Frozen, 2013.
Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.
Featuring the voice talents of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Tudyk, Chris Williams, Jack Whitehall and Santino Fontana.
SYNOPSIS:
Elsa, Queen of Arundel, is haunted by a moment in her youth when she lost control of her icy powers and endangered the life of her sister, Anna. After her coronation she receives some unexpected news that destabilises her and causes her to unleash the full fury of her powers, plunging the world into a bleak winter. Without thinking, Anna rushes after her and has to travel through the frozen wasteland to try and find her sister.
This film is absolutely beautiful. The landscapes are stunning, whether they are a harsh, unforgiving mountain or a shimmering, magical icy sculpture the visuals that unfold are utterly gorgeous and I was enraptured from the very first scene. The way Elsa’s powers are presented is simultaneously crisp, elegant and dangerous. So on that level the film is certainly a success, but does the story hold up?
It’s a little strange at first because the way they film is presented it makes you think that Elsa (Menzel) is going to be at the forefront of the story, but it’s soon apparent that Anna (Bell) is the main protagonist. There’s a lot of drama at the beginning to show why Elsa’s powers are s dangerous and why she has shut herself away, but I thought it was a little too drastic. She was on the receiving end of some questionable parenting though, so I can understand why she burdened herself.
After that the film was very enjoyable. Elsa and Anna were well-rounded characters and the bond between them as sisters was at the forefront of the film. Frozen played with familiar Disney tropes of true love and while it didn’t subvert or deconstruct them completely it did toy with them enough that it feels fresh and familiar at the same time. There also wasn’t a villain in the strictest sense but I liked that, it helped Frozen to escape the trappings of convention.
Bell and Menzel performed well and their duets were some of the highlights of the film. The songs weren’t the most memorable but they suited the film and a couple of them led to some truly emotional moments. Tension was rife in the final act as well and I found myself fully caught up in the drama, which led to a suitably satisfying climax. The supporting cast performed well and there was the right balance of comic relief to provide some light-heartedness amongst all the drama.
Frozen is classic Disney updated for the modern world. Its beats are familiar but there are a few unexpected moments and at some points you’re not quite sure in which direction the film is going to go. Every scene is rich with beauty and there are a couple of songs that send emotions soaring thanks to Menzel’s powerful voice. The story is a little uneven at the start but once it settles it’s a superb, engrossing journey that is a worthy addition to the Disney pantheon.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert D. Spake – Find me on Facebook and Amazon.
Originally published December 7, 2013. Updated April 13, 2018.
