REVIEW: ‘Z2’ has more adventure, but lacks sharpness of first

If all else fails with this movie, at least Nick and Judy shippers will be mostly happy. That includes me by the way.

Fortunately, not much does fail in the “Zootopia” sequel, though it’s not quite as strong as its wonderful predecessor from 2016. This film actually takes place quite soon after the events of the original movie, with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) and Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) just beginning to work together.

In an attempt to break their next big case, the two have ended up causing some havoc which has upset the brass. As a result, the two are on thin ice. To make matters worse, they get involved in the heist of a book, with the main culprit, a snake named Gary (Ke Huy Quan), claiming it’s for a righteous cause.

To start, it is a net positive to spend more time with Judy and Nick. The two are simply great characters. Their dynamic was critical in the first and it’s once again enjoyable here. However, their latest cinematic outing falls short of the first flick.

To the film’s benefit, “Zootopia 2” successfully expands the world its set in, introduces new social issues the protagonists must navigate and offers quite a bit of animated action for entertainment. However, it’s not nearly as tightly written when it comes to the narrative as its 2016 counterpart.

The story in the first movie was so neatly and efficiently told, all while developing its characters, building the world and incorporating commentary. The sequel does this too, but it all feels looser. Not that it’s messy, per se, but it is convoluted at points.

Another detriment with “Zootopia 2” is how it handled the timeline of Judy and Nick’s partnership. Having the movie start in such a short time, just one week, after that of the first picture causes some internal inconsistency. There are many points in the film where the two act like they’ve been working together quite a while, and in some they’re like an old married couple.

It’s the type of bond you’d see with longevity. But in the film, they’ve only been working together for a short time, so in the context of the movie, it doesn’t really feel right. It would have made more sense if this film took place a couple years after the original picture.

Now, as previously stated, it’s still a plus getting to see them on screen again. Their personalities are like that of the first picture, bringing everything we loved about them, including Nick’s humor, Judy’s conviction, and the cleverness they both share. Both voice actors do impressive work in their roles, too.

The supporting characters are a bit less strong this time around, though. The snake, Gary, is fine, but not quite as memorable, though Ke Huy Quan is serviceable in voicing him.

Perhaps more memorable, but not quite as strong of a character is the beaver character, Nibbles (Fortune Feimster), who’s a conspiracy theory podcast host that doesn’t bring much besides comic relief that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. That’s true with the new mayor in this movie, too.

As a Disney flick, one can at least expect this to look good, and it does. The vibrancy and mix of habitats are once again there. Plus, the animators put a lot of detail into the characters’ expressions and mannerisms to give them personality, especially with the lead protagonists, similar to the first film. Additionally, there are some great visual gags throughout.

“Zootopia 2” has important elements going in its favor, from the visually appealing animation to its likable leads, as well as a good mix of humor and action for entertainment value. However, a weaker group of supporting characters and some clumsiness in the story gives this one some hiccups. 3.75 out of 5.