Six years ago, Disney’s Frozen was released, and to say the least, it was an immediate success. Anna and Elsa merchandise flooded stores, exasperated parents endured repeat plays of “Let it Go,” and kids everywhere grew obsessed with the film. The New York Times listed Frozen as one of the top ten most influential films of the decade. Frozen set several records upon its release, including highest grossing musical film, highest grossing animated film, and highest grossing film of 2013. There was even a spike in babies named Elsa.
Fast forward to today, Frozen II follows the same cast of characters from the first film as the group tries to discover the source of Elsa’s powers. Elsa (Idina Menzel), Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Sven (Jonathan Groff), and Olaf (Josh Gad) are led on a thrilling journey into the past by a mysterious voice that Elsa hears calling to her. The sisters discover new things about their kingdom, parents, and Elsa’s powers that threaten everything they hold dear.
There is only one way to describe the animation in this film: Stunning. Everything including Elsa’s snow powers, the costumes and hair, and the landscape of Arendelle is so meticulously detailed that there are moments, particularly in the landscape, where you aren’t sure you are watching an animated film anymore. One sequence in particular during one of Elsa’s songs is especially beautiful, with vividly enchanting fireworks of color dancing across a black backdrop. It doesn’t seem possible to top the animation in Frozen, but Frozen II makes it clear that Disney has assuredly outdone themselves again.
Perfectly paired with the animation sequences are the songs sung by the characters. Songwriters Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, after the popularity of the first film’s soundtrack, returned to write another set of songs for the second installment. They’ve met every expectation set for them by the first film, with everything from a silly 80s rock ballad for Kristoff to a second powerful solo piece for Elsa, the latter of which will surely be nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song.
The one caveat of this sequel that doesn’t quite measure up to all the grandeur is the narrative. It is just magical, funny, and believable enough to entertain a child, but there are quite a few new characters and story elements. As a result, the pace is incredibly rushed, and you leave the theater wondering how that all happened so quickly. At this point, I must confess that I’m a die hard fan of the original Frozen, largely due to the music, animation, themes, and the out of nowhere plot twists that I didn’t see coming. In contrast, the plot in Frozen II is less impressive, and the overarching themes more convoluted, but despite feeling like a racing roller coaster, it still manages to keep me satisfied, albeit relying a lot on humor and cuteness.
My personal expectations for Frozen II were to see pretty things, hear great songs, and to have a good time. While Frozen II isn’t as big or impressive as its predecessor, it’s still a wonderfully fun movie to watch. Filled with friendly humor, great music, and gorgeous animation, Frozen II is truly fun for the whole family. The flaws in the narrative are minor enough to be overlooked if you’re willing to relax and just be entertained. I daresay the animation and music practically makes up for it as well.
4/5 STARS