“Hoppers,” released on March 6, had the potential to be yet another formulaic, flat Pixar movie, filled with the same messages and jokes as every other children’s movie. But instead, it managed to surpass all of my expectations and turned out to be a refreshingly funny and touching film, especially considering that it was created for younger audiences.
The new Pixar movie follows Mabel, a relentless 19-year-old who is determined to protect the wildlife in her late grandmother’s glen from a highway development. The highway, dubbed the “Beaverton Beltway,” is sponsored by Mayor Jerry, whom Mabel absolutely despises. After countless fights against the Mayor, Mabel decides to use her biology professor’s new technology to “hop” into the body of a robotic beaver and work with the wildlife to save the glen.
One of my favorite parts of the film was its humor. “Hoppers” utilizes a large amount of slapstick humor to the point where the movie almost feels chaotic at times. But surprisingly, the jokes worked for audiences who may assume they’re too old to laugh at the immaturity. I found myself and my mom laughing at the absurdity of some of the scenes. Several times throughout the movie, even the entire theater gasped or laughed collectively. The amount of genuinely funny moments in the movie honestly surprised me, and it’s definitely the funniest Pixar movie I’ve seen in a while.
Part of what made the movie so great was the characters. Mabel’s passion and commitment to her beliefs made her instantly likable. The other side characters were also incredibly funny and fun to watch. I also appreciated that in the end, Mabel was able to overcome her difficulties with other characters, such as Mayor Jerry, and work with them to solve larger issues.
One thing I thought was unrealistic, however, was that Mabel is supposed to be a college student, but her mannerisms and brash actions resemble those of a 12-year-old. Mabel definitely acted younger than her age throughout the movie, and a younger audience might relate more to a younger character. Additionally, minor characters didn’t stand out as much as they could’ve; especially as a reptile lover, I wish “Hoppers” had more reptile and amphibian representation throughout the movie, as most major characters were mammals.
Another aspect of “Hoppers” that I thoroughly enjoyed was the magnificent visuals. The stunning animations of fireflies and leaves blowing in the wind made the movie enjoyable simply because it’s pretty to watch. The gorgeous backdrop is reminiscent of the Tetons in the summer, lush and full of life. Watching this movie in the frigid month of March had me reminiscing over brighter, warmer summer days.
Overall, I thought “Hoppers” was amazing, and it 100% exceeded all expectations I had going into the theater. The overall messages remind younger audiences that it’s important to stand up for what they believe in, even if they sometimes feel like they’re the only one who cares. I think audiences of all ages can take something away from “Hoppers,” whether inspiration to treat nature with respect or simply an opportunity to laugh with friends; “Hoppers” definitely has something for everyone.
