Definitely not standard-issue

Rating: Null/10 (5 March 2016)

Well, the trailers did make it seem assembly line like. Surprise, surprise: this one's got heart, and brains, to boot...And it does help that its themes are as timely and topical as the ones espoused in the Pixar master-work, 'Wall-E'.
Watched this one on(L)I(e)max 3D. Good projection, decent seating, 3D experience worth the surcharge.
I think the predominant theme underlying the entire take is the prevalence of prejudices, preconceived notions, and how characters with heart (read, courage) can overcome those and see the truth lying beneath, whether/not they want to see it.
Now, though I'm gonna point out my disappointment with the flick, I feel the intent deserves points on its own (which its sure raking up at the box office). Gotta make that reference once again here - this one's almost as ambitious as the masterful 'Wall-E', albeit more in terms of intent rather than content. If only....
Now, this movie does many things right, in terms of putting us in the middle of an unfolding tale of an ambitious underdog- type (typical mainstream movie trope, disappointingly so, imho), who, for all intents and purposes, is our window into this alternate universe where humans don't figure (an interesting question actually..are we extinct in 'Zootopia'?). To me, answering that question would have made for a far more interesting movie, but that's a separate topic.
Now, most of the entire movie is curiously framed as a buddy cop mystery scenario (another trope used both in mainstream cinema and in Indies, perhaps to better effect in the latter), & that might put a few people off, especially those who've seen this scenario better explored in superior movies ('Kiss kiss bang bang' comes to mind, and 'Lethal Weapon' while it was still fresh - both having Shane Black in common), who've been expecting something different here.
The voice-work by named actors is pretty good, and Jason Bateman proves that he pretty much owns anything he's in, even if he's given cheesy lines for an endearing character, but one who's bogged down by utter predictability.
But, for me, the lack of anything substantial, and the main plot just taking off a few minutes before it's curtains was the most disappointing thing of all, in addition to, payoffs bring undeserved as well as underserved, along with comeuppances being unearned too (my comparisons? Most Pixar works using the Lasseter name, including the reviled 'Brave'). The McGuffin used, I'd perhaps one of the weakest ever.
The movie also goes fully bland mainstream in the selection of its color palette, 3d and musical score choices. To me, that smacked of studio interference at many junctures. Even the mainstream trope thrills don't really pump adrenaline that most Pixar works are known to (Finding Nemo, Incredibles, the aforementioned Wall-E, the inferior Cars and Brave......).
To me, the condition and execution of the action set- pieces was borderline bland, as was the villain and the motivation, and the supremely disappointing/underwhelming denouement.
Keeping all the negatives listed above in perspective, I find it curious that this one's getting a heavy push from RT etc. though it's not in Pixar league, in spite of some pedigree.
And what's Idris Elba doing this year in every Disney flick - this one, 'Jungle Book' and 'Finding Dory'.
Also, this one gets a day-date release here, while the (apparently) superior Kung fu Panda 3 might make it's easy here only after a month? Something's not right.
Could have been really great. A huge missed opportunity, imho.
But - the scene with the Sloths at the DMV, is w0rth the price of admission.