‘Hoppers’ is very cute – not Pixar’s best, but close: Movie Review
Disney Pixar’s latest full feature movie “Hoppers”, comes with a lesson, but there’s enough fun and cuteness to keep all ages entertained. There’s even some unexpected action towards the end.
The main character is Mabel, a 19-year-old who was very close with her grandma growing up. Mabel has a bit of a temper and was easily overwhelmed, but her grandma shared a special spot on a rock next to a pond with Mabel that helped her calm down and improve her mood. That place helps Mabel feel a part of something more than herself. But it just so happens that the local mayor is going to destroy the pond for a new highway.
In Mabel’s quest to try and stop the mayor, she stumbles upon a science experiment that allows a person’s consciousness to “hop” into a robot animal, and while in this state, the person is able to talk to the animals. In Mabel’s case, it’s a cute beaver. If she can convince other beavers to return to the abandoned pond, the mayor won’t be able to build there.
Once in the animal world, Mabel realizes not all animals are happy and cute. The story has a few twists and turns that shouldn’t be too much for kids to follow, and just enough to keep the adults interested. There also a big action adventure scene in the later half that was something I wasn’t expecting based on how little action there was in the rest of the film. It came just at the right time, just when I was starting to lose a bit of interest.
One interesting creative choice was when in animal form, we see Mabel and her animal friends with much more cartoon-like with expressive faces. Then when we see them as the humans see them, they look more realistic. This is especially noticeable in their eyes, with the animals seeing each other with large human-like eyes. But when we see them as the humans see them, the beaver’s eyes are small and beady. Just don’t think about it too much or you’ll be hard-pressed to figure out how this is possible within their world.
Although I enjoyed the movie and its story, it just didn’t resonate with me the way the classic Pixar movies have. I rate it below Wall-E, Up!, Monsters Inc., and the Toy Story movies, but better than most of the rest. I think young kids will love Hoppers much more than their parents.
• Disney Pixar Hoppers is rated PG and runs an hour and 45 minutes long. There is both a mid-credit and end-credit scene.
In The Parks:
You’ll be able to find some Hoppers merchandise at the Disney theme parks, but no attractions feature them. But you can find exhibits featuring artwork, models, and more in Walt Disney Presents in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and in the Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort.
Follow us:
Whether you’re ready for your next Disney Destinations vacation or your first, our trusted partner Mouse Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable Disney vacations. Visit Mouse Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
