Zootopia 2

The best part of this movie is the visual jokes and puns. Some of them are genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. And some of the verbal jokes hit the mark as well. But a lot of the rest of this film comes across as very boilerplate animated feature: not especially clever, not particularly innovative in terms of its visuals, and built too much around presenting bland homilies at the end of the story. You get the sense throughout the running time that the point of this exercise from the start was to preach to the audience, and to make the sermon more palatable by wrapping it up in a number of revved up action sequences. In that sense, it’s kind of like how you give a pill to an animal (appropriately enough): you stick the pill into some squishy treat and hope the creature will swallow it whole. To be sure, the film is not boring or without entertainment value; you can watch the movie and stay mostly engaged from start to finish. You might find yourself straying a bit here and there, and you might consider the plot to be low stakes and slightly nonsensical—but most of those watching it will be children anyway, and we all know how uncritical they can be. So it’s mostly harmless amusement, though hardly anything more than that, and certainly nothing particularly memorable. It’s not all happening at this zoo, but I do believe there’s just enough here to make do. 

The Zookeeper's Wife

An old showbiz adage: never work with children or animals. There's a passel of each in this film, which as it turns out is not really the problem here. More daunting for the filmmakers--and by turns the audience--is the fact that we've seen this story, or at least variations on it, many times before. It is, perhaps, not surprising that after 75 years tales of heroism in the face of Holocaust are losing some of their impact. Even the presence of Jessica Chastain--this is very much her vehicle, and she drives it rather well, as always--doesn't entirely lift the proceedings beyond a standard-issue templated story about what a few good people were able to do during WWII. It's disturbing to be jaded about watching stories of remarkable courage in the face of unimaginable dreadfulness, but such is the state of being today, at this point in history this far removed from the focused days and times. It is worth contemplating the (continuing) need for such courage, and you won't do wrong to experience this telling--just don't expect to be blown away by anything presented here.

Zootopia

One can see the clear outlines of the political themes that sit just below the surface of this movie, particularly with regards to the issue of identity politics. (Or should that be identity paw-litics? Couldn’t resist.) But I think it’s best to let that slide and judge the work on its merits as a movie; that is, as a vehicle for telling a story. And this piece earns high marks on that basis: the story is engaging right from the start, it sets up its premise—really, its world—in crisp, neat fashion, and it runs through its narrative with a minimum of missteps and a great deal of smart, funny panache. And, as a bonus, this is one animated film that avoids the pitfall of Familiar Voice Syndrome;  there are some major names in the cast—Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Idris Elba—but none have a voice so distinctive that they are too recognizable. That makes for a more effective cast of characters, which always makes for more effective storytelling—and thus a more effective movie. Finally, it should go without saying, the animation is top notch; that’s standard for the industry these days. All in all, this is a strong effort and well worth the viewer’s time and attention.

Zombieland

This is hardly earth-shatttering stuff. No one was going to be played off at the Oscars for their work in this film. But it's exactly the kind of movie that even the snootiest, most elitist film buff needs to see every so often--a weird, violent, somewhat unhinged work of straight-up cinematic fun. Special props for one classic cameo, and for a closing sequence at an amusement park which is just the kind of inspired, mayhem-packed payoff everyone was waiting for. Indeed--besides zombies, who needs brains?

Zathura

Standard issue, mild juvie entertainment, with a half-and-half feel. Some good stuff (nice visuals, some nice character moments, a blissful lack of skateboards), some bad (the kids are a little grating, the usual product placements). Blend it together an you get a decent, though not especially engaging, movie. Kids will probably like it; if you're uncritical, maybe you will too.

Zero Effect

Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller as a postmodern Holmes and Watson. Most of this movie flies below the radar; things get confused and unfocused when the narrative tries to take a drastic dramatic turn, but most of the movie sticks to providing a healthy dose of knowing smirks. Give it a chance and let it do its work.

Zelig

It's a brilliant concept for a movie: retelling the forgotten story of a "chameleon man" of the '20s and '30s in a "mockumentary" style. The execution is uneven; occasionally it reaches hilarity, though for most of its length Zelig simply maintains an even (though funny) keel. Interestingly, though it is now twenty years old, the movie's period focus--and purposely aged look--keep it from looking overly dated. If only Woody Allen's whole career could have kept itself so fresh.