4K Digital Review of Zootopia 2

 

The first Zootopia is one of my favorite animated films ever. A sequel was inevitable and nine years later, Zootopia 2 has arrived. The movie begins one week after the end of the first film. Nick (Jason Bateman) and Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin) get in trouble for a bust that goes wrong. But while this bust went wrong, they have stumbled upon another mystery that will lead them into further trouble as they continue to investigate it. 

This movie contains a lot of the same DNA of the original, but we get to focus on the relationship between Nick and Judy. You can see that the two have come a long way from the first film. You don't get the bickering of the first film but more of their differences of how to get this case solved. I won't get into any spoilers so you can let the movie unfold on its own.

While almost everyone returns to voice their characters again, there are a lot of new characters. We meet Gary De'Snake (Ke Huy Quan) who is a wonderful addition to the cast. Pawbert Lynxly (Andy Samberg) is a lynx and adds warmth and charm. Mayor Winddancer is voiced by Patrick Warburton in perhaps my favorite character since Kronk. 

If you are a fan of the first movie, then you will like the sequel. It continues the story along without just being a rehash of the first one. The returning characters move forward in their story and the new characters are a welcome addition.

Video:

The streaming 4K video is picture perfect. The colors are bright and bold, the details of the fur, scales, and cloth are all exceptional. Backgrounds are full of details and create a lived in world. A fantastic transfer from Disney.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos track is a wonderful match to the video quality. Dialogue is crisp and clear from the front channels. Environmental sounds surround you and invite you into the world. The amazing songs and soundtrack fill in all the surround channels. Another solid audio track from Disney. 

Bonus Features*

• Featurettes:

o   The Zookeepers — Trot along with writer/director Jared Bush and director Byron Howard for a tour of Walt Disney Animation Studios! Get a behind the scenes look as they open up the doors to meet cast and crew and share about all the work done to bring the movie to life.

o   A City of Stars — Meet the fur-tastic voice actors behind the cast of Zootopia 2 as filmmakers share the joy of having the original cast returning and how each new role found its purr-fect match.

o   Everybody Can Draw! — Sketch along with Benson Shum, Animation Supervisor, as he talks about his role on Zootopia 2 and guides viewers in drawing everyone’s favorite new beaver, Nibbles!

o   Zoo-prising Secrets — Uncover ssssurprising references and characters from some of your favorite Walt Disney Animation Studios films hidden throughout the movie, along with fun facts.

o   Wilde Times in the Booth — Hop inside the recording booth for plenty of laughs and behind-the-scenes fun. See how the hilarious cast brings their characters to life!

o   The Treat Trolley — Meet the cheerful crew behind the Treat Trolley that brings smiles and snacks throughout the halls of Disney Animation to keep the studio artists fueled and energized.

o   "Zoo" Music Video by Shakira — Celebrate friendship and adventure with Shakira in her music video for the movie’s new song, “Zoo.”

• Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut, with an overall introduction by directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard.

• What's In the Box?

• Where Are They Now?
• Animal Hospital

• Welcome to the Team

• Desert Festival

• Clawhauser Tracks Judy

• A Plight at the Museum

• Clawhauser's Family

Conclusion:

A fun movie filled with laughs and heart. We get wonderful returning characters and great new characters to propel the story forward. Lots of great bonus material as well will make this a more than worthy addition to your movie library.

Zootopia 2 is now available on digital. It will be available on DVD, 4K UHD on March 3rd.

*The movie was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of this review. The review is strictly my own opinion.* 

4K Digital Review of Rental Family

 

Rental Family is a charming "feel good" film about human connections and a movie that is sorely needed at this time. Phillip (Brendan Fraser) is an American actor, living in Japan. His career is not going so great. He takes a gig to be a sad American, where he catches the eye of Shinji (Takehiro Hira), the owner of a "rental family" business. At this type of business, customers hire actors to fill in roles in their lives. 

Phillip isn't sure about taking this job but once he does his first gig he is hooked. But as he takes on further roles, he becomes emotionally invested and can see that he is making a positive difference in these people's lives. Two of these clients will also change Phillip forever.

The first is an elderly man, Kikuo (Akira Emoto), an aging actor with dementia. Phillip has been assigned to be a reporter who is seeking an interview. As the two men talk, the bond becomes strong. The second client is Mia (Shannon Mahina Gorman). Her mother needs a father to help place Mia into a private school. Phillip and Mia also develop a strong bond. Phillip never had a father in his own life and feels the paternal relationship between him and Mia. 

As the relationships between Kikuo and Mia flourish, Phillip can see how tricky it can be toying with people's lives and hearts. The ideas of finding connection and purpose while also feeling completely lost in life is apparent. It is a heavy, dramatic film filled with powerful performances that will stay with you long after the movie is over.      

Video:

The streaming 4K video is crisp and sharp. Skin tones are accurate and clothing is detailed. The background environments, both indoors and outdoors are sharp and clear. Another wonderful transfer from Searchlight and Disney.  

Audio:

The audio mix is subtle which is perfect for a movie such as this. The dialogue is crystal clear from the front channels. The environmental effects are subtle and immerse you in the scene. The beautiful score will surround you, envelope you, haunt you. 

Bonus Materials:

• Featurette: Rental Family Revealed — Go behind the scenes with Brendan Fraser, director HIKARI, and the Japanese cast as they explore friendship, culture, found family, and filming in Japan in this intimate look at the making of Rental Family.

 

• Deleted/Extended Scenes:
• Columbus
• Crying Session
• Apology
• Aiko’s First Client
• Clearbright
• Tickets
• Audition
• Phone Call
• Final Montage

Conclusion:

Rental Family is a deeply moving film that made me question my own role in life. Simple and honest storytelling with powerful performances throughout. A quiet charming film that will stay with you. Some good bonus features that would have done even better with an audio commentary. A highly recommended addition to your movie library.

4K Digital Review: Predator: Badlands

 

After Prey, I found myself fully vested in the Predator franchise once again. Predator: Killer of Killers added to that. That now brings us to Predator: Badlands, one of my most highly anticipated Predator movies ever. It did not fail to disappoint. By focusing on the Predator species known as the Yautja, we get this wonderful look into their culture and family structure.

Here we focus on Dek, a Yautja youth, who is considered to be the runt of the family by his father. His father wants him dead, but his brother tries to stop him. Dek, wants to prove he is a warrior and sets out to hunt a Kalisk, an apex predator on the planet of Genna.

Literally everything on Genna is out to kill you. Dek struggles but then comes across Thia, a Weyland-Yutani android. Even though she has been cut in half, Thia is remarkably resourceful and agrees to help Dek track the Kalisk. She also wants to meet up with the others from the corporation that are also on the planet.  The unlikely pair then meet a friendly creature that Thia names Bud. At the same time, Tessa, Thia's android "sister" has been retrieved by the corporation.

The corporation has other plans for the Kalisk. Dek and his friends go against the Wetland-Yutani corporation. I am curious to see how or if the Predator franchise will merge with the Alien franchise once again. In Alien: Earth we see some of the species that the Weyland-Yutani corporation are searching for. 

Video:

The 4K video is stunning. Details are sharp and crisp. Take a look at the characters and the environments. The details on the armor and weapons that Dek carries, the colors on the planet, the way the fur moves on Bud are all wonderful examples of the video quality.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack matched the video quality. The environmental sounds are immersive and completely surround you. The dialogue is crystal clear from the front channels. 

Bonus Features:

• Deleted & Pre-Visualization Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary:
• Sand Trap – An early animatic version of Dek’s very different first encounter with Thia.
• Squirt Canyon – The full version of Dek and Thia traversing the water-filled trench while trying to survive Genna…and each other.
• Tessa vs. Abe – Tessa faces off against a superior synth in this deleted scene and storyline.
• Razor Grass – The original previsualization of Dek, Thia, and Bud’s first hunt together…sort of.
• The Outpost – Thia takes Dek to a small Weyland-Yutani field facility where they experience a few things that ended up being used elsewhere in the final film.
• Super Power Loader Extended – Special additional moments during Dek’s climactic final battle with the Super Power Loader and the Kalisk.

 

• Featurettes:
• Embodying the Predator – Meet the talented team of designers, performers, and effects artists responsible for bringing one of cinema’s most terrifying creatures to life on screen in ways we’ve never seen before!
• Authentic Synthetics – Get up close and personal with synths Thia and Tessa as star Elle Fanning walks us through the process of crafting two characters who may look the same but have evolved in surprisingly unique ways.
• Building the Badlands – With razor sharp grass, killer trees, and terrifying animals, never has a planet been more deadly than Genna. Uncover how a team of artisans built this threatening landscape, transforming real locations into the dangerous environments seen on screen.
• Dek of the Yautja – For the first time ever, director Dan Trachtenberg has given audiences an extended peek at Predator culture. Follow the evolution as filmmakers reveal the process behind developing the Yautja’s home world, spacecraft, and family dynamics.  
• Audio Commentary: Watch the film with audio commentary by Director Dan Trachtenberg, Producer Ben Rosenblatt, Director of Photography Jeff Cutter and Stunt Coordinator Jacob Tomuri.

Conclusion:

Predator: Badlands is a fun, visual spectacle with good bonus features. It takes the franchise in a different direction and I look forward to see what comes next. Highly recommended addition to your library.

Predator: Badlands is available now on digital.

*The movie was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of this review. The review is strictly my opinion.*

IT’S TIME TO RAISE THE CURTAIN ON ‘THE MUPPET SHOW’ AS OFFICIAL TRAILER IS REVEALED

 

• The official trailer for “The Muppet Show” was revealed today, giving audiences a brand-new look at the highly anticipated special event featuring just-announced guest star Maya Rudolph, alongside special guest star Sabrina Carpenter and executive producer/guest star Seth Rogen.

• Premiere Info: “The Muppet Show” returns Feb. 4 for a triumphant special event on Disney+ (12:00 a.m. PST / 3:00 a.m. EST) and ABC (9:00 p.m. EST/PST).

• Music: “The Muppet Show Theme (2026)” single will be available Feb. 4 and is performed by The Muppets and produced by GRAMMY® and Emmy® Award-winner Bill Sherman. 

• Background on “The Muppet Show”: The original series “The Muppet Show,” created by Jim Henson, ran from 1976 through 1981 and aired in over 100 countries, featuring notable guest stars, including Elton John, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, Gladys Knight, Liza Minelli, Paul Simon and many others. During its run, the series earned Emmy, GRAMMY, Peabody, BAFTA and numerous other awards. In a 1978 story, Time magazine called it "the most popular television entertainment now being produced on Earth." In 2026, “The Muppet Show” will celebrate its 50th anniversary. All five seasons of “The Muppet Show” are currently available to stream on Disney+.  

• Veteran Muppet performers Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman and Matt Vogel will perform the majority of the iconic Muppet characters in this production, supported by a talented team of additional performers. Dave Goelz, who has performed with The Muppets for over 50 years, was one of the performers on the original “The Muppet Show” and originated the characters Gonzo and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, among many others.