Blah, blah, blah, blah, hot dogs.
If you understand the phrase above, you probably had a blast at Pixar’s latest animated film, Hoppers. If not, allow me to persuade you to make this your next family trip to the movies. Pixar is known for its animated films that tug at heartstrings or carry a deeply embedded message. In recent years, Pixar’s films have had to fight a little harder to resonate with audiences for a variety of reasons: pandemic-era releases, box-office oversaturation, and limited marketing. Under the direction of We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong, Hoppers brings a fresh installment to the studio that reminds audiences it’s still one of the best in animation. Chaotic in all the best ways, Hoppers reminds us that blind passion, even for a good cause, can have dangerous consequences.
Pond Rules
Mabel (Piper Curda) has loved animals since she was a little kid, as we watch her early in the film try to free all the class pets during lunch break. After getting caught, again, she takes a trip to her grandma’s house. She sits next to Grandma Tanaka with pent-up rage that slowly dissipates when her grandma encourages her to take in the nature around her. “It’s hard to be mad when you feel like you’re part of something big,” she says to Mabel. From there, “the glade” becomes her safe haven, a little slice of peace where she can retreat when life feels overwhelming.
It’s the present day, and Mayor Jerry (Jon Hamm) is scheduled to demolish the glade to build a highway. Mabel realizes that the animals have vanished from the glade, which gives Mayor Jerry the permission he needs to build his highway in what was once their home. Mabel stumbles upon a technology her science professor has been using for a research study and decides to “hop” her consciousness into a robot beaver in hopes of bringing the animals back to their home and saving the glade. Mabel is in awe of the animal kingdom, especially their leader beaver, King George (Bobby Moynihan). She befriends King George and thinks this will be a quick fix. But, in true movie fashion, nothing goes as planned. The events that follow make for one of the most entertaining Pixar movies we’ve had in a long time.
The Gasp Heard Around the World
Writer Jesse Andrews has delivered one of the funniest Pixar films we’ve had in years. Even with that disclaimer, you still won’t be prepared for all of the gags in this movie. Hoppers had many laugh-out-loud moments. In the multiple screenings I attended, the audiences roared throughout the film, and in one scene, the entire theater gasped because there was no way to prepare for what they had just witnessed. These types of treats keep the audience on the edge of their seat and engaged in the story.
There are also a few beautiful themes the film touches on that stay true to Pixar’s pattern of crafting stories with an emotional core that resonate with large audiences. Mabel is passionate about animals and her beloved glade. This is a good thing because she’s active in her community. She’s so active that she and the mayor are on a first-name basis. Any movie that encourages people to be active in their local government gets an automatic gold star.
However, Mabel’s passion is also blind — she can only see her own needs, which is what causes a series of unfortunate events in the story. She steals research equipment from her professor, who has spent years perfecting it. She lies to King George and uses him for her own means. And she endangers Mayor Jerry’s life because of her rage over his highway destroying the glade. This gives us an additional lesson on how being consumed by your own goal can cause unintended harm to others. This kind of chaos can also undermine your original good intentions.
The rage Mabel felt, while justified, led her to ignore valid concerns. The community did need a freeway, but the animals need a place, too. Instead of finding a way to create a dialogue between her and Mayor Jerry, her rage had her one-track-minded. She also almost lost a group of good friends in King George, Loaf, Tom, Ellen, Diane, etc. The film also reinforces the need for community. Mabel was angry because she felt that her passion for the animals and the glade was misunderstood. She felt as though she was the only one who cared, and she carried the burden of the glade’s future on her shoulders. But when she was working alone, she was wildly unsuccessful. She never made any real progress until she connected with others.
Time to Party
Piper Curda delivers an exceptional performance as the insufferable Mabel. There were several moments where I could understand why Mayor Jerry was annoyed by Mabel. To say that she was passionate about the glade would be an understatement. She chewed the scenery, matching the film’s chaotic energy with her own. Jon Hamm as Mayor Jerry also fit like a glove.
But the true standout of the film was Bobby Moynihan as King George. Moynihan has a warmth to his voice that fits the leader beaver. He can make us laugh in one moment, delivering a line about his “soothing oils,” and then change the tone to tug at our heartstrings when disappointed by Mabel’s dishonesty. Then, reminds us that their relationship can always be repaired because “trust is like a dam”. Another excellent performance was Dave Franco as Titus, our caterpillar prince. He’s so tiny and yet so menacing. In a short amount of time, he leaves a lasting impression on the film. An honorable mention goes to our apex predator, Diane, voiced by SNL alum Vanessa Bayer.
Sometimes you can’t see the forest through the trees. Hoppers reminds us to take a moment and soak in the big picture. If you remember that you’re part of something bigger, you’ll remember that you’re not the only one with a need or the only one fighting for change. It’ll help you consider how everyone can get their needs met, because at the end of the day, we’re all in this together.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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