Zootropolis (PG)

****

Dirs: Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush

Voices: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba

Runtime: 108 minutes

HERE we are, the Easter weekend a whisker away, a time when a body usually finds itself up to its oxters in bunnies, chicks, bonnets and chocolate. And it just so happens there is a new film in town with a rabbit at its centre. Who could have guessed that would be pulled out of the hat? And some doubt there is a divine providence. Well, it is either that, or canny marketing folk at work.

They don’t come much cannier in the family film market than Disney, whose new animated caper goes by the name of Zootropolis (or Zootopia if you are in the States). The film had its UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival in February and it was a close tie as to which caused the most delight on Rose Street - the picture itself or the goodie bags handed out after (a goodie bag which your critic, being there in a professional capacity and having to adopt a Caesar’s wife approach to inducements, politely declined. As Humbert Wolfe said, “You cannot hope to bribe or twist (thank God!) the British journalist…”)

In this instance, as Wolfe went on, there genuinely was no occasion to do so, for Zootropolis is a family film that is funny, cute, smart and inspired. Produced by John “Toy Story” Lasseter, it is set in a world run by animals for animals, and at its furry heart is a character called Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin). As you might guess from her name, Judy is of a member of the Leporidae family, with a cotton wool ball tail to show for it.

When we first meet her she is but a young ‘un with a keen sense of right and wrong. She wants to help others by becoming a police officer, but as her nervous dad tells her, “Bunnies don’t do that”. In the big tough city of Zootropolis, it is only the likes of lions, tigers, wolves, and water buffalo who are allowed to protect and serve.

A hop to years later shows Judy was not to be deterred. But as dad predicted, she is struggling to be taken seriously and is given all the low octane jobs, such as handing out parking tickets. Still, she screws up her cute little nose (and it is cute, Judy being in general about as far from Jessica Rabbit as Calamity Jane is from Jane Russell), and gets on with things.

It is while patrolling parked cars that Judy comes across Nick Wilde, hustler and fox. The two ought to be outright enemies, filled with prejudice about each other, but at the same time there are bigger things happening in Zootropolis, such as the mysterious disappearance of some of the city’s citizens. Can Judy and Nick put aside their differences for the sake of the place they both love?

Zootropolis is packed with sly jokes that will have grown-ups snickering into their popcorn. There is particular joy to be had when the action switches to a DVLA-type body run by sloths (one suspects the same sorts are in charge of the phones at HMRC). In some family films the balance between gags for grown ups and humour for children can end up being skewed towards one or the other, with unsatisfactory results for one half of the audience. Here, directors Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush get the balance just right. Yes, there are plenty of jokes about modern life and the rest, but there is also oodles of silliness to go around which children will enjoy as much as adults.

Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Horrible Bosses) is an inspired choice for Nick, his world weariness and cynicism diluting her perkiness a treat), while Idris Elba grumps for Britain (but in an American accent) as the precinct’s battle-hardened sergeant straight out of NYPD Blue), and JK Simmons has a ball playing a mayor.

Between Zootropolis, Batman v Superman (reviewed on heraldscotland.com), and Kung Fu Panda 3, there is plenty of competition for your Easter pound. Spend it wisely.