HOPPERS

Hoppers is a wildly hilarious, joyful and emotionally beautiful adventure that only Pixar knows how to conjure, delivering laugh out loud comedic moments and endearing characters thanks to the lead performances of Piper Curda and Bobby Moynihan, resulting in the best original Pixar film in years!

Woody and Buzz. Mike and Sully. Carl and Russell. These are just a few of the beloved cinematic friendships that have come from Pixar Animation films, who for thirty years have been at the forefront of animated filmmaking. Their films have captured both the attention of viewers young and old with their great comedic moments and exciting stories, but what has made the stories and characters stand the test of time is their emotional honesty that can make a viewer of any age break down in tears at any given moment. And Hoppers is no exception to this lasting legacy of Pixar. Full of instantly memorable and lovable characters, a grand adventure full of timely and important messaging told with Pixar’s signature heart, some of the most absurd and hilarious moments in an animated family film in recent memory, and beautiful animation, director Daniel Chong infuses Hoppers with true magic from start to finish that delivers the best family film of the year to date.

Being an animated film, there is a preconceived notion that it is made for children, and while children will no doubt have lots of fun with Hoppers, it is surprising how absurd and clever the film actually is. Though the story bears similarities to Avatar, a joke that writers are well aware of and make themselves, Hoppers follows a young woman who finds her mind transported to the robotic beaver and ventures into the local forest to re-populate a tranquil pond in her community in hopes of saving it from being destroyed by a new highway. The themes of environmental conservation and species protection are evident and well handled in this incredibly fun narrative that delivers both an unforgettable adventure and friendship, helping to build these ideas in younger viewers to help preserve nature’s future, but the story is far more than just that: it is a story about humanity’s place in a larger ecosystem and our partnership in helping to ensure this planet’s survival. It’s all told through the central friendship of Mabel and King George, who are not only so adorably animated that you will want to just give both beavers a big hug, but the love that unfolds between these characters makes them instantly iconic and helps to build the film’s underlying emotional current. With the friendship of Mabel and King George as the film’s focus, the heart of the story from Chong and Jesse Andrews shines through: that we have to see the goodness in each other and work together despite our differences to not only protect our planet, but to ensure its longevity for future generations. Not even the narrative’s slower start as its finding its pacing in the first act can derail the greatness that Pixar has in store in the film’s middle and final act, as they have a story that audiences are destined to fall in love with.

But, the surprising aspect of the storytelling of Hoppers is how absurd it is at times. Chong and Andrews’ story has some truly dark moments, some that feel right out of a wacky B grade science fiction horror film  featuring terrifying animatronics or killer animals. From the obsession with squashing (the animals’ term for murder), the wild ways in which they attempt to kill the humans, to one untimely animal death that is absolutely shocking, it’s very easy to see how morbid the film could have been. But, Chong and Andrew’s secret weapon is that these darker moments are infused with a great comedic energy and when placed in an honest and fun loving story, that instead of these moments becoming incredibly dark, they result in uncontrollable laughter for audiences of all ages that ensures that there is not a moment of the film that isn’t bursting with entertainment.

While there is no question that audiences are going to fall in love with Mabel and King George as characters, who will no doubt join the beloved roster of Pixar characters, lots of this is attributable to the voice performances of Piper Curda and Bobby Moynihan. Curda brings a spirited youth to Mabel as she explores the forest as a beaver, discovering the animal kingdom and a strength within her as she fights to protect the pond and creatures she has loved for years. But it is the tenderness that Curda finds in Mabel as she grows up over the course of the film, learning that the individuals are not just good or evil, but far more complex, that makes her a heroine that audiences can wholeheartedly root for and embrace with open arms.

Moynihan is outstanding as King George, creating an energetic and wildly entertaining character, sharing some excellent comedic moments with Curda, but finding an aching emotional depth in the film’s back half that is certain to tug on viewer’s heart strings. Together, Moynihan and Curda become the beating heart of the film as Mabel and George, that with the bond they developed between the characters throughout the film, ensures that the film’s final scene is certain to get some tears flowing in the simplicity and earnestness of the moment shared between their characters. The talented voice performances don’t stop there with standout moments from Vanessa Bayer as Diane in one of the film’s wildest and most hilarious moments, a crazed and power hungry Dave Franco as Titus, and the ever talented Meryl Streep as the Insect Queen who is wickedly fun every second she is on screen.

As with all of their films, the animation in Hoppers is absolutely incredible! Vibrant, full of colour, and a great attention to texture to bring to life the forest setting of the film, helping to build a rich world to get lost in, there is not a moment of Hoppers that is not full of outstanding animation. When paired with a strong musical score from Mark Mothersbaugh that captures the heart and inherent danger of the story, and some incredibly fun retro needle drops that make some of the film’s big moments pop right off the screen, the filmmaking behind Hoppers is everything you know and love about Pixar Animation at its finest.

Pixar has always been the leading animation studio, responsible for not only some of the most beloved animated films of all time, but for some of the most endearing friendships in cinema. In recent years their original stories have struggled to connect with audiences on the levels that some of their most beloved films have in the past, but there is no question that Hoppers is one of Pixar’s best offerings in years. Bursting with an infectious comedic energy and resonant messaging surrounding the environment, kindness and being part of a larger community, Hoppers effortlessly works its way into viewers’ hearts with its stellar animation, beautiful central friendship and outstanding voice performances that showcases excellence in every aspect that is synonymous with Pixar’s legacy.