Like any other human being, I try to avoid disappointment as much as possible. Sometimes, this involves keeping my expectations low for movies I haven’t watched and books I haven’t read.
So although I’m a big Disney fan, I tried to keep my growing excitement in check when Disney Animation Studios announced that its 53rd animated film would be “Frozen,” based on “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen. As I walked into the theater, I felt both excitement and stubborn apprehension, and was rewarded with more of the former.
“Frozen” is the first Disney animated film co-directed by a woman, Jennifer Lee, who also wrote the screenplay and previously co-wrote Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph” and Chris Buck, who co-directed Disney’s “Tarzan” and has worked on several animated films. Kristen Bell voices the main character Anna, the chipper princess of the kingdom of Arendelle, who is lovingly awkward and clumsy. Idina Menzel voices Anna’s elegant and reserved sister Elsa, who has the power to create ice and snow.
Unable to control her powers, Elsa covers Arendelle in snow and runs away, and Anna decides to go on a quest to find her and stop the winter. Joining Anna on her adventure is ice vendor Kristoff, voiced by Jonathan Groff, and a magical snowman named Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad.
We all expect great animation from Disney and Frozen delivers it. The visual star of this film is the ice. Elsa’s magic sparkles and glitters on the screen. From the fairy-dust-like sparkles in the snow, to the subtle reflections of the characters on the ice, the animation is spectacular, realistic but not too shiny. What really stands out are the details: floating snowflakes, Anna’s freckles, the visible textures of rocks, clothing and hair. Everything is so perfectly rendered that it’s easy to see the love and care that went into creating the film.
Matching the brilliant animation is equally brilliant voice acting. Menzel and Bell play their roles with gusto and enthusiasm. It’s easy to hear they didn’t hold back in the recording studio. The juxtaposition of their exquisite singing voices balances their characters: Menzel is a known Broadway star and she gives Elsa strength and maturity, and Bell’s voice is clear, bright and joyous. Groff’s nonchalant performance of Kristoff works perfectly for the character’s combination of the boy next door and the gruff, independent mountain man archetypes. Especially noteworthy is Gad’s performance as Olaf. He pulls off the loyal sidekick role in an enjoyable performance that’s sweet but not sappy and funny but not obnoxious.
“Frozen” is a throwback to the classical Disney musical fairy tale with eight numbers written by husband-and-wife songwriting duo Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Lopez co-penned the tunes to Broadways hits “Avenue Q” and “The Book of Mormon,” so it’s not surprising that the songs are distinctly modern Broadway, not epic musical like other Disney musicals. Two standouts are the upbeat, dance-around-the-house-while-lip-syncing “Love is an Open Door” and the bittersweet “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” which sets up the story wonderfully.
The most sparkling musical gem is “Let It Go,” Elsa’s theme, sung by Menzel with such power and emotion that it tells us everything we need to know about Elsa for the rest of the film. I wouldn’t be surprised if this song were nominated for an Oscar for best original song; it’s that amazing.
But great music and eye-popping animation is nothing without a good story, and “Frozen” delivers with a sibling relationship so dynamic that it changes a kingdom. The story is driven by their behavior toward each other as well as the things they don’t share with each other, creating the story’s conflicts and making viewers fall in love with the characters. Anna and Elsa are in constant emotional and physical action and they never let the story get boring or predictable. A Disney film has never explored a sibling relationship before, and I hope Anna and Elsa’s love for each other makes other animation producers see the emotional potential of sibling relationships.
Like Disney’s other fairy tale films, there is romance, and it’s sweet and realistic — never overtly saccharine or dramatic. But romance isn’t central to the plot, so the story transcends the typical “love conquers all” message to include the power and importance of hope, family unity and the kind of bravery that selflessly loves and opens up to others.
The initial development of the problem and the ending tie up little too quickly, which may frustrate viewers who crave more detailed backstories. This pacing works as the middle is so action-packed and engaging that it balances the beginning, which would drag if it were longer. This is not true of the quick ending, which could have used some more character development and action. But, though it’s not ideal, the finale is hard not to smile at.
“Frozen” is a wonderful addition to the Disney animated canon and recalls Disney classics without copying them. It refreshes the Disney magic we’ve come to know, making us fall in love with it all over again.
Even if you prefer warmer temperatures, you’ll love “Frozen,” which premieres on Thanksgiving Day.
