Nearly a decade after a bunny police officer and a criminal fox established an unlikely friendship, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back on the case in Zootopia 2. The original Zootopia was an entertaining buddy cop flick that captivated audiences with its unique (and visually joke-heavy) animal metropolis and familiar (but extremely relevant in hindsight) anti-prejudice message. It proved to be one of Disney’s better 2010s outings, and thankfully, the charm of that animated world hasn’t grown dark in their next adventure, in which Hopps and Wilde stumble upon yet another conspiracy at the heart of their city’s political makeup. Like a lot of recent Disney sequels, it doesn’t exceed the original’s magic, but its lovable characters and sharp humor get Zootopia 2‘s story across the finish line, if only by a hare… er, hair. 

Since working together to save Zootopia, former con artist Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) has become a fellow officer of the law alongside Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), even if the larger mammal officers still view them as inexperienced rookies. Disobeying orders to nab a perp—resulting in an obligatory, yet entertaining car chase—also puts them on thin ice with Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), who needs both animals to get in sync. Judy is a determined do-gooder, and Nick’s sly smirk often belies insecurities and a desire to save his tail when things get tough. But through some diligent investigating, they uncover a surprise guest that no one in Zootopia has seen in a century: a snake! 

Yes, for those wondering why Zootopia’s population has always seemed so warm-blooded, Zootopia 2 highlights even more of the species class divides surrounding its origins. A century ago, a horrifying snake attack led to all reptiles being ostracized from Zootopia, after which a series of biomes were erected to ensure all mammals live together in harmony. But at a gala celebrating the city’s hundredth anniversary and the esteemed Lynxley family who founded Zootopia, a blue pit viper named Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan) crashes the party, stealing a journal that might hold the key to proving his family’s innocence. Gary’s theft is discovered by Judy and Nick but, after corrupt Lynxley patriarch Milton (David Strathairn) frames them for a crime, both cops are forced to go on the run. Their mission: find the snake, learn what he’s up to, and hopefully clear their names in the process. 

For nostalgia’s sake, Judy and Nick run into some old faces like the Godfather-inspired Mr. Big and celebrity singer Gazelle (Shakira, again providing the movie’s catchy musical number). There’s also a whole menagerie of new characters sprinkled throughout this tale, including conspiracy podcaster beaver Nibbles (Fortune Feimster), actor-turned-bought-out mayor Brian Winddancer (Patrick Warburton), and a young lynx named Pawbert (Andy Samberg). Nor does the sequel skip on action, quickly jumping from a new location to a chase scene as it dazzles viewers with how far back the conspiracy to erase reptiles from Zootopia’s history stretches. However, the worldbuilding feels slightly underbaked. Frustratingly, despite introducing some unique locales like the boggy Marsh Market, we never get a fuller picture of the reptiles’ co-existence with mammals before Zootopia’s founding or their expulsion beyond some exposition dumps. This backstory deserves to be explored more thoroughly than what the movie offers, even if Quan’s goofy performance will quickly put viewers on the side of this determined snake thief. 

Similarly, Judy and Nick’s relationship manages to entertain despite treading familiar cop movie territory. She might have moral convictions, but Judy’s need to prove herself as a cop results in several near-death encounters and death-defying risks, often dismissing Nick’s opinion on playing things safe. He feels a bit railroaded in the partnership, but he also cares about Judy, even if Nick struggles with opening up about these feelings. This plot isn’t new, but it still feels like a natural evolution of where these two go from their last movie. The rapport between Goodwin and Bateman is what truly holds their IP together, making the funny moments hilarious and trope-y moments just a little less formulaic. 

In the realm of being a comedy, Zootopia 2 has more hits than misses, with the best jokes involving animal-themed visual gags and parodies of other media. The latter range in effectiveness—a third-act homage to The Shining is absolutely wild, while scenes mocking Disney itself (a blatant Disney+ account) are less so. These feel-good comedic vibes, combined with stunning and detailed animation, are certain to leave families entertained. But when it comes to enriching the culture of Zootopia itself, Zootopia 2 could have used a bit more bite – the non-venomous kind, of course.