Reviews
Hoppers
Post Covid I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard that “Pixar is washed”. Original releases like Lightyear, Elio and to a certain degree even Elemental have struggled to reach the lofty heights we expect from the beloved studio, although I would argue that the quality, Lightyear aside, has never really dipped. It’s safe to say, however, that even the biggest Pixar doubters will be won around by Hoppers, which is by far the best the studio has offered since the impeccable Soul and a sure fire slam dunk when it comes to pleasing all ages.
Co-written and directed by Daniel Chong, Hoppers clearly takes inspiration from the Avatar films, as it follows Mabel (Piper Curda), a university student with a deep love of nature passed down by her late Grandma Tanaka (Karen Huie). As a child she was shown wildlife flourishing in a beautiful habitat called the glade, which also provides a heartfelt look at complicated family dynamics while growing up. Now the habitat is in danger due to Mayor Jerry’s (Jon Hamm) construction of a new freeway for the expanding residents of Beavertown, all to reduce travel time by an ironic four minutes in a bid to aid his re-election campaign.
With time and hope running out, Mabel discovers Beavertown University’s “hopping” technology, created by Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy), that allows humans to transfer their consciousness into animals and in this case a beaver. Now able to communicate with the creatures displaced from the glade, Mabel hatches a plan with the animal council, including the king of the mammals, the adorable George the beaver (Bobby Moynihan) and the fierce Insect King (Dave Franco), to stop Mayor Jerry completing the freeway and reclaim the habitat for its rightful inhabitants.
The film is clear in its messaging from the start and never really wavers, with unity over division being a particularly important theme throughout. Many of the characters disagree on various issues, yet in order to coexist compromise becomes essential and harmony follows cooperation. It is a relatively simple idea, but given the times we are living in it is a lesson that deserves to be heard and, frankly, applied.
Pixar releases as of late have rather unfairly been accused of pandering to audiences, however that never feels like the case here. The message is very deliberate but never overbearing and at times even ventures into darker territory. Scenes showing the destruction humanity has inflicted on the animal kingdom through relentless development of areas once rich with wildlife will be hard to watch for some, yet they are undeniably powerful and exactly what is needed to shock audiences into action.
As expected at this point, though it should never be taken for granted, the animation in Hoppers is absolutely jaw-dropping. Every single thing feels thought about down to the finest detail, resulting in a visually flawless and enchanting experience from start to finish. There’s one particular sequence, where fire reflects in the animals’ eyes, that has stayed with me even days after watching and ranks among the most memorable Pixar moments I have ever seen.
Despite the heavier themes that are evident throughout, Hoppers manages to balance them with some of the funniest moments I’ve seen from Pixar in a long time. There were points where my sides were quite literally hurting from the blunt jokes as well as the impeccable references to Michael Myers and Sharknado, which complement the action of the final act perfectly, albeit unexpectedly.
The star-studded cast which deserve the admission price alone, all deliver great performances. Piper Curda is a constant focal point and leads the film as Mabel wonderfully. Bobby Moynihan is fantastic, ensuring George the beaver becomes a new Pixar icon, something recent originals have arguably lacked and exactly what a film like this needs to succeed. Dave Franco also deserves praise, standing out in the final act with one of his most emotive performances in years and helping the film stick the landing.
Hoppers is Pixar back at its very best and perhaps everyone watching could learn a thing or two from the pond rules that, if applied in our daily lives, might genuinely make the world a better place. A wonderful and hilarious cinema experience, Hoppers delivers an extremely fun time for children and adults alike, providing a welcome escape from the doom and gloom overshadowing the world right now and reminds us it is never too late to change. It is undoubtedly a must watch.