Anthony's Film Review - Frozen (2013)

Frozen is one of the better animated Disney movies in the 21st century...

If you're concerned that Disney's animated films are going stale and will never match the glory of previous decades, think again. Its 2010 animated film Tangled marked a milestone, being the 50th feature-length animated film the studio produced, and that one was pretty good. If done right, Disney-spun fairy tales can still enchant the audience young and old. With that, I'd like to talk about a Disney film that's even better and that ensures the animation studio has life: the 2013 feature Frozen. It's a movie that, I admit, I did not see right away upon its release, but once I finally did, I completely understood the excitement around it.

First off, I was impressed by the story's introduction. In the land of Arendelle, the king and queen have two daughters, Anna and Elsa. These two little girls have a sweet and close relationship as sisters, even with Elsa's innate magical power: the ability to create ice. However, it's a spell she cannot control. As a result, the king and queen have no choice but to isolate Elsa from the rest of the kingdom, and even from Anna, for everyone's safety. Sadly, this means Anna and Elsa grow up while seldom being in the same room together, all the way through to the death of their parents.

Now, as young women, Elsa is ready to be coronated as queen while Anna remains a royal princess. The two sisters still communicate, though with a bit of awkwardness given that Elsa had spent so much time in isolation. But then, during a ballroom ceremony, the two get into an argument that, unfortunately, forces Elsa to lose control of her ice-creating magic. Out of fear and shame, Elsa runs away, as the ice spell spreads out and eventually throws Arendelle into a sudden winter. Anna goes on a quest to reach her runaway sister, in hopes of finding a way to reverse the ice and snow.

What I love about this film is that the central conflict is really about the relationship between Anna and Elsa. It's about one trying to mend a rift between them. Also, this isn't a love-hate relationship where one person has gone on the path of evil. Rather, one is driven by genuine concern because the other, who is still clearly capable of love, is overcome by fear of accidental destruction and subsequent persecution. All of this is presented so deeply in front of us that the issue of ending the winter in Arendelle, though connected to this, feels so secondary. In fact, one element of the Disney formula is heavily downplayed. There is a villain in this movie, but it's revealed only in a clever surprise twist late in the story. And even after that, it becomes a very minor thing, because the story is ultimately all about Anna and Elsa.

Before I forget, let me talk about some of the supporting characters. There are really four who stand out: two handsome men and two lovable nonhumans. There is Hans, a prince from another land who experiences an attraction for Anna, and vice versa. During Anna's journey to find Elsa, she encounters Kristoff, a young mountaineer whose skills are essential for her. Kristoff's reindeer Sven may not be a talking character, but he is still an animal we can come to love. The last character provides the contrast of being a talking nonhuman: Olaf the snowman. There's not much to say about him, other than that he is what you'd expect in a Disney movie: someone funny and cute to help bring humor to the story.

Like many Disney animated films, Frozen is also a musical. There are plenty of song and dance numbers throughout, not too many and not too few either. Many have a nice rhythm so that one could possibly become engrossed in the song itself. Even then, there's just one song that truly stands out, so much that many kids have recited this song after seeing this movie. I'm talking of course about the song "Let It Go." It is performed by Elsa, who comes to the realization that she no longer needs to restrain her ice magic. Instead, she can just cast that magic freely as much as she pleases. Her carefree expression and creation of a majestic ice palace provide a powerful visual that accompanies the song well.

Going back to the story, it's written quite well overall. Each moment of the plot logically leads into the next. The characters' motivations come into conflict in interesting ways, forcing some to rethink their next course of action. If you think that's great, just wait until the movie reaches its climax. This is where things come together and one more thing is cleverly revealed. The ending that follows is just as nice.

Frozen is, hands down, a nicely done Disney movie. It's wonderful for the family, with a story that appeals to everyone and plenty of memorable characters whom even the kids will love. Even better is that girls will definitely love it. Both Anna and Elsa are characters everyone can relate to. They ultimately have a heart of gold and are so lifelike in terms of how they deal with life. Like I said, if you feel Disney animation is on the decline, think again. Take a moment to watch this film and enjoy what it has to offer. Or put another way, just do one with that hesitation you may be having: let it go.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Frozen, visit the Internet Movie Database.

In addition, check out my review of Frozen II.