Review: Frozen
By Christine Petralia





Image courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
December 4, 2013
What a great Disney film! Disney went back to its roots with its musicals in Frozen. Enlisting the help of star power for the characters’ voices, as well as strong Broadway stars for the songs, Frozen encompasses everything anyone could want in a Disney film. For the younger girls, it adds two more princesses to idolize. However, they are actually teaching important lessons and aren’t just helpless trapped princesses waiting for their prince to come save them. In fact, they save each other at the end, instead of the man coming to the rescue. For the adults, it offers a cute storyline with catchy songs, and a lot of humor. And who knew Kristen Bell could sing!!??
It begins when the girls are younger. The eldest, Elsa (Idina Menzel), possesses the power to make snow and ice. While playing one day, she accidentally strikes her younger sister Anna (Bell). In order to save her, their parents take her to trolls, where their leader Grand Pabbie (Ciarán Hinds) informs them in order to save Anna, he has to wipe her memory clean of what happened to her and that Elsa possesses magic. He also warns that had Elsa struck Anna in the heart, it would have lead to her eventual death. With this news, the king and queen of Arendelle shutter the castle from visitors, while Elsa avoids all contact with Anna, despite her pleading over and over as they grow up.
When they become teenagers, their parents die on a trip at sea, though Elsa still avoids Anna, forcing the two to deal with their grief separately. Three years later, they have to open the castle as dignitaries from around the world come to witness Elsa’s summer coronation. While singing through the town, Anna runs into Prince Hans (Santino Fontana). Meanwhile, Elsa is terrified that her power will be revealed to all. The coronation goes off without incident. However, during the celebration, Anna asks for Elsa’s blessing to marry Hans, as they have ‘fallen in love.’ When Elsa refuses, both she and Anna get upset and Elsa’s powers start to take over. Embarrassed as people start calling her a monster, she flees to the North Mountain to isolate herself and ‘be free’ from judgment. But behind her, she leaves Arendelle in a deep, deep snow. Anna goes after her through the frozen forest, leaving Hans in charge of the town. Along the way, Anna joins forces with Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), an ice trader, and his reindeer Sven. He reluctantly agrees to help her find the North Mountain. On their quest, they meet Olaf (Josh Gad), a snowman created by Elsa who has a weird obsession with summer.
Once they reach the North Mountain, Elsa refuses to go along with Anna and wants to be alone. She accidently freezes Anna’s heart though before she banishes the group from her ice castle. Kristoff takes Anna to his ‘family,’ the trolls to find out how to help Anna. The Grand Pabbie informs him the only way is through true love. The group then heads back to Arendelle to find Hans so he can save Anna. But Hans has another agenda.
Of course, in true Disney fashion, everyone does live happily ever after. I won’t give too much away, because I really liked the plot with its slight twist at the end.
And, as I mentioned already, for those who are wondering, Bell did sing all the songs, which I was pleasantly surprised to learn. Menzel just shines and blows me away with her voice as Elsa. Groff is from Broadway, as well as Glee, in case you were wondering. And lovable Olaf is played by Gad, of The Book of Mormons fame.
We saw it in 3D, and it wasn’t half bad. At points you really feel like you’re frozen in Arendelle with everyone (probably didn’t help that the theater was cold). But the graphics were just spectacular. Disney has definitely gone back to its roots and upped the ante for future filmes.
Frozen should be topping your list of must-sees this holiday season, whether you have kids or not.
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