Movie Review – Frozen

Frozen, like the similar Tangled, is a gorgeously animated picture; but is further evidence that renewing a Disney renaissance is a tough feat. Frozen hits theaters November 26, 2013. Rated PG for some action and mild rude humor.

The Arendelle King, presumably of Norwegian or Scandinavian relation, discovers his daughter Elsa (Idina Menzel) has supernatural freezing abilities, when she accidentally injures her younger sister Anna (Kristen Bell). He summons the help of woodland trolls to remedy his children, only to learn he must keep his eldest a secret from the kingdom and its subjects. The cursed and uncontrollable Elsa is kept secluded from the world, including her sister, until the day of her coronation. The event turns to madness when Elsa’s powers get the best of her and she sends the entire land into an ice age. She flees Arendelle, leaving Anna to save the people and their kingdom.

Walt Disney Animation Studios may not have hit a grand slam here, but it certainly comes close. The animation is beautiful, the character design is magnificent and the action is superb. Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff (as Kristoff) and Josh Gad (as Olaf) lend fabulous voice performances as well. So why then is Frozen not the kickstart entry to revive Disney’s golden age of animated musicals? The music portion of this film (with the exception of “Love Is An Open Door” and “Let It Go”), are uninspiring, forgettable tracks. And Frozen really piles them on in the first half hour, eventually conceding to the surprisingly amusing comedic performance from Olaf the Snowman. Despite my frustrations with the song and dance, I wouldn’t want to deter readers from venturing out to cinemas this Thanksgiving holiday. Frozen offers a heart-warming message. Kids will no doubt fall in love with Olaf, a character I had initially written off in trailers. He fits in perfectly well, as do the apparent Tangled rip-offs, Kristoff and his faithful reindeer. Though it may not reach the ranks of Mermaid or Lion King, Frozen is a step in the right direction.