*Disclaimer: This review may contain spoilers, so read at your own risk*
As finals sneak in like Santa down the chimney, Frozen II is the essential family-friendly treat just in time for the holidays! Released on November 22nd six years after the original debut, Frozen II takes viewers on an arctic adventure beyond the kingdom of Arendelle and into the Enchanted Forest after Elsa continuously hears a secret voice calling out to her. The characters embark on a quest to find the origin of Elsa’s powers- and themselves along the way! The movie is musical, fun, humorous, uplifting, empowering, and we’re loving it!
Frozen II had the highest opening for an animated film of all time, and understandably so. Between Idina Menzel’s mesmerizing, powerful vocals to the innocent, heartwarming humor from Olaf, the movie checks all the boxes for the perfect family film. Frozen II tackles the struggles of growing up and discovering who you are through adventure and friendship, while still keeping it lighthearted and funny. Set three years after the first movie, the characters have grown up but are still presented with many new and different challenges. Elsa continues to yearn for adventure in the great unknown, Olaf doesn’t want to grow up, and Kristoff is eager to ask for Anna’s hand in marriage, sparking some miscommunication and confusion in their relationship.
While Frozen II follows the same cast of characters, the true standout is Elsa. Five stars for the plot and character development, and it’s all because of her. Elsa grows from the shy, brooding girl seen in the first movie to a badass, feminist icon who’s ready to take the world by storm. She is no longer afraid of her powers and instead embraces them to accept herself without fear and like her standout ballad, let it go. Elsa is powerful, unapologetic and ends up moving to the forest with a cute little lady, truly thriving in all forms. The gays stay winning, and so does this subtle, adorable storyline.
The cold never bothered me anyway, but one thing that did was the music. The song, “Into the Unknown,” describes Elsa’s urge for adventure and to break free from her internal struggles about her powers, and is essentially the headlining song for the film. There is not anything wrong with it, but it is not in any way comparable to the iconic hits of the first movie. The songs showcase the extremely talented cast and their voices and are catchy, but Frozen II falls short of producing another powerhouse, chilling anthem like “Let it Go.” Regardless of this, each character does get their own individual spotlight in their songs, such as Olaf’s innocent, whimsical bop, “When I Am Older.” This song expresses Olaf’s journey growing up amidst chaos and confusion, making this a relatable movie for children of all ages.
Combining the perfect blend of action and endearment, Frozen II is enough to melt the hearts of any viewer. Go bundle up and see it today!