Disney + Animals =  things I love =  I was very excited to see Zootopia. Dan and I went to a matinee showing for Zootopia at the AMC Prime in Century City.

A non- Zootopia related note: the Century City AMC is one of our favorite theaters, but the mall is undergoing a major reconstruction. I mean MAJOR- about 2/3rds of the mall is completely gone. Parking is nearly impossible. If you live in LA and haven't been to Westfield Century City recently, you might want to avoid it until late 2016, when the first phases of the construction are projected to be finished. I think it's going to be amazing when it's done, but for the moment, the whole area is a disaster. We ate lunch at Rocksugar (excellent food) and as we sat on the patio, we were serenaded by construction noise. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

PLOT - Zootopia imagines a world where animals, both prey and predators, live in harmony. Although this is the ideal vision; prejudice, fear, and misunderstanding are still a problem. Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) has a dream to be the first bunny on the police force. Despite her small size and the perception that rabbits are dumb, Judy doesn't lose sight of her dream and succeeds. She is given an assignment in Zootopia, a metropolis very different from the countryside where she was raised. Judy heads to Zootopia, with an idealistic dream of promoting justice and harmony, but she soon learns that life is very complicated. 

LIKE- I was fairly certain that I would like Zootopia, but I was unprepared for how much I would love this film. For me, it always boils down to storytelling. Zootopia has all of the elements that make a great story- unforgettable characters, a plot that is both exciting and unpredictable, and great dialogue. Zootopia is often hilarious, but it also handles difficult subjects with sensitivity. Having trouble taking to your kids about discrimination, bullying, and prejudice? See Zootopia and it will open up a dialogue. Zootopia is a mirror for our own society and it's very timely. Dan and I walked out of Zootopia gushing about all of the parts that we loved. Even though they show the DMV sloth scene in the trailer, it was still just as funny to see it again. I don't think that DMV Sloth's will ever grow old. 

DISLIKE- Nothing at all.

RECOMMEND- Yes!!!! Zootopia has shot to the top of my list of favorite Disney movies, it's that good. It's creative, funny, and has a strong message. Plus, it has the voice of Jason Bateman. You can't go wrong with Bateman!