I love it when Disney and Pixar bring a chaotic energy into some of their animated films. One of my favourites that never really had a chance, having been released at the height of the pandemic was Turning Red. There was a boundless youthful energy to that movie that I really, really loved. Monsters, Inc. also had that spark, and if I go further back, though not with Pixar — The Emperor’s New Groove continues to land all its punchlines even today while still having that lovely, warm beating heart that Disney is known for. I feel that their latest outing, Hoppers, falls into this category. Its premise is deceptive and may seem small and contained, but director Daniel Chong and screenwriter Jesse Andrews (with a story by Chong and Andrews) capture the universality of their protagonist’s love and passion and amplify it until it becomes epic.
Hoppers follows Mabel Tanaka (voiced by Piper Curda), a precocious teen who has been trying to save animals since she was a little girl. A fierce advocate for animal rights and welfare, she is currently in conflict with Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm), the mayor of Beaverton, who is running for re-election. The origin of their conflict?
Jerry is tearing down a glade to build a highway — the very same glade that Mabel has loved and watched over since she was a young girl.
That glade holds a special space in Mabel’s heart, as it is where she and her grandmother often bonded. When Mabel discovers a machine that can put her consciousness on a robot beaver – created by her college professor, Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy) – Mabel steals the technology, uses it on herself, and enters the animal world in order to help save the glade.
From the get-go, Hoppers pushes the boundaries of reality so that we can easily accept the technology that allows the premise to take shape, as well as the way the animal kingdom operates. By allowing the animals to talk, Daniel Chong and Jesse Andrews create a funny world built on cooperation and peaceful cohabitation. As seen in the trailer, they have “pond rules,” which allows for the coexistence of carnivores and herbivores that follow a realistic precept. Outside of feeding, everyone pretty much gets along, with a big focus on beavers and how essential they are to any woodland ecosystem.
Mabel meets the beaver king, King George (Bobby Moynihan), and a friendship sparks between them. For the first time, the fierce animal activism that has made Mabel isolated and lonely gives way to a feeling of belonging.
In her over-zealousness to save the glade, Mabel accidentally rallies the other kings of the animal kingdom (as seen in the trailers), and she must now stop the animal kingdom from taking revenge on Jerry.
In a way, Hoppers is also a coming-of-age story, as Mabel must discover the consequences of her actions — that good intentions are not always enough — and learn that there are other ways to solve a problem.
There’s a beautiful heart that fuels this movie. Aside from the surprising friendships and the value that it puts on these relationships, Hoppers also examines the way humans interact with the rest of nature. It never eases up on its humor, action, or fun, yet it manages to ask serious questions about the cost of urbanization.
It manages to bring up these issues while making you laugh so hard. There’s a scene in the council that had everyone in the movie theater gasp and then erupt into boisterous laughter. This is a film to watch with friends and allow yourself to fully suspend your disbelief as the film takes extreme and dramatic twists and turns, while still leaving you that warm Disney hug by the end of the movie.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Don’t miss the wild ride! Watch Hoppers now in theaters and join Mabel on her unforgettable adventure to protect nature, forge friendships, and discover the power of doing what’s right. Check showtimes here.
