Hoppers – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Hoppers – A Hand for a Paw: I am … your friend

What is that saying, about how the littlest things can drive the biggest change.  In the truest of fashion, it becomes a saying that ripples through many things in life, providing layers of meaning.  It is a saying that can grip an audience to any kind of tale, especially ones told in animated films.  In this review, I look at the latest Pixar creation to hit the big screen.  In a story of creative bliss, we embark on a journey that is endearing to the meaning of life.  Within a simple idea, Hoppers becomes a wonderous tale that showcases what it truly means to live in harmony … together. 

When two worlds seem impossible to live together, one girl will show that … with technology … that animals are more than just creatures of the world.  When it comes to films, to hear the word Pixar is to know that no matter how obscure the premise is, you will be escaping into a unique kind of experience.  From robots finding love in space to toy’s having purpose, each creation is something that becomes a magical tale.  With this latest, it is another fun escape built off a simple premise.  In the beginning, you meet Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda), a young adult that has strong values for protecting animals and nature.  After some backstory elements and world-building, we head into the main crux of the tale: Mabel is trying to prevent a highway being built that would destroy the glade.  After a series of comical moments and general hijinks … she learns about a new technology that can help her save the glade: hopping.  Once Mabel ‘hops’ into a robotic like beaver, we embark on a journey that builds from its simple foundation, developing into an endearing tale of friendship and life values.  Her interactions with the animal kingdom that is led by a beaver named King George (voiced: Bobby Moynihan) leads to a situation that builds upon unique ideals and layered character elements.  In other situations, this could have been generalized, but through the creatives at Pixar, you get to see a spastic appeal of animation that pushes forward individualized characters for an imaginative escape.  This blending is done well with a great script that balances realistic drama and comical hijinks, a raw sense of levity that drowns out predictability for an original take on familiar themes.  This is the strength of Pixar; the ability to bridge surrealistic ideas to our own lives.

As Mabel continues on her quest, her blind innocence causes an imbalance, leading to a domino effect of consequences for both the animals and humans.  With the thematic aspect of human society vs. nature coming into full bloom, the filmmakers add pizzazz through comical situations that level out generalization with an acute sense of brevity.  That level of creative bliss through the strength of characterization provides a place where there is realistic growth in all characters; from Mabel, King George and the rest of the cast misfits (you can view the list at the film’s IMdb page – link).  As things come to head, we lead into a third act that brings everything to play through a bombastic, hilarious but wholesome like climax and epilogue.  Hoppers is another great outing from Pixar.  If you are a fan of Disney, Pixar or great creative animation, this is one for you.  I think this will be a good time for anyone, young or adult as it is worth the full price of admission. 

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)