The Movie Guru: ‘Hoppers’ an emotional delight, while ‘Scream 7’ feels tired

Hoppers (in theaters)

The best cartoons are zany fun with a message that hits you square in the heart.

That’s definitely the case with “Hoppers,” the latest from Pixar. It’s got plenty of animal-related hijinks, including a delightful sequence with a flying shark, but there’s also a beautiful message about embracing your community. It’s also wonderfully imaginative, with a lot of fun world building and a surprisingly satisfying ending. It’s the best movie the studio has managed in awhile, and if you love animals or weird little girls, you have to put this movie on your to-watch list.

The movie focuses on Mabel, a young woman desperately trying to save her beloved glen from being destroyed by construction. When an unusual science project gives her the chance to talk directly to the animals, it triggers an adventure that spreads to include both the entire forest and the nearby town. Can Mabel help save the day and find out where her friends truly are?

The movie itself acknowledges the fact that it’s basically “Avatar” with animals, but “Hoppers” has none of the other movie’s questionable politics. It keeps its message simple but powerful — the best way we can get things done and help the world is by working together. And, you never know where you might find your best friend.

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Also, keep an eye out for animals with tiny crowns. They’re nothing but trouble.

Grade: Three and a half stars

Scream 7 (in theaters)

Even the best movie franchise can get tired.

That’s definitely the case with “Scream 7,” which has gone back to its roots only to spin its wheels. The clever genre skewering it became famous for is nowhere to be found, replaced by a ham-fisted attempt at depth that feels like something it should be making fun of. Scream queen Neve Campbell is as good as ever, and Courtney Cox gets one of the movie’s best moments. The movie around them, though, is little more than a forgettable slasher flick. It’s a decent horror movie, but “Scream” movies used to hold themselves to higher standards.

After the last two films attempted a soft reboot with mostly new characters, the seventh entry focuses back on Campbell’s Sidney Prescott. Now married with a daughter of her own, Sidney has attempted to forget all about her past encounters with serial killers. Unsurprisingly, the universe finds a way to bring Ghostface back into her life.

Though Campbell and Cox are welcome returns, other familiar faces don’t land nearly as well. Matthew Lillard’s reappearance is, sadly, the most wasted opportunity. While Lillard tries valiantly to bring the right kind of energy to the movie, the script does nothing to support him. Other returns barely even register.

Even more disappointing is the reveal of who Ghostface is. In previous entries, finally discovering who the killer is shocking and fun and completely alters your understanding of what came before. Here, the killer’s “this is why I did it” monologue feels like a last-ditch effort to squeeze a theme into the movie. Worse, it’s boring.

Sorry, “Scream” series. You’re not the movies you used to be.

Grade: Two stars

Jenniffer Wardell is an award-winning movie critic and member of the Denver Film Critics Society and the Utah Film Critics Association. Drop her a line at themovieguruslc@gmail.com.