Hoppers

Last weekend, Hoppers, the newest film from Pixar, was released in theaters. Hoppers follows young environmentalist, Mabel, as she transfers her mind into the body of a beaver to rally the animals to help save the local glade. As bizarre as that premise sounds, the movie looked really sweet, and I thought it would be fun to see with Sarah.

had a pretty good time with this movie. The movie feels more like a classic Pixar premise, taking a crazy idea (a rat wanting to cook, a trash robot falling in love, a human in a beaver's body) and turning it into a relatable story. I really liked the environmental messaging of the story, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and protecting animal habitats. You get a compelling story about a girl who loves nature and just wants to make a difference in her community. As expected, the movie features numerous cute animal moments, but also includes a number of surprisingly funny moments that made me laugh out loud. I appreciate how the movie balances Mabel's motivations, as she strives to preserve nature while also honoring her grandma's memory, which culminates in some heartfelt moments towards the end of the story. As with any Pixar movie, Hoppers packs a big emotional punch in the latter half of the film with at least two moments that made Sarah cry. Pixar just knows how to tug on the heartstrings, and this movie is no exception.

While this movie is very sweet, there are a few flaws. I thought that the messaging was a little mixed at times. At the beginning, it is quite clear about saving nature, with a sprinkle of advice on dealing with anger. However, by the climax, it becomes a bit unclear as to what the authors are aiming for, as the focus on saving nature seems to lose its significance. I also didn't think the movie went as deep as other Pixar films do. I think it is good, but compared to Finding Nemo, Toy Story, and other classics, it lacks that extra sparkle and relatability.

Overall, Hoppers is a very sweet animated film that takes on some fun ideas about animals and nature. While its messaging gets a little muddled in the third act, it is still a very heartfelt movie that is fun for the whole family.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+ Recommendation: Check it out Sarah's Score: 4.5/5 Beavers