Frozen II
- A more than worthy sequel to a modern day Disney classic, Frozen II does almost everything right in its return to Arendelle.
Full Disclosure: Frozen took the world by storm upon its release in 2013, capturing the hearts and minds of little girls across the globe. Since I do not fall even remotely close into that particular demographic, I didn’t get around to seeing it until 2015. Once I did see it though, I really, really liked it. I believe it’s the best Disney animated feature since the Disney Renaissance of the late 80’s and 90’s (this doesn’t include Pixar, of course). I always temper my expectations when it comes to tentpole sequels, but when I saw that the whole squad was returning (directors, writer, actors, etc.), I had high hopes.
Review
Frozen II hits all the marks. It’s everything you want in a sequel. Simply put, if you liked the first one, you’ll like this one. All of your favorite characters return and are expanded upon, from Anna & Elsa to Kristoff & Sven and, of course, Olaf the snowman. All are voiced by the actors from the first one, giving a sense of comfort and continuity to the story. Jennifer Lee returns as the sole credited screenwriter, and husband and wife songwriting team Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez once again pen a few songs that are sure to turn in to ear worms for parents for years to come. To have such a massive crew come together to return for a sequel six years after the original is such an anomaly in the film industry these days. It means that the people involved really care about the story they’re telling. (I’m sure Disney added a few zeros to their respective paychecks too, but that’s beside the point.)
Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) return as Disney’s most beloved pair of sisters. Their indomitable love for one another once again gets put to the test in Frozen II.
For me, the Frozen franchise begins and ends with the voice talents of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel. Yes, the visuals are gorgeous, the story is great, and the songs are catchy, but this series wouldn’t be what it is without those two actresses. Kristen Bell’s effortless, natural quirky effervescence is absolutely contagious; and it’s only magnified by the flawless animation of her character. Her eyes being ten times the size of a real-life human being allows for Bell’s expressions and charm to shine through. While Idina Menzel’s Elsa is much more stoic and reserved than her onscreen sister, that’s by design. They compliment each other perfectly.
Let me just say this: Idina Menzel can sing her fucking ass off! It’s no revelation, I know, but hearing her sing in Dolby surround sound in a movie theater is a real experience. Her crescendos are nothing short of spine-tingling, especially in the song “Into the Unknown”, which is the closest thing to “Let It Go” that Frozen II has on offer. It’s definitely the best song from the new soundtrack and is almost guaranteed an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. It’s a slow-building, haunting, yet uplifting anthem about shedding your fears, leaving your comfort zone and taking a big risk. As I write this, I’m listening to it on Spotify and I’m still getting goosebumps. I’m sure it’ll be in my head for the next 24 hours or so.
Joining the cast of talented singers for Frozen II is Evan Rachel Wood, who plays Anna and Elsa’s late mother, Queen Iduna. I’ve known she’s had a great set of pipes since she starred in the Beatles musical film Across the Universe, and she shows them off again in two important songs here.
Although Frozen II has its fair share of memorable songs, it’s damn near impossible to replicate the magic of songs like “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Let It Go”. The sequel has a few standouts, but they don’t quite hold up to their predecessors.
Yup! The whole gang’s back, and they’re as funny and charming as ever!
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) is a refreshing addition to the main cast as Lieutenant Destin Mattias, a soldier undyingly loyal to the Kingdom of Arendelle. He’s equal parts fierce and funny. It’s a hard balance to maintain, but he does it very well. Frozen II does a great job of adding some new characters, but still focusing on the core relationships established in the first one. It’s where Disney’s recent sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil failed miserably. Frozen II deftly expands on the characters as they grow and change as people (snowmen and reindeer too). It also does a skillful job of world-building and diving deeper into the mythology of the Frozen universe.
The plot is, however, a bit convoluted for a kid’s movie. There are a few too many twists and turns throughout that had me scrambling to keep up at times. It could have been simplified a bit. The songs, a stunning color palette, and quickly-paced action sequences are more than enough to entertain the little ones though.
Last note before spoilers: stay through the end credits.
Spoilers Ahead
While the relationship between the two sisters remains the beating heart of the story, Anna’s romance with Kristoff is a major subplot that’s both heartwarming and hilarious.
Like it’s predecessor, Frozen II has a villain problem. One criticism I had of Frozen was that Hans’ third act heel turn came out of nowhere and didn’t really serve the story. The problem with the villain in Frozen II lies in the fact that, well… there really isn’t one; not an external one, anyway. It’s mostly about Elsa’s internal struggle and discovering who she really is. It’s a story worth telling, but there should have been an external personification of that notion to balance the internal battle. Sure, there are obstacles along the way (the mist, the cute little fire lizard, the earth giants, the raging sea, etc.), but no real tangible antagonist. The closest thing to a “bad guy” was Anna and Elsa’s grandfather, but he’d already been dead for thirty years, so he posed no threat to the characters in the story. The fact that the generation-long conflict between Arendelle and the forrest-dwellers was just a giant series of lies and misunderstandings was a bit of a letdown, even though it does ostensibly speak to how most wars begin in the real world.
Disney has a long and rich history of fantastic comic relief sidekicks. From the Seven Dwarves to Timon and Pumbaa to Hei Hei the rooster, there have always been those loyal friends of our hero who bring levity to serious matters. That said, Olaf isn’t one of my favorites. He has his moments (his reenactment of the entire plot of the first movie for the people in the enchanted forest was hilarious), but he’s more of an annoyance than a useful sidekick. I do, however, love the earnestness that Josh Gad brings to the character, and even though I knew Disney wasn’t really going to kill him off, his “death” in Anna’s loving arms was truly touching.
This is the second time in as many movies that Frozen has pulled the “Elsa is dead” fake out. Yawn. This had no emotional resonance for me. Disney would never kill off one it’s most profitable princesses. How would the actress who plays her at Disneyland explain her presence to a kid who saw her die? Does any little girl want a doll of a dead princess? Come on! Disney has zero qualms with ruthlessly killing parents. They’ve been murdering parents left right and center like it’s going out of style for almost a century, but never their beloved and exceedingly marketable princesses. It’d be financial suicide.
All in all, Frozen II was a really good sequel that exceeded my expectations. It left me wanting more. The world and characters that they’ve created are fascinating and I’m looking forward to seeing how they develop in the inevitable third installment of the Frozen series.
This sequence was a masterpiece in animation.
5 Quick Hits
The scene where Elsa tames the unruly water horse was one of the most enthralling and spellbinding sequences of animation that I’ve ever seen. Truly, that’s no exaggeration. It was intense, compelling, and beautiful. It was incredibly well done and that sequence alone could make Frozen II a frontrunner for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards next year.
Elsa’s line towards the end when she asks Anna, “Do you wanna build a snowman?” and resurrects Olaf really played my heartstrings. It was a perfect callback to the first movie that seemed so natural and not at all forced. I’m willing to overlook the whole “water has memory” thing because it was such a beautiful moment.
When the closing credits started to roll, the film received a rousing round of applause from everyone in the theater. I love when that happens. That’s what the art of filmmaking is all about. It’s evident that this series has had a profound effect on people. Even though it’s been a full six years since the original, absence makes the heart grow fonder. It’s a lesson the rest of Hollywood could learn from, but won’t. They gotta keep pumping out those stale reboots and sequels at a feverish pace for reasons I still can’t wrap my head around.
Despite not having a voice of his own, Sven the reindeer is my favorite character. His expressions make the need for a voice superfluous, and the fact that Kristoff speaks for him makes him all the more endearing. Sven has all the qualities you look for in an animal sidekick: loyalty, bravery, determination, cuteness, and he’s not afraid to call Kristoff out on his bullshit from time to time.
Elsa abdicating the throne and naming Anna her successor as Queen of Arendelle was a great ending. Elsa doesn’t belong in the “normal” world. Her new role as the guardian of the forest suits her perfectly. Queen Anna and King Kristoff (Prince Consort maybe? I don’t know the inner-workings and machinations of the politics of Arendelle.) are sure to have their troubles as new young rulers, but Anna is a personable and determined young woman who fits the role quite well. It’s a classic happy ending for all involved.
