Staff Writer- Emily Sustaita

Since Thanksgiving break, there has been a plethora of new films arriving at movie theaters across the country, one of which is Zootopia 2. Love it or hate it, many of us watched the first film when we were little kids back in 2016. Personally, I really liked the first film and was overjoyed when I found out that there would be a sequel. 

For those who aren’t familiar with the new plot, a week after the events of the first film, Judy (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick (voiced by Jason Bateman) find themselves working together again to solve a new case, after a mysterious snake makes an appearance in Zootopia. It’s an adventure which tests their partnership, and leads them to new areas as they attempt to discover the truth behind the snake’s arrival. 

However, knowing how things have been for Disney in the past couple of years, I was also apprehensive: would the sequel really own up to the original? So, I did what any curious human being would do: I threw my adult money out the window, went down to the movie theater during a snowstorm, and watched Zootopia 2 while eating a large tub of popcorn. So, was it worth the hype? 

Yes, it was. Here’s why:

Firstly, what I felt made this movie so enjoyable was how it explored and developed the relationship between Judy and Nick. Through the promotional trailers, we hear time and time again that Judy wants to prove her partnership with Nick to the world. However, through the film, we discover that the core of this desire is more than just proving themselves; it’s having to face the fearsome question–are we really meant to be together? It’s a question that most likely anyone has thought about in relation to a partnership or romantic relationship, and I found that the film did a good job of depicting this fragility between Judy and Nick, as they face a variety of situations where their desires don’t always line up with one another, to the point that it causes tension. 

Secondly, I loved how the film expanded upon Judy and Nick’s personalities and their peculiar habits. For example, there is a scene in the beginning where we get to see Judy and Nick’s morning routine; while Judy is a rise-and-shine kind of gal, Nick, on the other hand, is the kind of person who can barely get himself out of bed in the morning. It’s these kinds of small details—and many more, although I don’t want to spoil too much—which make the film so enjoyable.  

Thirdly, what made the film so fresh and interesting was the wonderful introduction of new characters. Some of the new characters we meet are Gary Desnake, Nibbles Maplestick, and Pawbert. At first, when I watched the trailers for the film, I was concerned that some of these characters would come off as childish. However, when I watched the film, I was happy to find that this was not the case; in particular, I found Gary and Nibbles to be really enjoyable, and I quickly accepted them as part of the Zootopia family (shout-out to Ke Huy Quan, who voices Gary Desnake!) 

With all that being said, it’s also important to note that while the film was enjoyable, there were some personal nitpicks I had about it. 

For example, at times, the pace of the film felt like it was going really fast; we jumped right away into the action without necessarily working our way into it. That being said, this could be because it was my first time watching the film. However, I do think they could have played around more with having laidback scenes that aren’t necessarily action-packed—that way, the fast-paced scenes could’ve stood out even more. 

On a similar note, something else that sort of bothered me was the difference in storytelling in comparison to the first film. Rather than putting the viewer in a position where we get to join the characters as they investigate their surroundings and make new insights, it felt like they were “automatically” making the discoveries without any invested process behind it. So, as said before, I do think they could have toned down their fast pace so that we, the viewers, can be more involved in the process of a discovery, and thus feel more joy when the discovery is achieved. 

And lastly, although I feel bad having to say this, at times, it felt like Nick was trying just a tinsy bit too hard to be charismatic and crack funny jokes. Of course, in the film, it is clearly pointed out that joking around is his way of coping with his past trauma. And while I fully concur with that, it did feel a bit overbearing at times, in comparison to the Nick we know in the first film. I still thought Nick was great, and this is my one nitpick that could easily change over time, so take it with a grain of salt. 

Besides those nitpicks, I found the film to be super enjoyable and worthwhile. It was special to be able to see the movie in theaters and watch Judy and Nick solve another case together! While I didn’t cover everything that I enjoyed about the film, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first film or is curious about the overall series. 

Now, there may be some people reading this who have reached the end and are desperately wondering, “Emily, do Judy and Nick officially become a couple?”, And to that I say…you’ll just have to watch the movie yourself!