A Geeky Guy's Guide to Hoppers

My kids are are not little anymore they are both young adults at this point. So I am old. But I am not too old to still enjoy a high quality kids movie. And let me tell you, Hoppers is just that. In fact, it is one of the most entertaining movies I have seen in a while... period.

I don't have to classify Hoppers as just good for a kids movie because it was simply flat out a very funny and entertaining film. I was a bit confused when I first saw the trailer. The movie is called "Hoppers" so I immediately thought it was going to be another iteration of the Bugs Life, Ants, or Bee Movie. I figure with a name like "Hoppers" it had to be about bugs. But all of the trailers featured beavers. Now I am no beaver expert (just ask my wife) but I do not think they hop anywhere.

Here is a teeny tiny spoiler. In fact I think it was given away in the trailers so I don't think this will ruin anyone's fun. The movie is called "Hoppers" because it references a device in the movie that allows a human to "hop" into a mechanical animal... which just happens to look exactly like a real animal. You know... kind of like Avatar... NO THIS IS NOT LIKE AVATAR! So obviously there will be lots of fun and gags with humans hopping into these animals. It also allows the awesome main character Mabel to hop into an adorable beaver and interact with other adorable beavers.

Speaking of Mabel, there is something unique about her character. Although she starts the movie as a little kid, for the vast majority of it, she is an 18 year old college student. Usually Pixar movies are about the very young or the very old. It was really cool to see a character that was around my own children's age. And I imagine it was nice for them to see that too.

This movie makes its bones on a simple recipe of humor (there were several laugh out loud moments), action, heart and incredible animation and visuals. For me that is the perfect recipe for any non-action/super hero movie... actually it is great in those too. I simply cannot believe how far animation has come. It was hard to decide when the animals are cuter, when they are in their more human form or when they are in their purely animal form.

Oh wait. I forgot how excellent the casting and voices were. There are some very heavy hitter sin there including John Hamm, Bobby Moynihan, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Sam Richardson, Aparna Nancherla and Meryl Freaking Streep!

Some of those names may not be immediately familiar but check out IMDB and I bet you will be saying "Oh I that guy! Or she's so funny in..."

Now let me tell what Hopper si snot. I honestly think very little kids may be scared. There is quite a bit of "squishing" and the villain is flat out scary... but also very funny. It is also not a new Ferngully or even Wall-E with the lesson that humans are pure evil and are destroying nature. It was more like humans need to be smart about how they interact and change the environment. I think because the target audience might be slightly older than a typical Pixar movie, they were able to add that nuance a little.

If you have kids between the ages of 7 and 18, I'd say this is a must see. You will not be disappointed. If your kid is younger than seven, you may need to ask around to see if your particular child would be too scared. If you are an adult that just loves fun... you should also see it!

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