Friday Films: Hoppers

A film screening of Hoppers (2026); 1 hr. 44 m; Rated PG; closed captioning available.

Animal lover Mabel seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to 'hop' her consciousness into a life-like robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals. As she uncovers mysteries in the animal world beyond anything she could have imagined, Mabel befriends charismatic beaver King George and must rally the entire animal kingdom to face a major, imminent human-threat: smooth-talking local mayor Jerry Generazzo.

"At its very big heart, the film is about empathy for others of all species, underscored by a welcome diversity of its characters. The film is sensitive in its handling of Mabel’s grief (watch what happens to her grandmother’s jacket), her falling back into anger when she is scared, and how that impairs her ability to find a solution. We get to rethink our original ideas about Jerry and his commitment to his community, too." - Nell Minow, Roger Ebert