Film Review: "Hoppers" (2026)

Slow at the start, 10/10 in the all around viewing.

Hoppers couldn’t be a worse title for the beautiful experience that is this movie, directed by Daniel Chong. This was one film I had to stop whatever I was doing and keep watching it to find out what happens. I can’t remember the last time a movie, animated or live action, did that.

Disney bought the rights to Avatar. Pixar borrows the plot, does it better, and openly says in the lead character’s line, “Hey, this is just like Avatar!” That’s something I would do if I had Elon Musk money.

James Cameron’s Avatar is a masterpiece on its own in fairy tale lore. Hoppers makes it wildly entertaining and with stronger social messages. Mr. Cameron, going down as one of the best filmmakers of all time, did it a bit with Dances With Wolves intent. Hoppers is funny, sweet, never stopping. Give me Avatar on a plane and Hoppers for a fun party.

You know that mayor, Jerry Generazzo, has to be based on California governor Gavin Newsom. The man is said to have quietly spent $97,000 on a statue of himself, while alive, while in office.

My single complaint is the lack of hilarious mayor Jerry in the beginning, with the length of time it takes getting the lead’s activism across as a point. With the sequence failing to get signatures for her petition, I felt like I was personally boring myself with getting them in real life in slow motion.

In that moment, you might think, “This movie is too boring. Turn it off.”

And you would be making a mistake. Because it’s so lovely, and I am not going to spoil anything for you. You do not know where the movie is heading. Animated films straying from the setup formula in 2026? Who knew?

I caught this on Disney+ and regret not watching it theatrically.