Aaron Ploof
The Human Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom. These two have long been separated by the inability to converse. In Pixar’s Hoppers, that bridge will finally be crossed. Using consciousness-transferring technology, a 19-year-old woman will have her mind dropped into the body of a robotic beaver. The ecosystem has never been in so much trouble.
Hoppers is a comedy/action flick that emphasizes the importance of environmental and personal responsibility while delivering the emotional impact and maturity that we have always come to expect from Pixar. It’s heartfelt, hilarious, insightful, and touching in mostly all the right ways. And while it’s not as impactful as last year’s Elio, it still tells a story of friendship that transcends species.
Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda) is about as rebellious a girl as they come. As a young schoolgirl, she’s freeing her class pets and rushing through the halls of her school to deliver them to safety. This is a regular occurrence. The teachers and her mother have attempted to quell her fiery attitude, but have been met with further resistance. Only her grandmother (Karen Huie) can reach her. She takes Mabel to the local glade and sits with her on an overlooking rock. The animal life that surrounds Mabel calms her soul, and the glade becomes a haven for the young girl and her grandma. Before Grandma passes away, she asks Mabel to watch over the glade and protect it.
It’s ten years later, and Mabel is still keeping that promise. She continually stands toe-to-toe with Mayor Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm), an unscrupulous businessman. His latest affront to nature is constructing a freeway right through Mabel’s treasured glade. Mysteriously, all the animals are missing, but Mabel is still determined to prevent the freeway’s construction. All she needs is a beaver.
By pure coincidence, her college professor, Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimi), is working on a new invention. Through a series of mishaps, Mabel “hops” her consciousness into a robot beaver. She hightails it into the wild to convince the animals to return to the glade so she can put an end to Jerry’s plans.
While on her rescue mission, Mabel meets a variety of animals, but the best new addition to the Pixar roster is King George (Bobby Moynihan), a friendly, good-hearted beaver. George runs a pond haven for the animals from the glade and knows every creature there by name. His enthusiasm, well-meaning nature, and naivety are appealing. Very quickly, a friendship forms between Mabel and George, but Mabel is reluctant to tell George the truth about her situation. Her desperation to save the glade may cause more trouble for both of them than she realizes.
The narrative evolves to focus on themes such as the importance of friendship, empathy, and forgiveness. Perhaps the most prominent idea here, though, is the shared responsibility we have as a species to nurture the animals and environment on planet Earth. Jerry’s character serves as a warning. He’s the type of individual we should be wary of becoming. A person willing to cheat, lie, and disrupt the ecosystem just to gain more popularity. Mabel also serves as a reflection of Jerry, for she is willing to hide the truth to fulfill her needs. Both of these characters will have to deal with the repercussions of their decisions.
Hoppers tackles these themes in the form of a comedy, and there are enough hilarious moments and situations to entertain both adults and their children. For instance, the pond that George rules over has a set of guidelines called “pond rules.” One of these rules is to eat when you’re hungry. So, although the pond acts as a safe haven, the predator-prey relationship is still fully intact. This makes for some comical interactions.
One involves a dim-witted beaver, Loaf (Eduardo Franco) who is captured by a bear named Ellen. Mabel saves Loaf, thinking that he’ll be grateful for the deed, but he is instead greatly confused. By pond rules, he claims, he should be lunch. Another intense moment involves a shark assassin, Diane (Vanessa Bayer), who is literally lifted out of the sea in an inventive and fast-paced action sequence.
If there’s one flaw with Hoppers, it’s that it speeds along at a pretty fast pace. Characters you would like to get to know more, like Tom Lizard (Tom Law) and Ellen are not given much development. The moments between Mabel and George are touching though, and their relationship truly is the beating heart of the movie. However, the film doesn’t reach the dramatic heft of last year’s Elio. While it does have its share of heavy beats, it’s mostly a breezy affair.
Still, Hoppers is a fun filled, warm, family friendly film that delivers a Pixarworthy experience. Its themes are timeless, as important today as ever, and children (and adults) need to be reminded of them. What better way to do that than in a movie where a beaver leads an exercise routine?
