Hosts: JR Sparrow & Stacey Sparrow Guest Intro: King Jerm (Poddin' Saved Our Marriage)
This Week's Review: Hoppers (Disney/Pixar, 2026)
This week JR Sparrow flies solo to review Pixar's latest animated feature, Hoppers — currently the 4th highest-grossing film of 2026with a $375 million box office haul on a $150 million budget.
What's it about? Hoppers follows Mabel Tanaka, a young girl raised near a forest by her grandmother, who becomes deeply connected to nature and wildlife. When Mabel is transformed into a beaver, she finds herself navigating a world of animal kingdoms — insects, amphibians, fish, reptiles, and birds — each with their own rulers, agendas, and comedy. The film tackles themes of government, environmental activism, neglect, and loss, wrapped in stunning Pixar animation.
Director: Daniel Chung End Credits Song: Save the Day by Scissor
Critical Reception:
- Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
- Metacritic: 73/100 (based on 46 critics)
- CinemaScore: A
- RogerEbert.com (Neil Minow): ★★★★ — "Pixar at its very best"
JR's Take: A well-crafted, thoughtful film that demands your full attention from the start. The plot twists are earned, the ensemble voice cast is stellar, and the writing subverts villain expectations in a refreshing way. Best suited for teens and adults, though younger kids will enjoy the humor and colorful animal characters. Features a standout performance from Meryl Streep.
2026 Box Office Rankings (as of April 28):
- Super Mario Galaxy
- Pegasus 3
- Project Hail Mary
- Hoppers
- Weathering Heights
Find us on Threads — drop your takes, requests, and what movies you want covered next!
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