Reviews for “Zootopia” are in, and critics love it — enough to give it a 100 percent positive score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Calling it “the whole package” and “one of the greatest Disney animated movies the company has ever produced,” critics applaud the new animated film for taking on important social issues but mixing them with humorous pop culture references, making it suitable for both kids and adults.
“Its moral ambition gives ‘Zootopia’ enough of a refreshing twist to stand out from the rest of the animated pack,” Robert Abele wrote in TheWrap’s review of the film. “After the animals on screen finish talking, parents and kids just might be inspired to have their own discussion about the movie’s well-intended message.”
Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Shakira, Bonnie Hunt, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer and Jenna Slate, “Zootopia” takes place in a city full of anthropomorphic animals where as fugitive con-artist fox (Bateman) and a bunny cop (Goodwin) band together to uncover a conspiracy.
“Zootopia” opens this Friday.
See excerpts from seven of the best reviews below.
Scott Mendelson, Forbes:
“‘Zootopia’ sets the bar rather high for animated releases even in a year with nearly twenty of them dropping between January and December. That it’s this good while being merely one of three Walt Disney animated features (along with Pixar’s ‘Finding Dory’ and Disney’s ‘Moana’) puts everyone on notice. It really is the whole package. It’s funny, it’s clever, it’s exciting and suspenseful, and it operates as one of the more potent ‘social issues’ pictures that we’ve seen from a major studio (even during the Oscar season) in quite some time.”
John Hazelton, Screen International:
“The variety of cute – and occasionally slightly scary – animals should keep younger kids interested for most of the hour-and-three-quarters running time, while older kids and parents will be diverted by the comedy and pop culture references. Though it never gets too preachy, the film delivers its message about the dangers of stereotyping quite clearly and draws parallels with instances of everyday racial prejudice among humans.”
Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly:
“‘Zootopia’ delivers the genre’s requisite barrage of quick-hit puns and pop culture riffs (a rat mobster modeled on Don Corleone), but the funniest moment comes when Judy goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles to run a license plate and gets her patience tested by a sleepy, slow-as-molasses sloth slumped behind the desk (Raymond S. Persi). ‘Zootopia’s’ message of tolerance is a noble one. But it’s loopy moments like that that give this modest film its magic.”
Dave Calhoun, Time Out:
“The world [‘Zootopia’] creates is intelligent and fascinatingly detailed – it feels more like a movie by Disney-owned Pixar than a straight Disney film. Its manic energy and never-ending supply of characterful animals will appeal to young viewers. But there are also some fantastic set-pieces for older audiences, including a brilliant scene with a very s-l-o-w bureaucratic sloth and a charming knock-off of the ‘What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully’ wedding scene from ‘The Godfather’. Who needs humans?”
Roger Moore, Movie Nation:
“It’s filled to the brim with cuddly, cute animals that small children will love. And if you’re up for letting a cartoon broach a delicate, complicated subject with your 10-and-unders, you’ll appreciate this sneakily audacious film for its ambition and timely, pointed good intentions.”
Dirk Libbey, CinemaBlend.com:
“With nearly 80 years of experience making animated feature films, saying that Disney has made another thoroughly enjoyable family film isn’t anything particularly noteworthy. It’s what we’ve come to expect. While best known for their musicals led by princesses, Disney animation has been on a roll of late with movies like the Academy Award-winning ‘Big Hero 6’ and the underrated ‘Wreck-It Ralph.’ However, ‘Zootopia’ isn’t simply another fun Disney animated movie. It’s one of the greatest Disney animated movies the company has ever produced.”
Jason Guerrasio, Business Insider:
“‘Zootopia’ is filled with incredible computer animation, very funny jokes, and wonderful characters. But it also helps young people today to have some reality seep into the content they endlessly consume. What’s great is that ‘Zootopia’ isn’t scared to raise issues, even highly sensitive ones. Hopefully we all keep away from knee-jerk reactions concerning ‘why’ a cartoon is doing this and instead absorb it and educate.”