There’s a chance that when I was asked to review this film about an animal enthusiast who becomes a beaver, there might have been some consideration that I myself am a nature and wildlife enthusiast who regularly works closely with animals (including the occasional beaver).
However, you don’t get to be a movie reviewer without being able to put your biases aside to critique each work as objectively as possible.
All that being said, Hoppers is a flawless children’s film, a must-see for parents and their kids, and easily makes the list of top animated children’s movies of all time. See? Objective.
In all seriousness, Hoppers truly is, by every measure, an exceptional piece of children’s cinema through and through. Where to begin? It’s one of those movies that has you leaving the theatre feeling all bubbly inside, when you’re sure that the hour and 45 minutes you just spent was worth every second, when the entire experience was pure, unabashed fun.
It’s thought that the greatest works of children’s media are those which adults can enjoy and appreciate as well (think Avatar: The Last Airbender and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland). And boy, did the adults in my theatre enjoy Hoppers.
From beginning to end, this Disney Pixar entry elicited genuine laughter and emotion from the audience, which is no small feat given that it’s meant primarily for children. If you saw the trailer, you’ll know that this movie leans heavily on the slapstick.
Incredibly, though, every comedic moment featured in the trailer is even funnier in context. It really is a testament to how proficiently the writers employ physical humour, making it work wonderfully when it could have easily been obnoxious.
The success of its comedy is in equal part thanks to hilarious dialogue and airtight comedic timing. As fast-paced as it was at times, the humour never comes off as rushed. Instead, each punchline is given the perfect amount of breathing room for the joke to land.
Even more impressively, characters seamlessly transition between comedy and serious moments without losing any of the tension.
Equally worthy of praise is the visual art style and animation. The directors weren’t afraid to go all out with the extreme expressiveness of characters’ faces, reminiscent of the versatile art style of K-Pop Demon Hunters.
You’ll get a plethora of facial expressions spanning extreme ends of the spectrum, from the maximally cute to inspiring horror in viewers.
And you can just tell the animators had a blast making this based on the sheer artistry and creativity with which the wide range of animals are presented. I never expected to see frogs, snakes and butterflies portrayed with as much aura as they were. The animation is not just technically brilliant; it’s also filled to the brim with heart.
Of course, I wouldn’t be singing the praises of the film if it were all style without substance. Hoppers isn’t unique in that it takes serious real-world issues and makes them digestible for children. Kids seeing it will learn about the interconnectedness of nature, the effects of habitat loss, and the importance of conservation, which is more than enough on its own.
However, the film is also layered with subtexts aimed primarily at adults, like rethinking anthropocentric attitudes towards our treatment of the planet.
But that’s the beauty of a great piece of children’s media; even if a child doesn’t fully understand a complex idea it presents, its essence can still be conveyed through the emotions portrayed through its characters and overarching themes.
Our protagonist Mabel is lovable, gritty, and relatable (especially when you know that’s exactly how you’d act if you gained the ability to talk to animals). She does exactly what the main character should: function as the effective emotional core for audiences.
But, importantly, she’s also wonderfully flawed, resulting in a satisfying and believable resolution to her character arc, striking a perfect balance between how she changes and how she doesn’t.
The script of Hoppers is beautifully written. It’s as touching as it is funny, in no small part thanks to the supporting cast and characters. There are moments where the film manages to lay bare both emotion and theme without dialogue. Prepare to have your heartstrings pulled at.
This movie isn’t heavy on the didacticism, meaning it doesn’t outright tell kids to recycle or to go out and become a conservationist. But as audiences learn early on in the film, “it’s hard to be mad when you feel like you’re part of something big”. And, as someone who spends a lot of time in nature reserves, I can definitely vouch for the veracity of this claim.
Without being preachy, Hoppers has the potential to inspire a love for, or at least spark an interest in, nature and conservation for its child audiences. It’s a love letter to nature enthusiasts and conservationists. And, perhaps most importantly, it’s a heartfelt piece of art that espouses both collective effort and the power of individual action.
If there’s one movie you’re going to see this month, I wood highly recommend it be this one.
Review by Muhd Muhaimin