After the lackluster performance of Elio, a disappointing sci-fi venture, Pixar makes a triumphant return with Hoppers, an enchanting story about a young environmental advocate who employs robotics to integrate herself into an animal community facing habitat destruction. Witty, engaging, and visually stunning, Daniel Chong’s quirky action-comedy moves at a brisk pace, fueled by vibrant energy and an uplifting score by Mark Mothersbaugh. The determined lead character is accompanied by a delightful ensemble of anthropomorphized animals that will captivate young viewers while also amusing adults.
Jesse Andrews contributed as a writer for Pixar’s enchanting Italian Riviera tale, Luca, a delightful film that fell victim to the 2021 pandemic, skipping theaters to premiere directly on Disney+. He collaborates here with director Chong (known for Cartoon Network’s We Bare Bears) to infuse energy and creativity into a narrative that frequently teeters on the edge of disorder but possesses a carefree drive that propels it onward.
Pixar’s New Adventure
Hoppers The Essential Summary Aquatic life prevails. Premiere date: Friday, March 6
Featuring: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Eduardo Franco, Aparna Nancherla, Tom Law, Sam Richardson, Melissa Villaseñor, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Steve Purcell, Ego Nwodim, Nichole Sakura, Meryl Streep, Karen Hule, Vanessa Bayer
Director: Daniel Chong
Engaging Character Dynamics
Writer for the screen: Jesse Andrews
Rated PG, 105 minutes
There’s a great deal happening — a vibrant ecosystem filled with diverse wildlife; a robotics project in a science lab; a dubious mayor seeking re-election while advancing an environmentally detrimental development initiative; a contentious council of monarchs advocating for different animal groups; and a college freshman whose cherished grandmother instilled in her a profound love for the serene beauty of nature.
Visuals and Soundtrack
It may seem surprising that everything comes together so well, but the film’s wild narrative is thrilling, especially when a high-speed pursuit ramps up the excitement — among other elements, it introduces a gigantic flying shark named Diane, voiced by Vanessa Bayer. She’s the top predator called upon by the royal council, in case you were curious. While that might appear to be too much on paper, in Hoppers’ delightfully chaotic world, Diane is perfectly at home.
Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda) is a spirited young girl who is introduced while trying to liberate all the creatures in her Beaverton school science lab, becoming furious when she is discovered. To help her manage her anger, Mabel’s Grandma (Karen Huie) takes her to a serene glade where she seeks tranquility. Gazing over a pond, Grandma encourages her to remain calm, observe, and listen: “It’s difficult to stay angry when you realize you’re part of something larger.”
Years later, Mabel’s Grandma is gone, yet the pond continues to be her cherished refuge for tranquility. Still fiery, she finds herself in a perpetual struggle against the town’s slick, insincere mayor, Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm), especially when he initiates the construction of a beltway that will cut right through the glade. State laws protect animal habitats, and Mabel grows increasingly wary upon realizing that the wildlife that once thrived in the area has inexplicably vanished.
Environmental Themes in Film
As Mabel seeks a solution to rescue the animals and stop the dam’s destruction near her pond, she sees a beaver being loaded into a van and taken away to Beaverton University. What she uncovers there is surprising. Her biology instructor, Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy), along with her team, has made significant progress on a covert robotics initiative that involves temporary brain transfer and communication with animals.
Mabel requires no further motivation to connect herself to a robotic beaver and explore the reasons behind the mass relocation of the animals. However, as soon as she enters the animal realm, she quickly finds herself in a predicament after stepping in to rescue a clueless beaver named Loaf (Eduardo Franco) from a ravenous bear called Ellen (Melissa Villaseñor).
After violating the revered “Pond Rules” by meddling with the ecosystem, Mabel finds herself facing consequences from her superior, King George the beaver (voiced by Bobby Moynihan, known for his role as the Panda in Chong’s We Bare Bears), a cheerful ruler first introduced while leading an animal aerobics class atop a newly constructed lodge. Did I mention there’s quite a bit happening?
George proves to be quite accommodating, quickly developing a fondness for Mabel. However, upon discovering the reason behind the animal migration from the glade, she is determined to call upon the powerful royal council to address the issue.
This ensemble features a reticent giant frog known as the Amphibian King (Steve Purcell), the arrogant Fish Queen (Ego Nwodim), the irritable Bird King (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), three frightening yet foolish snake sisters who act as Reptile Queens (Nichole Sakura), and overseeing them all, the formidable Insect Queen (Meryl Streep). (I might have referred to her as Butterfly McQueen, but perhaps that’s a matter of age.) Her ambitious son, Titus (Dave Franco), is eagerly anticipating his rise from grub to winged ruler, inadvertently aided by Mabel.
When the council decides not merely to thwart Jerry but to “crush” him, Mabel and George find themselves in the ironic situation of needing to safeguard the mayor, who discovers several important lessons throughout the thrilling escapade that ensues. These lessons, along with others, are woven into the screenplay with plenty of humor, teaching children to appreciate and comprehend nature, engage in their communities, and defend the vulnerable, even if it involves a slippery politician.
Chong and Andrews derive a great deal of entertainment from the interactions between humans and animals, thanks to Beaver Mabel’s unique talent for conversing with the creatures. Is Dr. Sam’s ambitious experimentation ever completely understood? Perhaps not, but who minds when there are side-splitting jokes about cellphone facial recognition and animals experiencing the delight of emojis?
The character illustrations are charming, the lively movements of the animals provide endless entertainment, and the vibrant green scenery of the forested backdrop makes Hoppers a visual delight.
The choice to include numerous comedians in the voice cast truly pays off, bringing a wealth of quirky personalities to the forefront. I do wish Mabel had more than just her name to highlight her Japanese American heritage, but she boasts fantastic hair, and Disney Channel veteran Curda infuses her with an endearing, relentless spirit.
This film doesn’t come across as meticulously crafted through studio discussions. Instead, it possesses a wild, almost chaotic narrative flow that takes unexpected turns, from thrilling chases along treacherous mountain paths to the tense near-catastrophe at the climax, where nature unleashes its fury, followed by the victorious eco-friendly resolution that brings everything together. Instilling in children the understanding that we are all interconnected in a complex universe where everyone plays a role and deserves acknowledgment is a truly valuable lesson.