Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-review by Professor Popinjay

(2025)

THIS ARTICLE IS NOT FOR CHILDREN!!!

NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 81 SHOULD READ THIS BLOG!!! Also, this is NOT a raunchy fan fiction, just so you know.

I pulled a Christopher Nolan’s MEMENTO on this one and watched the last half before coming back and watching the first half. Unfortunately instead of a masterclass in storytelling that unraveled a mystery as it was told back to front, what I got was action and betrayal, redemption and recompense, followed by a bunch of cute animal puns on par with the Smurfs or My Little Pony.

Not to disparage My Little Pony. That’s a great show. It just has a lot of pony puns.

Obviously Zootopia 2 was meant to be watched front to back but I gotta say, I fear I may have had a hard time with it had I watched it in chronological order. It’s probably unfair to judge it like this.

This is exactly why I queried other friends and family who watched it correctly.

One family member commented that the film as a whole wasn’t as good as the first.

A friend confirmed the beginning was not as compelling as the second half.

In comparison to the first film, I appreciated that the sequel was not as dark. Granted, stakes were high and the inclusive message was clear but I think the bulk of Zootopia 2 was a lot more fun. The first film could have starred Charles Bronson as Judy Hopps and Jason Statham as Nick. It was so gritty.

I thought the nature of Judy and Nick’s relationship was weird. I know it’s following the trope of police partners in buddy-cop films being polar-opposites and acting like an old married couple but these two actually act like they’re married. They even have a baby. Okay it’s an associate pretending to be their baby as cover in a sting operation but still it’s a bit on the nose.

Judy and Nick demonstrated Phileo, Storge, Pragma, and even Agape! The only form of Greek love we didn’t see was Eros, thank God! I’m sure they knew the internet would take care of that for them. It feels like Disney wants to make them a couple but they’re hesitant because they’re different species? Disney is hesitant. The characters certainly are not hesitant.

But isn’t Judy technically food for Nick? That’s a whole ‘nother issue I haven’t the energy for right now.

Obviously there is a requirement for suspended disbelief as with most stories that turn animals, or cars, or emotions, or toys, or the elements into lovable anthropomorphic characters.

The film as a whole was cute and serviceable. The message it was trying to convey was important and clear. It had good jokes here and there aside from the terrible puns. Ke Huy Quan was pretty great as Gary the Snake. Patrick Warburton was great as the Mayor Brian Winddancer. The Zebros need their own movie.

That’s about all I have to say about that.

The beaver annoyed me.

Poster art!