Zoo ‘s as they go can be fun. This was a fascinating visit to the zoo.

There are no humans in Zootopia (2016, USA), only animated talking animals that live as people do, in the city, or in the country, in a place called Zootopia. Some zoo, eh?

At a story level, this Disney animation reminds me of a song, Big Dreams (For Little People), by Australian artist Steve Grace.

I’m sure Steve Grace wasn’t thinking of this film when he wrote that song some years ago. But the literal meaning of the song’s title—big dreams for little people—is still relevant to this movie.

There is more made of the living your dream story-line than the theme of discrimination that has got some attention.

For the dreamers

The dreamer is Hops, a bunny rabbit whose parents tell her she is no more or less the sum of what nature has handed her.

Therefore, she can’t be a cop in the city of Zootopia though she wants to be.  Her parents say she should accept what nature has dealt to her; she’s a rabbit in other words.

However, Hops tells her parents she should live her dream, to make the world a better place, by becoming the first police bunny.

This is a kind of dream we call a ‘big dream’, for a little animal, because no bunny has been a cop before and nobody believes she can do it.

There are no easy challenges to her reason for being. The first challenge comes in the form of a bully who wants to quash her dream.

But her biggest challenge to her motive to make the world a better place is when she does become a cop and tries to prove the skeptics wrong. The rubber has hit the road.

Riveting

It’s an interesting story-line, and there is derivative stuff going on, as other films have obviously inspired, such as The Godfather.

There is an exhilarating chase scene through the city. Engaging is watching Hops and the crafty Fox who Hops has an uneasy association with. After a bit of coaxing, the fox is helping her solve a mystery though the mystery is one of the film’s weak points.Though a riveting first half, the second half does not compare to the first with this mystery.

There are some laughs to be had. Funniest part? The scene with a sloth who is taking his time filing a request of Hops and what happens next. Clever and hilarious.

Rated PG—for some thematic elements, rude humor and action

Notes: Ginnifer Goodwin (Voice of Hops), Jason Bateman (Voice of Nick, the fox); Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush (Directors)