Hoppers Review
By Kevin Hoskinson
Entertainment Editor
Little did I know going into Hoppers that the town we live in would be represented in an unexpected way. Like most Pixar offerings as of late we weren’t sure what to expect going into their new film. It used to be a studio we could rely on but their offerings over the past few years haven’t been the best they have to offer. While I don’t think they have made a bad film there are some that are better than others. They are pretty consistent with their output emotionally but when it comes to the stories they don’t always hit the way they should or feel oddly misguided (Lightyear, Cars 2 and Elio being two that come to mind). Luckily for us, Hoppers lands on the good side of that spectrum and happens to be one of the most environmentally important films released in a long time.
Taking place in a fictional version of a very real town in Oregon, Beaverton, the story is about a girl named Mabel and her quest to save a very important area in town. One cool thing about Pixar is that most of their characters are relatable on some level and I certainly felt it in this film. Growing up my grandfather was all about nature and animals, living as one with them and respecting the land around us. Mabel has a similar relationship with her grandmother as they spend their days on a small lake filled with beavers and other wildlife. Much like my daughter she also has a love for animals from a young age. We are introduced to her as a troubled young girl who does what she needs to do to release the animals held captive in cages at her school. As she gets older, she becomes the thorn in the side of Beaverton mayor Jerry, who is dedicated to destroying nature to make transit easier and affordable for the residents of town. It’s this relationship that causes Mabel to take action when the lake her grandmother held so dear is in danger of being destroyed.
This is where the story gets really interesting. At Beaverton University, Mabel stumbles across a top secret program that connects animals and humans in a unique way. It’s very much like Avatar, allowing a human conscience to be placed in a robotic animal which lets them blend in with the critters without much question. Having no training, she takes the form of the beaver and goes on a mission to convince the other beavers to return to the dried out lake before it’s gone for good. It’s a strange concept for a Pixar film and certainly one of their most bizarre, but it really works. It knows how silly it is and even makes an Avatar joke of its own, acknowledging that it’s been done before. The difference of course is execution and here it isn’t taken nearly as seriously. The themes are similar though, examining the effects that human development and greed has taken on the environment. Like all great villains, Jerry and people like him believe they are doing the right thing and making things easier for their fellow humans when in reality it is taking a major toll on the world around them. It’s a tale as old as time but it’s one that is still impactful if told the right way.
Beautiful story aside, the voice cast, animation and score are top notch. Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan and Jon Hamm take on the lead roles, playing Mabel, King George and Jerry respectively. Hamm is one of those performers who can do any role in any genre and he nails this one. Piper and Bobby have wonderful chemistry and their moments throughout the film really shine. Being an outsider in the animal world, the king of the beavers, King George, takes her under his wing. He trusts her with all of his heart which makes the eventual reveal that she is in disguise that much more heartbreaking. King George is the real deal, believing that there is good in everyone and everything, including the humans. The score is composed by veteran musician Mark Mothersbaugh and it is incredible. It perfectly matches the roller coaster of the film by hitting quiet lows and the most epic of highs, amplifying the laughs and the tears. Hoppers is absolutely gorgeous to look at, easily some of the best that the studio has to offer. Directed by Daniel Chong, creator of We Bear Bears, he knows a thing or two about animation in nature. He brings a lot of that shows sensibility to this movie and it’s a match made in movie heaven.
The year has just started but this is already one of my favorite movies so far. It made us laugh and cry, all of which are typical hallmarks for Pixar. It’s full of awesome easter eggs that fans will recognize and has a surprisingly hilarious connection to another film that I won’t spoil here. Living in Beaverton it was really cool seeing this film and it meant a lot that they took love and care with it. Oregon is incredibly environmentally forward and that is what I love about living here. Nature is all around us and it must be preserved over progress which is something this movie represents perfectly. It’s a great message and one that people of all ages can understand. Go watch Hopper in theaters now.
Rating: 4.5 Pastrami Nations out of 5
