It isn’t explicit, but there are some shockingly hysterical moments that come at the hands of violence. For example, Meryl Streep’s queen butterfly, who has been plugged as the seminal voice of the royal committees (a character audiences assume is untouchable) is unceremoniously and impulsively squished, a moment that left my theater in stunned silence, then uncontrollable laughter (and maybe a few questions). There may be a few unsettling moments for viewers who are sensitive to “scary” imagery of characters. For example, a great white shark is lifted from the sea and used as a weapon. Animals eat one another, a point made by King George when Mabel first joins them. It’s the natural order (Pond Rule: “When it’s time to eat, eat.”) Or, in the film’s final showdown, a demented humanoid robot with the consciousness of a deranged, power-hungry caterpillar goes maniacal and sets out to liquify the brains of the unsuspecting townsfolk. The fire in the film’s climax may also impart some real sense of danger to impressionable viewers, though it is eventually extinguished with no casualties.
More Parent Movie Reviews
Looking for more family movie recommendations? Check out these recent parent reviews to help decide what’s worth watching with kids:
- ‘GOAT’ Parent Review: Age rating and what parents should know | A sports-themed animated underdog story about a young goat chasing his dream of becoming a professional athlete. The film explores teamwork, perseverance, and self-confidence, though some of its grittier tone may surprise sensitive viewers.
- ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie’ Parent Guide | A colorful adventure built around imagination and creativity, following Gabby and her magical dollhouse friends. With a G rating and gentle themes, it’s especially well-suited for younger viewers.
- Parent Review: ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’ | The beloved sea sponge returns for another silly, chaotic adventure. Kids will enjoy the slapstick humor, while parents may find it a bit more patience-testing.
