Movie Review

Disney’s stellar Zootopia draws in adults and kids from start to finish

Since 1995, Pixar has been the star of Disney animation, delivering time and again with only a few exceptions. But in the last 10 years, the other half of Disney’s animated output — Walt Disney Animation Studios — has proven it can make films just as memorable.

Since 2007, the studio has been responsible for Bolt, The Princess & the Frog, Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, and Big Hero 6, a stretch that rivals Pixar’s success. The trend continues with Zootopia, an absolute delight of a movie that takes the tried-and-true premise of talking animals to another level.

They do so not just by having anthropomorphic animals of all kinds, but also by creating a fully realized universe where almost every detail astounds. The hero of the film is Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), a rabbit who has dreamt her entire life of being a police officer. Finally given her shot, she’s assigned to lowly parking meter duty instead of actually fighting crime.

A chance run-in with a con artist fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) sets in motion a series of events that finds the two of them trying to track down a missing otter. That investigation opens up something bigger than they could have imagined, unraveling a conspiracy that has far-reaching implications.

If that sounds heavy for an animated Disney film, it is and it isn’t. One of the biggest pleasures of Zootopia, as is the case with most great animated films, is how it appeals equally to kids and adults. The lush animation, cute animals, and other elements make it kid-friendly, but the relatively complex plot, pop culture references, and somewhat scary sequences make it enjoyable for adults too.

Heck, at one point, the filmmakers — led by veterans Byron Howard and Rich Moore — even bring in a not-so-lightly veiled allusion to the dangers of racism and fear-mongering. However, they do so in a way that’s completely consistent with the world of the film, making the important message palatable for younger viewers.

Although I normally say that having celebrities voice animated characters is a waste of time, both Goodwin and Bateman, along with Jenny Slate as Bellwether the sheep, bring a little something extra to the movie. Other stars like Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Bonnie Hunt, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, and Shakira all deliver nice performances, but their star power does little to enhance the film.

It’s easy to tell when a studio and its filmmakers care about the quality of their product, and the output from both sides of Disney has gotten as reliable as a Swiss clock. Zootopia is another stellar movie from a studio that just knows how to do things right.

Jason Bateman plays Nick Wilde and Ginnifer Goodwin plays Judy Hopps in Zootopia.

Scene from Zootopia

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Jason Bateman plays Nick Wilde and Ginnifer Goodwin plays Judy Hopps in Zootopia.

Movie Review

Evil Dead Burn maintains this year's streak of top-notch horror movies

Luciane Buchanan in Evil Dead Burn

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Luciane Buchanan in Evil Dead Burn.

Horror franchises tend to endure because of several reasons. First and foremost, the title conjures up nostalgia for older viewers, as the many of the most popular ones started in the 1970s or ‘80s. Sequels can recycle key elements of past films as long as they tweak the formula enough to offer something original. And they’re also relatively cheap to make, as new films can bring in young or lesser-known actors to be terrorized.

All of those reasons make Evil Dead Burn a smashing success, giving viewers reminders of the past while still becoming its own thing. The film is almost non-stop from the jump as a series of people, known colloquially as “deadites,” get infected by a malevolent force. A long, 15-minute opening set piece introduces the main characters, including Alice (Souhelia Yacob), her brother-in-law Joseph (Hunter Doohan), his girlfriend Thya (Luciane Buchanan), and his parents, Susan (Tandi Wright) and Edgar (Erroll Shand).

They’re all mourning the death of Alice’s husband Will (George Pullar), who they think died while driving drunk. However, the infection in Will’s corpse soon latches on to Edgar, whose descent into murderous rage is initially masked by his intense grief. With the family all gathered together in an older, decaying home, no one is safe from the rampage of the supernatural force.

Written and directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Vanicek and co-written by Florent Bernard, the film is aimed directly at horror fanatics who are used to copious amounts of blood and gore. From the opening scene to the film’s final intense moments, Vanicek and his team come up with numerous hide-your-eyes sequences that test the stomachs of weak-willed viewers. But for those who can’t get enough of such things, they also indicate a creativity and willingness to push boundaries that is both thrilling and entertaining.

While some previous entries in the Evil Dead series leaned comedic, this entry follows the previous two films in 2013 and 2023 as as a pure horror. However, that doesn’t mean that the film is devoid of lightness. One of the most enjoyable aspects is Vanicek comically adhering to the concept of Chekhov’s gun. So many different potential weapons are introduced and later used that you can’t help but laugh when they come into play.

Ultimately, it’s the performances by the lesser-known cast that make the movie what it is. Doohan (Wednesday) plays a mild-mannered character who seems to be the main protagonist early on, but he cedes the spotlight to Yacob as the film goes along. The French actress knows how to hold the screen through both her actions and line deliveries. Shand, with his craggy face and bald head, turns into a superior villain, able to chill with just his intense stare.

Evil Dead Burn is not for everybody, but it’s another great addition to what’s turning out to be a banner year for horror movies. With highly effective, cringeworthy action sequences, moments that lighten the mood when needed, and a cast that carries the story, it’s an announcement of bigger things to come for all involved.

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Evil Dead Burn opens in theaters on July 10.

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