Hoppers

3 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Pixar is great at making movies about death and anxiety, and that is much appreciated, but the studio's new film Hoppers is a nice change, rambunctious and loony, and yet still powerful and timely. Mabel Tanaka (voiced by Piper Curda) was raised by her grandmother learning to appreciate nature and animals. As the movie opens with a flashback, young Mabel launches a daring plan to free the classroom turtle from captivity. Her plan turns to chaos; one teacher asks of another, "is that the Mabel?" As a 19-year-old she is determined to stop the smarmy Mayor Jerry (voiced by Jon Hamm) from pouring concrete over a beloved glen. She learns that if she can coax beavers to re-populate the area, then the mayor will be forced to cancel his freeway project... More...

The 2026 Best Picture Oscar Nominees Ranked

1. Sinners
2. One Battle After Another
3. Train Dreams
4. The Secret Agent
5. Frankenstein
6. Marty Supreme
7. Sentimental Value
8. F1
9. Bugonia
10. Hamnet

1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps
2. The Life of Chuck
3. Weapons
4. One Battle After Another
5. Superman
6. Captain America: Brave New World
7. Black Bag
8. Sinners
9. A House of Dynamite
10. Wicked: For Good

Jackie Brown (1997)