We saw it with my teenage son. He's still into animated movies. I couldn't get over how imaginative it was. John Lassiter was executive producer. Oddly the Disney movies are becoming more innovative while Pixar seems to be churning out lackluster sequels.
2
Credit for the DMV slow talker should go to Bob & Ray (Bob Elliott, who passed away earlier this year, and Ray Goulding, who died in 1990). Look up their Slow Talkers of America bit.
9
Zootopia is a great introduction to brilliant screenwriting.
Remarkable the way the very first scene returns in a different form at the very end. Or the return to one of the characters from a much discussed sequence at the close of the film. The Godfather also is great while the sequence where Judy is chasing a criminal in small rodent land is wonderful. The polar bears heavies are awesome and there is a wolf scene that is a real howl. Nor did I have a clue as to the ultimate villain in the piece and who makes a funny cameo shot during the credits as well.
In short the film is a marvel of plot construction even if it felt about 10 minutes too long for this viewer's attention span. Its visuals are remarkable (Judy's talk with her parents on an I-Phone is incredible in its detail) and while Judy is a bit of a one-note, Nick Wilde gives a remarkable performance.
Most brilliant, however, all the issues raised in the film starting with the opening shot return 10-fold at the very end when things are looking bleak indeed.
Remarkable the way the very first scene returns in a different form at the very end. Or the return to one of the characters from a much discussed sequence at the close of the film. The Godfather also is great while the sequence where Judy is chasing a criminal in small rodent land is wonderful. The polar bears heavies are awesome and there is a wolf scene that is a real howl. Nor did I have a clue as to the ultimate villain in the piece and who makes a funny cameo shot during the credits as well.
In short the film is a marvel of plot construction even if it felt about 10 minutes too long for this viewer's attention span. Its visuals are remarkable (Judy's talk with her parents on an I-Phone is incredible in its detail) and while Judy is a bit of a one-note, Nick Wilde gives a remarkable performance.
Most brilliant, however, all the issues raised in the film starting with the opening shot return 10-fold at the very end when things are looking bleak indeed.
5
It is a great movie for 8 year olds who are in the midst of completing their PHD's. Other children will never get the humor or the plot.
1
The commercials for this make it look like pretty stale stuff - same old odd-couple buddy-movie, plus some trendy jokes that will look quaint in 20 years (selfies?) and animated action at a speed that makes my eyeballs hurt. The review makes it sound appealing enough that when the DVD comes out, I'll have a look. BUT ...
The last few times I've been to the DMV, the staff took care of my business rapidly and professionally - once I could get to the front desk to deal with them. The problems were exclusively caused by the customers. People who didn't bring ID. People who didn't bring the right kind of ID, even though in their sweaty palms they clutched a list, sent out with all applications, as to what is and isn't acceptable. People who didn't bring a check or credit card or any means to pay the fees. Who didn't speak any of the half-dozen languages for which interpreters were available. And who pitched screaming temper tantrums at the delays caused by *their* errors.
So the 'sloth DMV' comes across as a cheap, hackneyed joke.
The last few times I've been to the DMV, the staff took care of my business rapidly and professionally - once I could get to the front desk to deal with them. The problems were exclusively caused by the customers. People who didn't bring ID. People who didn't bring the right kind of ID, even though in their sweaty palms they clutched a list, sent out with all applications, as to what is and isn't acceptable. People who didn't bring a check or credit card or any means to pay the fees. Who didn't speak any of the half-dozen languages for which interpreters were available. And who pitched screaming temper tantrums at the delays caused by *their* errors.
So the 'sloth DMV' comes across as a cheap, hackneyed joke.
13
You haven't seen the movie.
7
Which is precisely why he shouldn't take things he hasn't viewed in context way too seriously....
1
Oh, lighten up. The scene is a complete riot and the kids were howling as loudly as the adults.
5
The scene at the DMV reminds me just as much of recent customer service experiences with US corporations as government agencies. In fact, my local DMV office is a model of efficiency and friendly service these days.
13
Wow. Animals wearing clothes and living in a humanoid world. Where do they keep getting these fresh, original ideas?
2
Why not see the movie before dismissing it so snarkily?
4
This movie is a 9 out of ten. Jason Bateman has his vulnerable wiseguy thing. Almost no "stock" characters- except the gruff impatient police Sergeant (Mr. Elba) who is great anyway. It's a little politically incorrect too- making fun of "slow" and "hungry" characters. Okay- that's not great. My favorite one of these since"The Incredibles".
3
I so wanted to enjoy this movie - but it is literally one stereotype joke set up followed by reprimanding the audience for engaging in the humor of it - rinse repeat x 100 - totally felt like they were beating you over the head with their lead pipe "statement" by the time they even got to the DMV scene I was to disappointed to enjoy it.
1
SPOILER!
I found this movie unexpectedly timely: the plot is driven by the actions of an untruthful political figure cynically using fear and scapegoating of a minority to gain popular support and power.
Had a topical, and disheartening, discussion with my children on the way home last night.
I found this movie unexpectedly timely: the plot is driven by the actions of an untruthful political figure cynically using fear and scapegoating of a minority to gain popular support and power.
Had a topical, and disheartening, discussion with my children on the way home last night.
16
The idea for the DMV scene has to have been taken from the Slow Talkers of America sketch by comedians Bob and Ray. Listen to that original to appreciate the Zootopia scene even more.
6
YES!
2
I hope parents won't be spurred to buy a rabbit for their kids after seeing this movie. Rabbits live 10 years and are a commitment, like a cat or dog. There is a flood of rabbits dumped after Easter, and domestic rabbits can't survive in the wild. Setting it "free" only makes it food. The House Rabbit Society (rabbit.org) has lots of great information, including if a rabbit is right for you.
13
The secret to kids enjoying the sloth-staffed-DMV scene is simple: for kids, that's what dealing with adults probably feels like.
16
"Animals have transcended the carnivore-prey dichotomy"? If so, then all the carnivores have gone extinct. What is that fox-sidekick eating? Bananas?
2
Popsicles.
1
I laughed out loud from the very first scene to the (somewhat sad) last. A joy for children and worthy of a trip by the childless.
16
I too was forced to sit through this interminable and inane trailer when seeing Star Wars. DMV jokes are old and no longer relevant. It's not the 70's. Have you visited the DMV in the last ten or twenty years? However much we do not enjoy the experience it is now relatively fast and efficient.
Sure is worth it? They were so delayed by their experience at the DMV that they didn't get out until it was dark? Rofl.
My kids were entertained but it does not appear to be something that a thinking adult could sit through.
Sure is worth it? They were so delayed by their experience at the DMV that they didn't get out until it was dark? Rofl.
My kids were entertained but it does not appear to be something that a thinking adult could sit through.
4
No, it's not the 70s, but if you ever want a trip back to the 70s, just visit your local DMV.
5
I was forced to read through an interminable comment about this rabbit movie recently, and it turned out the writer had not even seen the whole movie, only the trailer.
32
As I describe in my own comment, which hasn't appeared yet, at least in our area the DMV works pretty well, and when problems and delays arise they're inevitably caused by the customers. I don't work for the DMV (or any government agency), but this kind of joke is a tired excuse for wit, more a shibboleth than anything.
4
Fantastic film- Zootopia has the appealing characters down pat, as well as the delicate nuance needed to convey a complex thematic structure. This is reminiscent of artisans at the subtle peak of their craft.
...Just needs monsters and cannons, like Dreamkeepers. Obviously.
...Just needs monsters and cannons, like Dreamkeepers. Obviously.
5
No. Don't. Buy. A. Bunny. For. Your. Kids. For. Easter. Not. Good. Pets. Just. See. This. Adorable. Movie. Would. You. Buy. A. Fox? I. Didn't. Think. So.
25
Having had to have extensive dealings with a couple of government departments this week, watching the scene at the DMV almost had me in tears from laughter. That was brilliant.
8
(On the flight back, I watched it twice in a row) Actually, there is a lot of hidden animal humor in there too. Even on my 3rd time watching it there are still things I'm discovering!