Frozen Review

2013 was a pretty weak year for animated movies. There were a few I found enjoyable, but none that stuck out to me as great. It wasn't until 2014 that I got around to seeing Disney's new film Frozen. And let me tell you, I wish I hadn't waited so long.

So for those of you who don't know, Frozen is about two sisters who are a part of the royal family of the fictional kingdom of Arendelle. One of the sisters, Elsa, is in possession of magical powers that allow her to generate ice and snow on command. However, an accident involving Elsa's younger sister, Anna, causes the royal family to take drastic measures in order to protect Anna, and others, from Elsa's powers. Eventually, Elsa runs away from the kingdom because of her magical abilities, and Anna sets out to essentially save her from herself. Obviously, there are obstacles along the way that make up the basic plot of Frozen. That may sound like a cheesy Disney storyline, and there are elements of it that are. Nonetheless, this was a thoroughly entertaining movie.

Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel provide the voices for the two sisters, and they do a great job, especially when singing the songs. There were a number of impressive vocal performances by those two. The songs themselves were also very catchy. Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, and Santino Fontana round out the rest of the major cast. They all do very nice jobs in their roles. Nothing to complain about there.

The animation of this movie was dazzling. There were a few times where I truly felt arrested by the beautiful scenery. This is one thing Disney is known for, and that legacy shows no signs of stopping any time soon. Whether it was a landscape shot of the snowy mountains, or the exploration of a palace made of ice, I was never less than impressed with the animation.

Frozen is also consistently funny, which is also something Disney is known for. The script was sharply written with plenty of clever quips and amusing characters. A large amount of the laughs came from Olaf, the talking snowman. He was ingeniously created by the writers. I was smiling almost every time he was on screen. Quite honestly, Olaf might become one of my favorite Disney characters ever. He really was that awesome.

The story was surprisingly complex for a Disney movie. There is actually layers to it, which I commend the writers for. That being said, it was still pretty predictable, at least for adults. I found myself guessing what was going to happen before it did, which is usually true with Disney films. This probably won't be a problem for kids, though, and wasn't even a big problem for me. Just don't expect to be completely compelled by the plot.

The narrative may not be the most intriguing thing for adults, but there is a still a warmth (ironically enough) that can be felt throughout the movie. I was almost never disengaged from the film. In fact, Frozen was utterly entertaining for most of its running time. There were some moments that I found obviously directed towards children, but there were also moments where I could tell the creators were keeping the older audiences in mind. This is essential for animated films to succeed, and Frozen keeps that in mind.

Conclusion

Frozen is a fun and entertaining Disney movie for all audiences, offering visual resplendence, a number of catchy songs, and a warmth that courses through it. I may not have seen it until 2014, but it is undoubtedly the best animated film of 2013. 

Rating: 8.5/10