I’ve always wondered what my dog is thinking whenever he barks at the door, or whenever I come home after not seeing him for a long day. Like every other Disney movie ever, “Hoppers” takes that curiosity of some unanswerable question and runs with it. While it doesn’t fully reach the heights of Disney’s best films, it still provides an enjoyable and imaginative experience.
Pixar’s 30th feature film, “Hoppers,” follows Mabel (Piper Curda), a nature-loving teenager who grew up caring for a forest glade near her city. When the mayor (Jon Hamm) announces plans to replace the Glade with a highway, Mabel discovers a new technology called the Hoppers program, which lets humans temporarily inhabit the bodies of animals. Using the program, she explores the forest from an animal’s perspective and meets the resident creatures, including King George (Bobby Moynihan), the beaver who leads the local community. As Mabel navigates life in the forest, she learns more about the animals’ habits and the challenges they face because of human interference. She also works to bring the creatures back to the Glade and protect their home while figuring out how to balance her own moral responsibilities. The film also features a cameo from Meryl Streep, and the end-credit song is performed by SZA, indicating Disney’s high hopes for this release. Their efforts paid off as “Hoppers” debuted with $88 million in sales at the global box office, the biggest debut for an original animated film since “Coco” in 2017.
One thing that stood out to me about “Hoppers” is how Disney once again leans on the “grandma as a guiding figure” trope. Mabel’s grandmother shapes her values and motivates her love for the Glade, and her influence lingers even when she’s not physically present. This is a familiar Disney motif, as recent movies like “Moana,” “Coco,” and “Encanto” all feature grandmothers who drive the story in some way. While it would be nice to see more original approaches to character guidance, in this movie, it’s woven in nicely and adds emotional weight to Mabel’s persistence.
As for the humor, “Hoppers” is cuter than funny. There are definitely distinct comedic moments, like when Mabel awkwardly adjusts to living like a beaver or when King George has a dance party with the other animals in the dam. These moments are endearing and give the characters personality, but I wouldn’t call the movie hilarious. The comedy relies on animal quirks, but it doesn’t land as strongly as the heartwarming moments.
That said, the movie occasionally struggles with pacing. Multiple subplots happen at once, and sometimes the film jumps between them too quickly. I was never confused, but the rapid switching makes the progression of certain storylines feel a little rushed, so some scenes don’t get as much time to breathe or develop as fully as they could. For example, Mabel is offered the role of the “Paw” or royal advisor to King George, after knowing him for less than a day. The movie doesn’t really show how their relationship grows from strangers to close friends, which left me puzzled as to how this development happened so quickly.
On the surface, “Hoppers” is a movie about cute beavers and other forest dwellers, featuring a strong-willed, determined female protagonist, which makes it appealing for a wide audience, especially younger viewers, during a relatively quiet time for new releases. However, beneath the comedic and family-friendly appeal, the film touches on larger concepts and issues, specifically focusing on the relationship between human development and the natural world. Through Mabel’s journey to understand the animals and protect their home, the film explores how human decisions like building a highway through the forest directly affect wildlife and ecosystems (which is an obvious statement, yes, I know). But, by placing Mabel into the body and mind of a beaver, she learns the true extent to which humans have affected the natural order of ecosystems and that coexisting is absolutely imperative for both societal and environmental progress. However, this messaging will probably go over the heads of younger viewers, and it likely won’t get the props it deserves, due to its careful and subdued placement throughout the film.
While “Hoppers” wasn’t my favorite Disney movie, I’m glad the studio has been releasing more original films lately. Too many sequels of older movies can dilute the impact of their stories, and it’s nice to see a new generation get fresh titles to grow up with. This way, kids can have their own collection of classics to remember fondly as teenagers and adults, rather than relying solely on sequels from the 2000s and 2010s as their benchmark for quality childhood films.
Was this movie out of this world? Not really. Was it enjoyable and cute? Yes. “Hoppers” is worth checking out if you like Disney movies or just want a light, easy trip to the theater, but it didn’t blow me away and isn’t likely to become a classic.
