After decades of bringing the glory of imagination to children everywhere, Disney has remarkably managed to evolve its game with Frozen, while still producing unmistakeable Disney magic. To say that Frozen is one very cool movie would be an understatement.
Frozen treads into vintage Disney territory by interpreting a classic fairy tale (the film is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen) into a striking contemporary musical, complete with unforgettable characters, memorable songs, and frosty villains. What makes Frozen so special, however, is that the film transcends the dictations established by previous Disney outings, allowing itself the luxury of sledding along well-known formulas while jointly poking fun at its very conventions.
The story focuses on royal sisters, Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) and Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel), who become separated by a secret during childhood. When Elsa is crowned queen of Arendelle, a shocking incident threatens to destroy their homeland and estrange the sisters forever. The girls must precipitate a way to save themselves and their people, but not until they learn to de-ice their thawed relationship.
As expected, Frozen is a visual delight, bursting with colour, life, and song. The graphics are so sensational that at times you almost forget you are watching a cartoon. Snow and ice look chillingly realistic, especially during scenes featuring the majestic ice castle, where walls shimmer with wintry light and veins of trapped water pattern the ice. The musical numbers are refreshingly catchy and memorable, and certain to attract Oscar nomination.
But perhaps the grandest achievement of Frozen is in its depiction of the two female leads, both of whom are drawn with atypical depth. The strong-willed princesses are independent, ambitious, flawed and unconventional, making them worthy role-models rather than submissive creatures who suffer easy influence. Furthermore, the makers of Frozen have chosen not to set up the sisters as adversaries, as previous Disney films almost certainly would have done. Instead, each character is allowed to advance her own path through the movie, inviting equal sympathy and understanding from a captivated audience.
Adorable Olaf the Snowman is delightfully scene-stealing rather than annoying, and unexpected twists flourish from surprise places. There really is plenty to like about Disney’s Frozen, and I can think of few better ways to beat the heat this summer than taking the family to see it. Go on, this is one thaw-fully good film that is sure to melt your heart.