“Hoppers” Review- An Unsual Mix of Talking Animals, Environmentalism, and Smooshing

Today I took my daughter to see Disney / Pixar’s “Hoppers” film. I think it is a fun film that most people will wait to watch on Disney+.

I don’t see this one doing super well theatrically. This does not mean it is a bad film, but I think many people will skip the theater to save up money for “Super Mario Galaxy” on April 1.

Parental Warning

It is important to let parents know that there is a scene that may upset some children involving a smooshing. I will talk about that later on when I address spoilers, but be aware that if you have a sensitive child, they may get upset.

Plus animals snatch/eat other animals.

Non – Spoiler Thoughts

“Hoppers” is going to appeal to those who care strongly about animals and the environment, or to those who like talking animal films.

At its heart, the film is about saving habitats and nature. It’s also about activism and learning how to communicate and compromise better.

Mabel always had a connection to animals, and her grandmother taught her how to embrace nature and do what she could to help. When their special glade is marked for overpass construction, she will need to find a way to bring the animals back to the area and save it. All while trying to stop Mayor Jerry from completing is road that will save people four minutes of driving time.

But she needs to be careful not to become like those she is fighting against.

Overall, I would give it a 6.5 out of 10. 

Spoiler Filled Review

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

This film has some nice messaging mixed with some weird stuff.

It is as I said above, but Mabel hijacks her college professor’s “life’s work” to go find a beaver to rebuild a dam and save the glade.

During her life as a beaver, she meets King George the beaver, who is taking care of the displaced animals the mayor chased away with loud sounds only they could hear.

Mabel convinces King George to summon the other animal kingdom “kings,” including the rulers of the frogs, fish, birds, snakes, and insects. She convinces them they need to help stop the demolition of the glade by stopping Mayor Jerry. Unfortunately, the queen (butterfly) in charge of bugs says they will help her “smoosh” the mayor.  Mabel doesn’t want him killed, just scared away.

This is where the parental warning comes into play. In an argument with the Queen about killing the mayor, Mabel smooshes the butterfly and then smears her guts on the wall, all in front of her caterpillar son Titus.

The story says it’s okay, though, because the son wanted to be king. He then pupates himself to become a butterfly.

Meanwhile, the other animal rulers send their subjects after King George and Mabel to “smoosh” them for killing one of the rulers. They escape thanks to other robot animals (a rabbit and bird) being controlled by her professor’s assistants.

Mabel, King George, Tom the lizard, and Loaf the beaver hide in Mayor Jerry’s car as he is heading out to the bridge-building dedication/rally. Using her cell phone, the animals try to communicate that Jerry is in danger. From there, it’s a high-speed ride with birds carrying a shark trying to terminate Jerry.

This ends with beaver Mabel being hauled into a van and being de-hopped back into herself, which scares King George. Then they are all captured by the animals, and her professor is forced to make a Mayor Jerry robot for Titus the butterfly to hop into and “smoosh” the humans with the same speakers the mayor used on the animals.

At no point in time does Mabel tell the mayor that she was behind his attempted assassination. She is made aware that she was behaving in ways that she claimed she hated about the Mayor or others.

Then she tells Titus that she is sorry she smooshed his mom, but she knows how he feels. That one confused my daughter and me, too. 

They beat Titus but set the forest on fire that is headed for the human city. So the animals work together with Mabel to undo the dam that makes up their home and flood the forest to save the humans.

By the end of the film, the Mayor brings crews to save the glade, and it’s turned into a nature preserve. The overpass is relocated. Mabel graduates and joins her professor’s team for another invention, but she still visits her special spot now with King George.

That was a lot to summarize. The film is about finding your place in something bigger (the world), saving nature, working together, not becoming what you claim you hate.

Again, I don’t think the movie is terrible, but I don’t think it will do well in theaters.

I would recommend waiting for Disney+ on this one as well.