'Hoppers' Review: Jon Hamm, Meryl Streep elevate Pixar's run-of-the-mill beaver adventure

It's difficult to avoid the reality that Pixar has been in a rut. The house that built "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo" hasn't had a home run original since 2017's "Coco," which is why the Disney-owned studio falls back on tried and true franchise favorites like 2024's "Inside Out 2" and the forthcoming "Toy Story 5."

That's not to say that Pixar should only stick with sequels because they're safe box office hits. Pixar should be taking creative risks that gave us beloved characters like Woody, WALL-E and The Incredibles.