Movie Review: ‘Hoppers’

NEW YORK (OSV News) – Although the environmentally themed animated comedy “Hoppers” (Disney) has everything to do with animals, it has little to do with rabbits. Instead, the title refers to an imaginary technology that allows humans to infuse their consciousness into robots disguised as various fauna and to communicate with real animals.

The main person doing such “hopping” throughout the film is nature-loving college student Mabel Tanaka (voice of Piper Curda). Mabel’s story is almost entirely free of problematic content. But the negative view of parents put forward in screenwriter Jesse Andrews’ script as well as some misbehavior on the part of the youthful protagonist may give grown-ups pause.

Although at odds with her folks, while still a schoolgirl, Mabel forms a deep bond with her gentle grandmother (voice of Karen Huie). Grandma teaches her to be attentive to the natural world and to appreciate its calming influence. Together they pay frequent visits to an idyllic local glade.

So when now-teenage Mabel learns that her hometown’s popular but irresponsible mayor, Jerry Generazzo (voice of Jon Hamm), plans to despoil the area by constructing a highway through it, she puts up a determined battle to stop him. But her petition drive goes nowhere, leaving her frustrated and angry.

With completion of the thoroughfare looming, desperate Mabel accidentally discovers that her biology professor, Dr. Sam (voiced by Kathy Najimy), has secretly developed hopping. Despite Dr. Sam’s admonitions, Mabel insists on using the untested technique to occupy a mechanical beaver and immediately sets off to rally a host of local critters to thwart Mayor Gerry’s scheme.

While doing so, she befriends a genuine beaver, King George (voice of Bobby Moynihan), a wise and kindly creature whose title refers to the fact that he serves as the sovereign of all the mammals in the region (each class of animal has such a ruler). Unfortunately, Mabel doesn’t always follow her new pal’s advice, leading to plot complications and emotional upsets.

Director Daniel Chong’s entertaining movie highlights the value of honesty and the adverse consequences of manipulating people — or nonpeople, for that matter. Mabel eventually learns to be less hasty yet the narrative at least winks at her headstrong early actions, thus blunting, to some degree, the impact of her later conversion.

As for the obvious theme of sensible stewardship, this can be understood from a Christian perspective, though the phraseology dealing with it sometimes sounds more akin to Buddhism, stressing that human beings should think of themselves as essentially integrated into the world around them. This might be a good starting point for an intergenerational discussion of the topic.

The film contains characters in peril and at least one slightly crass expression. The OSV News classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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