Zootopia 2: Our Review of Nick & Judy's Return
Animation, Humor & Heart – What Can You Expect from the Sequel to Disney's Hit Film?
Nick and Judy are back! "Zootopia" fans have had to wait nine years for a sequel, but now the time has finally come. Will "Zootopia 2" manage to follow on from the popular first part? Find out in our new KinoCheck review!
This is what Zootopia 2 is about
After the events of the first film, Nick Wilde is now a police officer, like Judy Hopps. The two have only been partners for a week when a mysterious snake shakes up the world of "Zootopia". But what is behind it? The duo must investigate undercover, uncover big secrets, discover unknown neighborhoods – and at the same time prove themselves as a team.
A fast-paced start
"Zootopia 2" wastes little time at the start. After a very brief look back at the central events of the first film, we see Nick & Judy directly in action. During their mission, a chase through the metropolis is on the agenda! The movie gets straight into the action: The first few minutes are as action-packed as they are entertaining. So was it worth the wait?
Nick & Judy again at last
We can reassure "Zootopia" fans: Yes, it was worth the wait! Because it's not just the opening that's a success. The big highlight is the duo Nick & Judy. The first film already proved that the two make an entertaining team. But the sequel also impressively demonstrates that the two are clearly the heart of the series. Their dynamic is once again well worth seeing - and, in our opinion, works even better than in the first film.
There is one main reason for this: "Zootopia 2" enjoys the advantages of a sequel. The relationship between the characters does not have to be credibly built up for a long time, but is based on the foundations of the first film. "Zootopia 2" can therefore focus more intensively on the characters and their relationship to one another. This works very well. The dynamic between the two creates some of the funniest moments in the movie. However, the relationship between the two is not always harmonious. Nick and Judy are simply different types of characters and have yet to find each other as a team. Right at the beginning of the movie, they attend a partner therapy session for police officers. The scene combines both humorous elements and interesting insights into the characters.
Funny and emotional
The movie also repeatedly draws emotional moments from their imperfect relationship. These work so well because they build on the established characters. We know the characters and both their differences of opinion and their harmonious moments are believable. The dynamic between Nick and Judy not only makes for some of the funniest moments in the movie, but also some of the most emotional. The emotional component in particular is even stronger for us in "Zootopia 2" than in the previous film.
The world of Zootopia
The film also repeatedly draws humorous moments from the world of "Zootopia". The worldbuilding continues to be very creative and rich in the second film. By its very nature, the film offers great creative potential: "Zootopia" is full of different animals and shows their different worlds. The world never stands still, something is always happening, whether in the background or foreground. "Zootopia 2" is once again an adventurous journey through the different animal kingdoms.
This element goes hand in hand with the film's core message. The diversity of the animal kingdom, which the film repeatedly emphasizes, is also exemplified. In this respect, "Zootopia 2" can also be seen as a plea for harmonious coexistence.
This creative world is complemented by new characters. Gary the snake, who fits into the ensemble without any problems, stands out in particular. Fans can also look forward to the return of some familiar characters. They include Chief Bogo, mafia boss Mr. Big and fan favorite Flash. The sloth only makes a brief but all the more successful appearance. Superstar Gazelle is also back - originally voiced by Shakira, who once again contributes a song.
Humor for the whole family
The humor in "Zootopia 2" is varied overall. The dynamics within the ensemble of characters, the diverse world and the guest appearances by fan favorites such as Flash are funny. The film also has a few movie references to offer. While "The Godfather" was quoted in the scenes with Mr. Big in the first film, this time it's the turn of "The Shining" and "Ratatouille" , among others. "Zootopia 2" thus offers humorous moments for all age groups.
Only minor weaknesses
Overall, the film only has minor points of criticism. The humor works very well for the most part, but of course not every gag is spot on. After a strong and humorous start, the film weakens somewhat in the middle section. And not every animal kingdom has equally successful and entertaining elements to offer. It is also easy to criticize some plot patterns that are very similar to the first film. For spoiler reasons, however, we won't go into this in detail here. But for us, these are only minor points of criticism that we can easily overlook.
Our verdict: a successful sequel
Our opinion is clear: the creative team around Byron Howard and Jared Bush have done a great job. "Zootopia 2" is a successful sequel that is in no way inferior to the first film. In fact, we think that part 2 even slightly surpasses its predecessor. But it's best to see for yourself: "Zootopia 2" can be seen in cinemas from November 26.
Our verdict: "Zootopia 2" is a funny, charming, creative and emotional cinematic adventure for the whole family, which thrives above all on the dynamic between the two main characters!
