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‘Frozen 2’ Review: Long-Awaited Sequel Pushes Disney Into a Charming and Surprising New Direction

Kate erbland, editorial director.

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Editor’s note: This review was originally published for the theatrical release of “Frozen II.” It is now available to stream on Disney+.

Everything was in its (seeming) right place at the conclusion of Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck’s 2013 animated smash hit “Frozen,” as long-suffering princesses Anna ( Kristen Bell ) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) were reunited, the kingdom of Arendelle was freed from its eternal winter, Elsa was crowned queen (with her magic intact and appreciated), and Anna had found love with a doofy regular dude after banishing a nefarious smooth-talking wannabe Prince Charming type. Still, fans of the Disney feature have long clamored for a sequel to the musical charmer, if only to spend more time with a cadre of cute characters (including, of all things, a hammy reindeer and Josh Gad as a sentient snowman who has zero right to be as cute as he is) inside an inventive new world.

Perhaps they should have been careful what they wished for, if only because it’s about to be upended by a fresh new story.

Sure, Elsa eventually ascended to the throne, leaving her self-created ice castle behind and slipping into a role that had long been carved out for her, but does that choice truly reflect who she is? And while Anna has always been happy to play second (very supportive) fiddle to her gifted big sis, she’s consistently seemed like the better choice to lead a kingdom (and a Disney franchise) to new heights. Every sequel is tasked with dramatizing what happens next , but “ Frozen 2 ” is built on a sly bit of course correction that might rile the very people who wanted it so badly. The franchise — and the fandom — are better for it.

“Frozen” may have ended with everything in its right place, but Lee and Buck’s long-awaited followup makes the case that a sequel was necessary, not because it was demanded, but because “Frozen” was never the correct end of the story. Loving the characters and themes of “Frozen” and wanting to see more of them can only naturally lead to “Frozen 2,” which does away with so many of the happily-ever-after elements of the first film (and finds new, updated ones). By moving the tension between the traditional and the bold to the forefront, “Frozen 2” is one of the more daring visions of the future of Disney moviemaking, all bolstered by gorgeous animation and a handful of instant-classic new jams.

While “Frozen” used plenty of traditional plot points to guide it, including building off a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, imparting key lessons about doing the right thing, and making being part of the royal family sound like a fun gig, it was always laced through with some compelling subversion. Some moviegoers even latched on to Elsa’s alienation and desire to break free from expectations as indicative of her potential queerness — possible sexuality aside, crafting a bonafide Disney Princess who really, really didn’t want to be one is still a heck of a choice for Disney.

Picking up soon after the events of the first film, “Frozen 2” finds Elsa, Anna, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Olaf (Gad), and Sven the reindeer happily ensconced in a cheery Arendelle. And yet an early flashback to Anna and Elsa’s youth — before they were separated out of fear of Elsa’s icy powers — indicates that the seeds of this story were sown long ago. Since the first film, which offed Anna and Elsa’s parents in an off-screen shipwreck, fans have wondered about what really happened to the royal couple, another pair of loving adults lost to the whims of a studio that has always cherished the concept that parental death is key to personal growth.

“Frozen 2” gives the princesses — and the film’s audience — more time with King Runeard (Jeremy Sisto) and Queen Iduna (Evan Rachel Wood), as they share the fantastical fairy tale of an ill-fated political meeting that nearly killed the kid king, locked a distant forest and its inhabitants in a magical mist, and inspires Elsa to go looking for answers she can’t find in Arendelle. Much that’s been guessed about the super-secret plot of “Frozen 2” has turned out to be incorrect: there is no autumnal version of Elsa, no overt same-sex romance, no secretly alive parents. That’s for the best, because the surprises that “Frozen 2” unfurls are emotional, mature, and often quite dark for a kids’ film (tip: the youngest “Frozen” fans might need some warm hugs to get through a fraught final act).

As is so often the case, it starts with an unexpected journey. Early in the film, Elsa attempts to push away any thoughts about striking out into the unknown (as illuminated by a song that is, of course, titled “Into the Unknown,” one of two sturdy “Let It Go” stand-ins), and muses that everyone she loves is finally under one roof, so why would she need more? For someone as magical and secretly bent on living her own life as Elsa, you can see where the discomfort might creep in.

Anna, meanwhile, is happy as a clam, embarking on zippy signalongs with best pal Olaf (“Some Things Never Change” is just as fun and frisky as “Love Is an Open Door”) and looking forward to whatever the future might bring. Olaf, now maturing into something of an adult snowman (Was he a “snowkid” before? Best not to worry about it), is consumed by the idea that everything — including terrifying spirit-filled magical forests — will make sense when he’s older, while Kristoff just wants to put a ring on Anna’s finger.

When Elsa starts hearing an ethereal singing voice calling out to her, she’s compelled to follow it far North, and the rest of the crew can’t help but tag along, all the better to stick together and assuage Anna’s well-founded fears about losing her sister again. Of course, the journey and the voice lead straight to the distant forest, one filled with secrets and memories (many of them rendered literal by magic-conjured ice sculptures, a plot point that makes much more sense in practice). There’s also a handful of new friends to meet, all of which are welcome, many of which are underserved (Sterling K. Brown is the lone newbie who really gets to leave a mark).

In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2, Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven journey far beyond the gates of Arendelle in search of answers. Featuring the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad, “Frozen 2” opens in U.S. theaters November 22.©2019 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Keen observers will likely see how this all is going to play out, as previously illuminated by Iduna’s flashback appearance, complete with its own song (“All Is Found”). That doesn’t stop the film’s script, from Buck, Lee, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Marc Smith, and Allison Schroeder, from occasionally getting lost in the woods. Zipping between ruminations about the spirits that fill the forest (it’s certainly the most pagan Disney film in recent memory) to a convoluted exploration of the sins of the father (no, really) and a series of richly-animated and truly obvious revelations, “Frozen 2” is crammed with material, most of which works.

Despite the emotional upheaval of the final act, it also has a fair bit of amusement and spectacle. There’s tongue-in-cheek jibs about the Disney experience throughout, and Lee and Buck have some serious fun spinning the big musical numbers into fresh territory (Kristoff’s big song, “Lost in the Woods,” is filmed as something of a power ballad music video, more Guns n Roses than anyone could ever expect from the Mouse House, and one of the best parts of the film). Olaf is as deranged and cute as ever, moving from court jester to something of a classic fool over the course of a transformational outing. In a flashback, Anna and Elsa’s dad even makes off with a lightning fast joke about a “new Danish author.”

It all culminates in a wild, windswept mission for Elsa, one that capitalizes on her powers and pushes them to terrifying ends. The same can be said of the film’s animation, which has mostly adhered to the style of the original, all sweet faces and the occasional burst of icy action (Elsa can still make some insane snowflakes, and more ), before building to an ocean-swept sequence that’s vivid, terrifying, and more eye-popping than the “Let It Go” scene in the first film. Like the film itself, it’s scary and different, but it also shows off the inherent power of moving away from expectations and embracing the drama of real life. No sequel is essential, but “Frozen 2” makes the argument that, even in the fairy tale land of Disney, they can still be important.

Disney will release “Frozen 2” in theaters on Friday, November 22.

Frozen II First Reviews: Olaf Is MVP in a More Complex but Still Magical Sequel

Critics say it isn't quite on par with the first, but its dazzling visuals, laugh-out-loud humor, and catchy songs should make fans happy..

TAGGED AS: Disney , movies , Walt Disney Pictures

Six years have passed since Frozen became one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons of the decade (maybe of all time?). Now Disney has finally made a sequel with the same team involved, and it’s sure to be one of the biggest movies of the year (maybe of all time?).

But is Frozen II worth the wait, or is it just a pointless cash grab? The first reviews of the follow-up aren’t as enthusiastic as they were for its predecessor, but most critics agree it’s a worthy new adventure that should dazzle fans with its stunning animation, laugh-out-loud humor, and fun soundtrack.

Here’s what critics are saying about Frozen II :

How does the sequel compare to the original?

“The sequel is not only better than the 2013 original, but it also improves the original film by adding to its mythology and shining a light on the events of that story in a whole new way.” – Germain Lussier, io9

“ Frozen II is nominally a slight improvement on its predecessor.” – Josh Spiegel, Slashfilm

“ Frozen II is as magical as its predecessor.” – Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies

“It’s a sequel that stands toe-to-toe with the original, which isn’t exactly an easy feat to accomplish.” – Matt Rodriguez, Shakefire

“If it doesn’t quite match the original, it comes very, very close.” – Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy

“The film itself is a satisfying but very familiar retread of the first movie.” – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

And how does it compare to other Disney sequels ?

“It carries the same lackluster energy of one of Disney’s direct-to-video sequels from times past: 1998’s Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride , or 1994’s The Return of Jafar .” – David Jenkins, Little White Lies

“ Frozen 2 gives off the same lackluster dimness that hand-drawn direct-to-video sequels like Return of Jafar and Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas did back in their humbler day.” – Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair

(Photo by Walt Disney Studios)

Will fans enjoy it?

“The characters and music plus the gorgeous visuals are enough to make Frozen II a fun film even if it has none of the staying power of its predecessor.” – Matt Goldberg, Collider

“ Frozen II is anything but a mindless remake. Ironically, Frozen fans may secretly be wishing for a more straightforward rehash.” – Peter Debruge, Variety

Is the new story worth the wait?

“ Frozen 2 is crammed with material, most of which works.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire

“The mythology is somehow both overly complicated and oddly perfunctory. Really, the plot is mainly an excuse for the characters to hang out. And why not?” – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

“The Frozen team is forced to go bigger, grander, more existential, while still keeping things accessible to children. That’s a really tough balancing act, one Frozen 2 can’t manage.” – Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair

“A lot goes on but nothing really happens…the only surprising thing about this film is how complex and contrived it is.” – David Jenkins, Little White Lies

“Here’s the one problem with Frozen II : the structure of the story…most of it comes in dense, exposition-heavy chunks that are staggered across the film.” – Germain Lussier, io9

“The narrative is a disastrous mess, to a thoroughly disappointing degree, where character and story aren’t appropriately motivated.” – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

What about its message?

“ Frozen II certainly delivers a solid morality tale without being overly moralizing.” – Linda Marric, HeyUGuys

“Female empowerment and finding strength through sisterhood assuredly remain sturdy tethers. There’s also a hearty ecological message instilled about working with nature, not against it.” – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

“All children should see Frozen 2 , not just little girls. Because when Kristoff says, ‘I’m here. What do you need?’ that’s worthy of a discussion with everyone.” – Tania Lamb, Lola Lambchops

(Photo by Walt Disney Pictures)

Is it funny?

“Several times I started crying because I was laughing so hard, and once, I had a hard time catching my breath. This movie was funnier than I ever imagined it would be.” – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

“The sequel is funnier, with Olaf stealing the show… even the most die-hard Olaf critics will find him hilarious in this.” – Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy

“The biggest problem is that Olaf’s lines are all so funny the audience was laughing too hard for me to hear half of them.” – Germain Lussier, io9

“What surprised me most about the film was just how hilarious they make Olaf. He was great in Frozen , but he absolutely steals the entire film this time around.” – Matt Rodriguez, Shakefire

“Olaf totally steals the show this time as he grows up to ask the serious questions that every child is thinking.” – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

“This time around, [Olaf is] a scene-stealing, joke-dispensing machine from start to finish, and with a pretty good hit-to-miss ratio.” – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

“Every time he opens his mouth I felt like doing cartwheels.” – Charlotte O’Sullivan, London Evening Standard

How are the new characters?

“The newbies have their moments and all together make for a grander experience.” – Germain Lussier, io9

“There’s also a handful of new friends to meet, all of which are welcome, many of which are underserved (Sterling K. Brown is the lone newbie who really gets to leave a mark).” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire

“New sidekicks like playful wind spirit Gale and Bruni the Salamander are fun and cute but don’t add much to the proceedings.” – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

“There are very few new characters of any consequence.” – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

And the visuals?

“The real power of this movie comes through its gorgeous, often jaw-dropping animation… whatever else can be said, Frozen II is truly beautiful.” – Josh Spiegel, Slashfilm

“Aesthetically speaking, this a dazzling beauty. The animators have created powerful imagery… highly detailed work [that] always shines through the fray.” – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

“ Frozen 2 ’s weirdest, and maybe worst, sin is how routinely unpleasant it is to look at. The animation is oddly bland and inert.” – Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair

“What Disney hasn’t quite solved is its digitally rendered character designs, subtly altered from the earlier movie but still more akin to computer-generated Bratz dolls.” – Peter Debruge, Variety

More importantly, how’s the music?

“The soundtrack is just as fun as the first Frozen .” – Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies

“When I tell you that this soundtrack is better than the first one, I know it will be hard for you to believe me. But it is true.” – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

“There really is a song for every mood, and I can see myself listening to the soundtrack on repeat.” – Matt Rodriguez, Shakefire

“The song-writing team’s contribution to the franchise’s success can scarcely be over-estimated.” – Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter

“There’s nothing wrong with these songs, per se, but the effort to replicate their previous success weighs down any possibility of letting them shine on their own.” – Alonso Duralde, The Wrap

“They all sound fine, and are sung with the usual bombast… and yet, not a half-hour after seeing the movie, I couldn’t call up a single melody.” – Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair

“The creative team have brought in the D-list for songwriting detail… with every song coming across like over-produced, over-polished album track filler with no hooks and no heart.” – David Jenkins, Little White Lies

Does it deliver the next “Let It Go?”

“The ‘Let It Go’ of Frozen II is called ‘Into the Unknown’… it’s guaranteed to entrance exhibitionist preschoolers looking for a new song to belt out at the top of their lungs.” – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

“There isn’t one A-plus standout like ‘Let It Go’ from the first film, but this time around, all the songs feel more uniform quality-wise. There isn’t a dud in the bunch.” – Germain Lussier, io9

“The songs don’t have that same punch this time around… there’s nothing in here that I think will take the world by storm like ‘Let It Go.’” – Matt Goldberg, Collider

“Although not a single song in this sequel is likely to have the same iconic reach of songs such as ‘Let It Go’ or ‘ Love Is An Open Door,’ there is still plenty here to shout about.” – Linda Marric, HeyUGuys

Is it still a good time for families?

“For the most part, the kids seemed to think Frozen 2 was pretty great — pretty exciting, pretty funny, pretty transporting.” – Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair

“Tip: the youngest Frozen fans might need some warm hugs to get through a fraught final act.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire

“ Frozen II is arguably a darker, more mature film… it feels like it’s marketed to a slightly older fanbase than the first – perhaps the kids who grew up loving the initial entry.” – Hannah Lodge, The Beat

“ Frozen II is the must-see movie for families this year.” – Tania Lamb, Lola Lambchops

Frozen II is in theaters November 22.

Frozen II (2019) 77%

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“Frozen II” has an autumnal palette, with russet and gold setting the stage for an unexpectedly elegiac tone in the follow-up to one of Disney’s most beloved animated features. Even the irrepressibly cheerful snowman Olaf ( Josh Gad ), now permafrosted so even the warmest hugs don’t melt him, is worried about change as the leaves turn orange and float down from tree branches. He is confident, though, that as soon as he gets older he will understand everything. After all, that’s what he expects from Elsa ( Idina Menzel ), Anna ( Kristen Bell ), and Kristoff ( Jonathan Groff ). Anna reassures him (in song, of course) that yes, some things change, but some things are forever. She tells him that even when you don’t know the answers you can always just do the next right thing, and that will help.

“Frozen II” is funny, exciting, sad, romantic, and silly. It has great songs and a hilarious recap of the first movie, and then it is all of that all over again. Plus an extra scene ALL the way at the end of the credits. This sequel can seem overstuffed at times, and tries a bit too hard to replicate the magic of the first film, but it is impressively willing to engage with some complicated issues in a frank manner that is accessible to children and insightful even for adults.

It throws a lot at us, like rock monsters, a cute fire salamander, and a magnificent water horse (the latter two likely to appear on holiday gift wish lists). The settings are gorgeously imagined and wonderfully inviting. Anna has a sensational new wardrobe. We learn family secrets, some comforting, some painful. Characters confront some of the most daunting human questions about loss, change, trust and how we can best heal the wounds of the past.

In a charming flashback, we see the princesses as little girls, playing together happily and being put to bed by loving parents. The king tells them a bedtime story from his own childhood about visiting an enchanted forest with his father to celebrate the completion of a dam the Arendellians built to help the indigenous people. But the gathering turned into an attack. The king was killed, and only the young prince survived, rescued by a mysterious character. Ever since, the enchanted forest has been barricaded by a powerful mist. The girls learn from their mother’s lullaby that the river may hold some answers about what happened. “Dive down deep into her sound, but not too deep or you’ll be drowned,” the Queen sings. “When all is lost, then all is found.” It’s surprising how dark lullabies can get, a character points out.

In the present day, the sisters live happily in the castle, enjoying family time (Olaf is the Charades MVP) and caring for their community. But Elsa hears voices calling to her from the enchanted forest. She is afraid, but also thrilled. It is an invitation she struggles to admit that she wants to accept, leading to this film’s belter ballad, “Into the Unknown.” “I’ve had my adventure/I don’t need something new … don’t you know there’s part of me that loves to go into the unkn-ow-ow-own.”

And so, after a warning from Kristoff’s “love expert” friend Pabbie ( Ciarán Hinds ) and Olaf’s not-always-helpful fun facts commentary along the way, they reach the enchanted forest. There, they meet new characters, sing some more songs, sort out some misunderstandings and try to protect each other. They confront the consequences of bad, even tragic choices made by their family.

Parents often ask me why children, especially preschoolers and middle-schoolers, like to watch the same movies over and over. I tell them that when everything around you seems to be drastically changing on a daily basis and you barely know yourself anymore, it can be a great comfort to have a movie friend that’s the same every time. “Frozen II” is destined to be one of those movies children will want to see dozens of times. It will reward repeat viewings with both its reassuring messages about responding to change with courage and curiosity, and its challenge to understand the mistakes of the past so we can begin to work on “the next right thing” together.

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

Kristen Bell as Anna (voice)
Idina Menzel as Elsa (voice)
Jonathan Groff as Kristoff (voice)
Josh Gad as Olaf (voice)
Sterling K. Brown as Lieutenant Mattias (voice)
Evan Rachel Wood as Iduna (voice)
Ciarán Hinds as Pabbie (voice)
Jason Ritter as Ryder (voice)
Rachel Matthews as Honeymaren (voice)
Alfred Molina as Agnarr (voice)
Jeremy Sisto as King Runeard (voice)
Jennifer Lee

Writer (story by)

Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Robert Lopez
Christophe Beck
Jeff Draheim

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Frozen II Reviews

Frozen II marks a rarity among Disney sequels: not just as one of the few theatrical follow-ups, but as a film that gorgeously and acutely embodies the immaculate, musical heart of its predecessor, while also sharing ideas of its own.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 14, 2024

Frozen II maintains the values of its predecessor, brotherhood and love between sisters. Sisterhood is a fundamental value since unlike some reigns portrayed in other stories, Anna and Elsa never fight for the throne or power, they are not greedy.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jan 27, 2024

Frozen II compensates for the six-year wait with a follow-up worthy of standing up to its original, which in my opinion, surpasses it. It really feels like a magical film.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jul 24, 2023

We also get amazing songs like Into The Unknown, Some Things Never Change, Show Yourself and of course Lost in the Woods. They're easily on par with Let It Go, Do You Want to Build a Snowman and For the First Time in Forever.

Full Review | Mar 31, 2023

Frozen II has affable intentions, but overall it fails to meet the expectations set by its predecessor, and it lacked real substance.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Mar 8, 2023

Just when you think Frozen II shows signs of doing something bold or confronting, it pulls back to a commercial safe zone, supplying Disney with an excuse to further their empire with future sequels and a reliable franchise.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Feb 23, 2022

Reminded me of an old adage that women have larger colour vocabularies and a greater sensibility for colour than (most) men, and that feeling certainly transmits here.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 5, 2021

So well done... it was just a beautiful experience.

Full Review | Sep 16, 2021

The plot of the sequel is both convoluted and familiar.

Full Review | Sep 10, 2021

While its music, visual effects, and general spectacle will wow audiences, it's nice to know that Disney is still maintaining the responsibility of exploring change in their stories through diverse ways.

Full Review | Sep 5, 2021

You will probably either laugh or cringe. I laughed out loud. And, yes, Olaf (Josh Gad) gets plenty of opportunities to entertain us, including a song that hilariously recaps what happened in the first film.

Full Review | Aug 12, 2021

The film's answers and resolutions may end up feeling too vague or abstract, but this bold and sensory approach to storytelling is something that I hope to see more of from Disney.

Full Review | Original Score: 4 / 5 | Jun 25, 2021

Like most sequels, Frozen II doesn't quite live up to the first film, but it's far from a waste of time. If nothing else, it's nice to be able to spend some more time with the engaging characters of Arendelle.

Full Review | Feb 17, 2021

The beauty of this sequel is that it is more intricate than the first, namely in plot. It ditches the simplicity of what boiled down to repairing a sister-sister relationship and opts instead for lofty, complicated concepts in a children's movie.

Full Review | Jan 28, 2021

While it's usually difficult to surpass the original, this broader, more engaging follow up to the wildly successful original speaks more to the power of togetherness than its predecessor even considered.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Dec 16, 2020

Pleasant and enjoyable but unlikely to leave much of a mark.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Dec 7, 2020

Disney's 'Frozen 2' far exceeds the original animated film. The character development, storyline and the overall themes are more nuanced, detailed and intriguing. There are some scenes that may insight fear in smaller kids, but overall it's kid-friendly.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Nov 15, 2020

Frozen 2 brings the strenghts of the first movie and takes them further (...). It's more balanced so kids and adults can enjoy the journey. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Oct 16, 2020

There's no question the Littles will enjoy Frozen 2. It's plenty colorful, even if it did feel long. I say "feel long" because it's only 103 minutes, but a lot is going on.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 16, 2020

Disney has managed an impressive act of tightrope walking in following up their latest golden goose with something that shimmers almost as brightly

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 16, 2020

‘Frozen 2’: Film Review

In the spirit of fairy-tale revisionism, this Disney sequel reunites the cast to explore how challenging 'ever after' can be, while forging a new adventure.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

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Released in 2013 to a record-scorching $1.29 billion, “Frozen” was such a huge hit for Walt Disney Animation Studios that many of its fans were probably assuming its sequel would play it safe and deliver more of the same: a sparkling 21st-century fairy tale in which a pair of wide-eyed heroines shrug off the need to be rescued by men, demonstrating the power of self-reliance and sisterly love. Certainly, screenwriter Jennifer Lee (who once again co-directs with Chris Buck ) would be foolish to stray too far from this formula, but “Frozen II” is anything but a mindless remake.

Ironically, “Frozen” fans may secretly be wishing for a more straightforward rehash, and to them, the best advice comes in the form of three little words: “Let it go” — a mantra they’ve surely internalized since the first movie. As with snowflakes, no two are alike, and this gorgeous, glittering reunion of siblings Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa ( Idina Menzel ) proudly flaunts its own identity, even while taking care to incorporate so much of what worked about the original — like a steady stream of wisecracks from wonderstruck snowperson Olaf (Josh Gad).

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In myriad ways, “Frozen II” feels more like a follow-up to Pixar’s “Brave” than it does an extension of Disney’s earlier (very loose) adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen.” Gone is the need for a conventional villain; gone are any expectations of princes charming or otherwise; gone are the gowns that have shaped young women’s dreams of prom and wedding attire for more than a century. “Frozen II” pushes the girl-power themes even further, rejecting dresses in favor of pants for much of the adventure, as Anna and Elsa set out to find the source of a mysterious song emanating from somewhere far to the north — a mythical place called Ahtohallan that holds the secret of their parents’ disappearance, as well as the key to finding peace with nature and the Northuldra, an indigenous tribe toward whom they’ve been taught to be wary.

“Frozen II” isn’t obnoxious about its revisionist point of view — progressive vis-à-vis the Disney values of past decades — though it’s hardly subtle about its millennial-minded politics either. The film opens with a bedtime-story version of the kingdom’s past — as recounted by the royal sisters’ parents, king Agnarr (Alfred Molina) and queen Iduna (Evan Rachel Wood) of Arendelle — in which their grandfather (Jeremy Sisto) and head general Mattias (Sterling K. Brown) are portrayed as the victims of a magical attack that resulted in an enchanted forest being wrapped in mist for more than 34 years. This prologue ends with the revelation (too obvious to be considered a spoiler) that Granddad was actually a conniving colonialist, and that everything bad that has happened to the family was a direct result of his misguided attempts to manipulate others.

Such themes surely resonate with today’s younger audiences, who, when confronted with issues such as racial inequity and climate change, are being forced to reckon with the sins and shortcomings of previous generations. The words of environmental activist Greta Thunberg’s recent speech echo in Anna and Elsa’s actions: “You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal.”

Conventional Disney princess movies — in which alabaster beauties from Snow White to Belle passively awaited the liberating effects of true love’s kiss — may have been taken at face value for most of the studio’s history, but today’s kids have gotten savvy. They recognize the often-problematic socializing effects of popular entertainment, and they demand better. They also know when they’re being patronized, and at times, “Frozen II” tiptoes a bit too carefully along that fine line, where escapism stops being fun because the adults responsible have started overthinking the politics of it all.

The first half-hour smacks of calculation, as the movie finds ways to message to audiences where it stands in relation to the original, rather than intuitively picking up where that installment left off, the way the “Toy Story” and “How to Train Your Dragon” sequels so gracefully did. In a way, songwriting couple Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez set this challenge for themselves by creating such a memorable Broadway-style soundtrack for the first movie, and here, the first couple songs (including the forgettable “All Is Found”) feel second best.

It’s not until Menzel sings “Into the Unknown” that “Frozen II” comes anywhere near the goose-bump-inducing, icicles-on-the-nape-of-your-neck thrill audiences experienced with “Let It Go” last time around — although none of this cartoon’s new tunes packs quite that punch. Even so, the characters spend an awful lot of time singing: Groff delivers the amusingly over-earnest pop-idol parody “Lost in the Woods,” and later, Bell belts out goody-goody anthem “The Next Right Thing.” (All three of those songs are repeated in less-interesting Radio Disney-ready cover versions over the marathon end-credits roll, performed by the likes of Panic! at the Disco, Kacey Musgraves and Weezer.)

In a Broadway show, the musical numbers reveal feelings the characters wouldn’t dare speak aloud, although the most effective “I want” song here comes from none other than Olaf, who yearns to understand the world better “When I Am Older.” All four characters alternate articulating where their minds are at the opening via the song “Some Things Never Change,” and though the sequence features stunning animation, its presence stalls the proceedings. Whereas the prologue informs that “the fighting enraged the spirits, and they turned against us” — language clearly engineered to misdirect — it’s not until nearly an hour later, when the trolls explain, “The past is not what it seems. … The truth must be found,” that the story finally finds its proper course.

Reunited by their last adventure, the sisters are now closer than ever. Though Elsa has been named queen, she privately wrestles with the feeling that she doesn’t belong in Arendelle. She’s been gifted with magical abilities — namely, the blessing/curse of blasting snow and ice from her fingertips — and yet, the first movie never explained how or why she came by these talents, while Anna lacks them altogether. “Frozen II” gives Elsa a chance to get to the bottom of the mystery while showing audiences that it’s OK for people to feel restless when their potential is being constrained. Normally, a character in Elsa’s position would wander off on her own in search of answers, but her connection with Anna is too strong for that, and her sister insists on coming along. As Anna tells her at one point, “You don’t want me to follow you into fire? Then don’t run into fire!”

Clearly, familial love still takes precedence over the romantic kind this time around. While Anna focuses on accompanying Elsa to the enchanted forest, her would-be suitor Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) is trying to psych himself into proposing marriage, but every time he opens his mouth in Anna’s company, he winds up choking on his own foot instead. The movie isn’t necessarily against matrimony, but it doesn’t want girls to think it’s the secret to living happily ever after either, offering a variation on the way fairy tales and Jane Austen novels have sold the institution to female audiences in the past.

Confiding in his ever-reliable reindeer Sven, Kristoff struggles with showing Anna his true feelings for most of the movie, before at last making himself useful with the words “I’m here. What do you need?” How wonderful it would be to see that simple phrase adopted by the problem-solving men of Western society — it may well be the most welcome lesson the movie has to offer: Anna doesn’t need rescuing in “Frozen II,” but she could use support, and rather than barging in and taking control, Kristoff respects her enough to pitch in with whatever plan she has in motion.

The visuals, imbued with an iridescent lavender-glow color palette throughout, are lovely but never overwhelming. That’s important, since computer-generated movies are capable of appearing so much better than their live-action counterparts that they sometimes fall into the trap of distracting us with the way they look. (“The Lion King,” for instance, exploited a magic-hour-all-the-time aesthetic that makes that elusive sheen seem less special.)

What Disney hasn’t quite solved is its digitally rendered character designs, subtly altered from the earlier movie but still more akin to computer-generated Bratz dolls — with their big eyes, bobble heads and pink plastic skin — than to appealing hand-drawn humans. As a sequel, “Frozen II” is locked into the look of the earlier film, whereas “Moana” took a step in the right direction, finding a three-dimensional equivalent for the studio’s classical animated characters. Maybe that’s a question of generational taste, as younger audiences plainly see themselves in Anna and Elsa, in both style and spirit. How fitting then, that writer-director Lee’s script reflects a more modernized set of values. In a world where old-timers accuse the youth of being oversensitive snowflakes, “Frozen II” shows what it means to have one’s heart in the right place.

Reviewed in Los Angeles, Nov. 9, 2019. Running time: 103 MIN.

Production: (Animated) A Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release of a Disney presentation of a Walt Disney Animation Studios production. Producer: Peter Del Vecho. Executive producer: Byron Howard.
Crew: Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee. Screenplay: Jennifer Lee; story: Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck, Marc E. Smith, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez. Camera (color, widescreen). Director of cinematography layout: Tracy Scott Beattie. Director of cinematography lighting: Mohit Kallianpur. Editor: Jeff Draheim. Music: Christophe Beck. Songs: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez.
With: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff , Sterling K. Brown, Evan Rachel Wood, Alfred Molina, Martha Plimpton, Jason Ritter, Rachel Matthews, Jeremy Sisto, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Tudyk, Hadley Gannaway, Mattea Conforti.

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Frozen Front 2: Fear The Silence Reviews

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Frozen Front 2: Fear The Silence (2017): Frozen Front 2: Fear The Silence. German, subtitled in English. Germany, German language. A group of German soldiers become stranded in a German-Russian village of women and children during WWII. Lars Doppler, Simon Hangartner.

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Looking to watch ' The Frozen Front ' in the comfort of your own home? Tracking down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the -directed movie via subscription can be challenging, so we here at Moviefone want to do right by you. Read on for a listing of streaming and cable services - including rental, purchase, and subscription alternatives - along with the availability of 'The Frozen Front' on each platform when they are available. Now, before we get into the fundamentals of how you can watch 'The Frozen Front' right now, here are some particulars about the flick. Released January 1st, 2019, 'The Frozen Front' stars The NR movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 20 min, and received a user score of (out of 100) on TMDb, which put together reviews from experienced users. Curious to know what the movie's about? Here's the plot: "January 1945. The first French regiment of paratroopers to fight with an American unit prepares to liberate Alsace in France. An Allied Division must take the forest bordering the town of Jebsheim in advance of the attack later dubbed the 'French Stalingrad.' Prisoners of the cold, snow, and harsh winter conditions, and pounded by German forces, the French and American soldiers learn the violence and hell of war as they struggle for freedom and survival." 'The Frozen Front' is currently available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on Amazon Video, Hoopla, Vudu, The Roku Channel, fuboTV, Apple iTunes, YouTube, VUDU Free, IMDB TV Amazon Channel, and Tubi TV .

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Frozen II Reviews Are In, Here’s What The Critics Are Saying

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Are you ready? When the original Frozen hit theaters it absolutely exploded. The movie became Disney's highest grossing animated feature in the history of ever. It's songs were all over the radio . It's merchandise was flying off the shelves. It's characters were being swarmed at Disney theme parks. Now six years later, the sequel is finally here, and according to most, it's a worthy, if not a superior, effort. Although, that may not be the compliment that it sounds like.

CinemaBlend's own Eric Eisenberg could only muster 2.5 stars for his review , stating that while the soundtrack of Frozen II was stellar, and the cast is top notch, it's not enough to save an otherwise messy story.

[T]he return to the magical city of Arendelle is a lacking experience – unable to keep afloat what is a dull and confusing story even while operating with another phenomenal soundtrack from composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and the tremendous voice cast.

Most of the rest of the reviews are positive, if not necessarily glowing. Slashfilm is one of those that says the new Frozen is better than the original, though, in doing so it makes it clear that it's not holding the original Frozen in quite the high regard that many others might. You can check out the original Frozen on Disney by signing up for a 7-day free trial here . In the end, it's just slightly better than the original, and still has problems. Some aspects of the story don't work as well, though visually the film is a treat.

With its eye-popping animation, world-building, and character exploration, Frozen II is nominally a slight improvement on its predecessor. But it’s still limited by the burden of expectations.

A similar sort of response comes from i09 . The review there also says that Frozen II is better than the first Frozen in total, but that, specifically, the structure of the plot has some serious and glaring issues .

Taken out of context, the story itself is hugely epic and fascinating, with enough mystery and revelation to drive the film from beginning to end. Unfortunately, most of it comes in dense, exposition-heavy chunks that are staggered across the film.

In watching the trailers for Frozen II one gets the impression that the sequel will be a somewhat darker and more mature story, for a generation that is six years older than it was when it saw the first Frozen. THR laments that, while the sequel teases us with these ideas, it ultimately doesn't follow through on them.

The journey we get is an equivocation, one that seems momentarily tempted by destinations perhaps not on the map but understandably travels on another, much safer road.

While that review is critical of Frozen II for taking the safe road, Variety holds a very different opinion. That review worries that fans looking for more Frozen , as they remember it from the first film, might actually be disappointed. Because Frozen II , for good or ill, is a very different move than its predecessor.

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Ironically, Frozen fans may secretly be wishing for a more straightforward rehash, and to them, the best advice comes in the form of three little words: “Let it go.”

Certainly one never expect reviews to all agree as critics, like all people, have different tastes. Having said that, these Frozen II reviews are all over the map. Some think the music is excellent, others find most of it forgettable. Some think the animation is gorgeous, some find the character designs off-putting. Opinions are quite mixed.

The general consensus seems to be that Frozen II is good, but maybe not great. It's better than the original, but only if you didn't absolutely love the original. For those that did, it will be interesting to see how they respond when the film opens November 22.

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis. Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.

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Frozen II Review

22 Nov 2019

As a rule, animated Disney princess movies don’t get theatrical sequels – they end, by definition, with ‘happily ever after’. But then, 2013’s Frozen went far beyond your average animated Disney princess movie, a $1.2 billion box office behemoth that subverted fairy-tale notions of true love, with an earworm soundtrack that sent frazzled parents loopy on endless repeat listens. So it is that Frozen ’s happy ending gives way to a big-screen sequel that — as they tend to — goes bigger, bolder, and more epic.

It begins gloriously, with a lush, confident opening act that establishes the new status quo – Elsa ( Menzel ), in control of her ice powers, ruling Arendelle and living with love and warmth among sister Anna ( Bell ), soon-to-be-brother-in-law Kristoff ( Groff ), and goofy snowman Olaf ( Gad ). The first film’s frosty palette is swapped for a gorgeous autumnal aesthetic — all golden leaves, hazy sunsets and open fires — bolstered by a string of stirring musical numbers that deal beautifully with ideas of growth and impermanence (“I can’t freeze this moment, but I can seize this day,” sings Elsa). Frozen II isn’t just set in a season of change — it’s about the inevitability of it.

It’s also a more mature film that deals with notions of maturity, for an audience that has itself grown up in the six years since the previous outing. That means an expansive, mythical tone as the gang sets off on a quest tied into a mystery around Elsa and Anna’s family history, incorporating epic fantasy elements from Middle-earthian stone giants, to elemental spirits and indigenous tribal communities. Like Moana before it, Frozen II takes Disney further into Studio Ghibli territory, dropping binary good-and-evil storytelling for more nuanced depictions of the balance between humanity and nature.

The monolithic spectre of ‘Let It Go’ is not only winked at in a sharp gag, but is followed up with a double whammy of Elsa-bangers.

That the plot largely exists in service of world-building leads to a meandering middle act, driven by a mystery that remains narratively vague for too long and is largely obvious in hindsight. If the wider scope is admirable, the mythology-extending doesn’t always succeed, delivering backstory and familial revelations in hazy, hasty exposition that leaves big questions still unclear come the credits.

But just as Frozen transcended a tangled narrative thanks to its engaging characters and show-stopping music, Frozen II ’s plot missteps are more than compensated for by another suite of hits by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez . Olaf — who delivers a hasty recap of the previous adventure in the film’s funniest sequence — gets a particularly witty number in ‘When I Am Older’, repressing his trauma as he’s menaced by forest spirits. Kristoff gets the only notable misfire — a half-hearted parody of mopey soft-rock ballads. As for the musical elephant in the room, the monolithic spectre of ‘Let It Go’ is not only winked at in a sharp gag, but is followed up with a double whammy of Elsa-bangers, two fresh songs of spine-tingling self-discovery — the propulsive ‘Into The Unknown’ and mystical ‘Show Yourself’. If neither quite matches the last film’s breakout hit, that they both come close is impressive enough.

Where Frozen II does surpass its predecessor is in the jaw-dropping animation – one moment involving water drawn from a plank of wood is near-photoreal. Elsewhere, the film is far more stylish and playful than the prosaic original, with metaphysical character-driven sequences that make full use of the medium’s blank canvas, their imagery more emotionally intuitive than any expository dialogue. A scene of Elsa taming a spectral water-horse in the heart of a raging sea is simultaneously frightening, beautiful and enigmatic, drawing to mind Rey’s finger-clicking journey to self-discovery in Star Wars: The Last Jedi .

If the final act underwhelms in the action stakes, Frozen II still delivers where it really counts — the emotional beats and relationship between Elsa and Anna, who continually strengthen and uplift each other across the runtime. Among the not inconsiderable flaws, there’s enough greatness to make Frozen II worth Disney breaking its big rule for. And that in itself is a happy ending.

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Review: Disney’s ‘Frozen 2’ is far from essential, but charmingly avoids the sophomore slump

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One of the many things we learn in “Frozen II” — aside from the usual lessons about the nobility of sacrifice, the deceptiveness of appearances and the importance of not shutting out your loved ones — is that water has memory. Water, we’re told, retains traces of every body it passes through and thus can shape itself into a revealing visual echo of what has come before.

Elsa (Idina Menzel), the once-repressed, now-liberated queen of the Nordic kingdom of Arendelle, uses her magical powers to demonstrate this principle. Over the course of the movie she will conjure a series of ice sculptures that essentially serve as illustrative flashbacks, opening windows into the past. At one point those sculptures even come to life and enact moments from the first “Frozen” (2013), including Elsa’s performance of that immortal sub-zero power ballad, “Let It Go.”

Elsa winces in embarrassment at that familiar tune, which is a nice touch — a sly acknowledgment that, yes, even the powers that be at Disney know how sick you must be of that chart-topping, Oscar- and Grammy-winning earworm. This kind of self-awareness can be a tricky proposition; too often it can come across as self-congratulation, especially in movies that exist, like this one, for chiefly mercenary reasons. But the approach mostly works for this sweet, diverting sequel, which understands — in a way that its smash-hit predecessor naturally couldn’t have — just how susceptible the audience might be to “Frozen” fatigue.

The returning directors, Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, have thus taken the eminently sensible step of poking good-natured fun at their original creation while also preserving and even maximizing its most durable charms. Like the first film, “Frozen II” is less a triumph of storytelling than of packaging. It bundles together a bunch of familiar, likable characters and a fresh list of bright, catchy songs, expertly written (by the returning duo of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez) with an ear toward the Broadway show tunes they will one day inevitably become.

Against the kind of majestic snow-covered backdrop that’s sure to boost hot-chocolate sales at concessions, we are treated once more to the ingenious comic stylings of Olaf (Josh Gad), the sentient snowman who showed up halfway through “Frozen.” This time around, he’s a scene-stealing, joke-dispensing machine from start to finish, and with a pretty good hit-to-miss ratio, judging by the squeals of laughter from my 3-year-old screening companion (and OK, I joined in too).

Less entertaining but no less pleasant are Elsa’s plucky younger sister, Anna (Kristen Bell), and her ruggedly handsome paramour, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff). He spends the entire movie trying and failing to propose marriage, spurring a lot of exasperated reaction shots from his reindeer pal, Sven.

Their latest adventure feels darker yet less consequential than the last one; the mythology is somehow both overly complicated and oddly perfunctory. Really, the plot is mainly an excuse for the characters to hang out. And why not? Sometimes you want to go to a Scandinavian sauna where everybody knows your name. Elsa and her companions may not be the most richly drawn (sorry, computer-animated) characters, but they’re such congenial company that you could happily watch them play charades for two hours, rather than just a brief five-minute stretch at the beginning.

It’s during that parlor game that Elsa receives a haunting, ominous warning that only she can hear. Before long the safety of Arendelle is threatened, forcing a mass exodus and sending our heroes north in search of answers. Their destination is a foggy, autumnal enchanted forest where, some 34 years earlier, the Arendellians sought to make peace with a tribe of magic users known as the Northuldra. But the attempt at a détente failed miserably, and amid the ensuing violence, the forest itself went into lockdown mode, shrouding itself in mist and trapping everyone inside.

What happens next — as our heroes venture “Into the Unknown,” to name the movie’s most infernally catchy tune — at times suggests a PG-rated remake of last year’s horror-thriller “Annihilation.” Don’t be alarmed; there are no killer bears in this one, and no major villains in general. There is a mischievous wind, a cute pyromaniacal lizard and a family of rock monsters who seem to have lumbered in from “The NeverEnding Story.” There are also the usual unsubtle yet hard-to-dispute messages about the inherent treachery of humankind, with its contempt for the environment and its paralyzing fear of what it does not understand.

It’s no spoiler to note that Elsa’s magic, which made her an outcast in the first film, will make her a leader and a unifying force in this one. She remains a memorably intrepid heroine and a striking ideal of female power — living proof that you can command the elements, save your kingdom and look fabulous doing it, especially if your powers include lightning-quick changes of wardrobe.

There’s a mix of kindness and thorniness to Elsa, a refusal to simply smile and go with the flow, that feels pleasingly consistent with the first film. Although no longer forced to hide her powers from the world, she still tends to isolate herself and fight most of her battles alone. And unlike Anna, of course, she continues to show not even the slightest interest in romance, making her a genuinely radical figure among the marrying-kind ranks of most Disney heroines.

Those who have embraced Elsa as a proto-LGBTQ heroine in the first “Frozen” will find further grist for their arguments in “Frozen II.” But I hope they cast an equally appreciative eye on the supporting characters, most of whom manage to upend stereotypes and challenge norms within the parameters of a family-friendly animation.

Olaf, a childlike naif with a grown-up’s talent for self-analysis, is like a walking brief for mental health and positive thinking. And Kristoff, voiced by Broadway star Groff, gets one of the best songs, an ’80s-style rock anthem in which a guy basically admits he needs directions. It’s called “Lost in the Woods,” though I prefer to think of it as “The Iceman Hummeth.”

‘Frozen II’

Rating: PG, for action/peril and some thematic elements Running time: 1 hour, 44 minutes Playing: Opens Nov. 22 in general release

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'Frozen II' Review: A Gorgeously Animated Sequel That Tops The Original

"Some things never change," or so go the lyrics in one of the songs in the highly anticipated Disney sequel Frozen II . This follow-up arrives six years after the worldwide phenomenon of Frozen took hold of popular culture, with its songs becoming so unavoidable and ubiquitous almost overnight. Frozen II attempts to carve out a place for itself while delivering the charm, catchy music, and core emotional underpinnings that so inflamed people's imaginations in 2013. With its eye-popping animation, world-building, and character exploration, Frozen II is nominally a slight improvement on its predecessor. But it's still limited by the burden of expectations. Arendelle is thriving in the reign of Queen Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel), yet the young leader is plagued by the mysterious sound of a beckoning siren call only she can hear. Coupled with her memory of the king and queen describing for her a strange, enchanted forest in the North where magic reigned supreme, Elsa is compelled to leave her home. Unable to quell her wandering spirit, she heads off to an enchanted forest in the North, joined by her sister Anna (Kristen Bell), Anna's beau Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer Sven, and the supposedly lovable snowman Olaf (Josh Gad). The core adventure is less about the sisterly bonds delved into during the 2013 original, and more about the pressing question of why Elsa is gifted with magical powers, and whether those powers might destroy or save their land. What works most in this film's favor is that it doesn't present itself as a direct copy of the original. Shrewdly, Anna and Elsa are teamed up for a bulk of the story, this enabling their connection to be more believable. Now at least, Anna and Elsa act like sisters, instead of lip service being paid to their relationship. Elsa, too, may still be a figure of some mystery, but Jennifer Lee's script (she co-directed the film with Chris Buck) is at its strongest when the icy queen is at the forefront. Anna, though less outlandishly klutzy than in the first film, is placed in a silly subplot with Kristoff, who's desperate to pop the question but unable to close the deal. It's not exactly a good thing that this film recalls the first-ever Disney animated sequel, The Rescuers Down Under , wherein the kindly male lead struggles to pop the question to his longtime girlfriend. But the similarities are...unexpected, if not straight-up unwelcome. Of course, the vagaries of what is expected of a sequel—the same, but more of it—means that there are more songs, including two big numbers for Elsa. ("Into the Unknown" has received the "Let It Go" treatment in the marketing campaign, but her other solo number, "Show Yourself", is the standout.) Groff, like Menzel, is a seasoned Broadway vet, although he ironically never got a show-stopping number in the original film. That has mercifully changed with Frozen II , where his 80s-throwback song "Lost in the Woods" is the best of all the compositions from songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristin Anderson-Lopez. It's one of many pop-culture in-jokes that toe the line between being too referential and just slyly funny enough. (To describe the song further would ruin one of the film's most delightful surprises.) There is also a great deal of Olaf, speaking of humor that tries to land on the right side of being too jokey. If you like the sentient snowman who loves warm hugs, you're in for a treat—Olaf jockeys with the two sisters as the second lead of the film. The rest of us have to stew in silence through extended comic bits that land with a thud, as when Olaf hurriedly rushes through a plot synopsis of the first film for a captive audience of new characters. Less continues to be more with Olaf, which means his screen time is an aggressive albatross hanging around the rest of the film. Those aforementioned new characters are plentiful, but it's fascinating that none of them make much of an impact, nor are they meant to. Sterling K. Brown appears as a long-lost Arendellian (Arendellite? We'll have to wait for the third film to know for sure) with a connection to Anna and Elsa's parents, acquitting himself nicely enough in a mildly thankless role. The same goes for Martha Plimpton and Jason Ritter, both as denizens of the mysterious forest where our heroes spend most of the film. Yet Frozen II is not about the new characters, instead trying to expand upon the creaky mythology of the original. (The expansion of said mythology does not improve its creakiness, sadly.) The truest improvement between films comes not in its story, but in its striking presentation. Though Elsa's powers arrive in full bloom in the enchanted forest, the real power of this movie comes through its gorgeous, often jaw-dropping animation. Much of the film's antagonism is driven by natural elements like air and water, which are visualized in crisp, detailed fashion that goes well beyond past Disney animated fare, hand-drawn or computer animated. An extended sequence midway through the film, in which Elsa goes on a very important journey of self-discovery, is visually one of the most accomplished sequences of the 80-plus years of Disney animation, period. The way that Disney animators have pushed computer technology to give life to even droplets of water is genuinely gasp-inducing. Whatever else can be said, Frozen II is truly beautiful. Frozen II has an insurmountable challenge in front of it. When the original arrived in the late fall of 2013, no one would have predicted exactly how massive it became. Its songs became instant anthems, its story tapped into the vibrant spirit of young women around the world, and its characters were quickly welcomed into the collective public's hearts. Nothing about this movie is going to ruin the original film's impact, and it's a more coherent story with a stronger emotional heart. It's a good movie, a solid follow-up to a slightly less entertaining film. But only when its visuals do the talking does Frozen II really sing. /Film Rating: 6.5 out of 10

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January 1945. The first French regiment of paratroopers to fight with an American unit prepares to liberate Alsace in France during World War II.
January 1945. The first French regiment of paratroopers to fight with an American unit to liberate Alsace in France. An Allied Division must take the forest bordering the town of Jebsheim, several days before the attack that would later be called the 'French Stalingrad.' Prisoners of the cold, snow, and harsh winter conditions, and pounded by German forces, the French and American soldiers learn the violence and hell of war In this struggle for freedom and survival, they will face an unexpected enemy.

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Frozen II (2019) Review

INTO THE UNKNOWN

Back in 2013, Walt Disney Pictures celebrated their 53 rd animated feature film with the release of Frozen . Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the film, which starred the voice talents of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad, tells the story of a fearless princess (Anna) who sets off on a quest alongside seasoned iceman (Kristoff), his loyal reindeer (Sven), and a magical yet naïve snowman (Olaf) to save her estranged sister (Elsa), whose uncontrollable icy powers have inadvertently trapped their home (the Kingdom of Arendelle) in an eternal winter. Taking inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Snow Queen”, Frozen was met with universal acclaim from both critics and moviegoers everywhere, with most praising the feature for its visuals, screenplay, themes, music, and voice acting. Additionally, some viewers considered Frozen to be one of the best Disney animated feature since the studio’s renaissance era (1989-1999). Along with its critical success, Frozen went on to become a commercial success as well, with the movie grossing $1.276 billion worldwide box office. At the award season, Frozen even went to win several key awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (“Let It Go”), the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, two Grammy Awards for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Song Written for Visual Media (“Let It Go), and several others. Now, six years have passed since the release of Frozen , and Walt Disney Pictures and director Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee finally return to the Kingdom of Arendelle with the highly anticipated sequel Frozen II . Does this long-awaited follow-up adventure deliver on the special “magic” that the first movie was able to conjure up or does the feature’s “enchantment” get lost within its own ambition and storytelling?

After the events of the first film, peace has found its way into the Kingdom of Arendelle, with Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel), her feisty sister Anna (Kristen Bell) ruling in harmony, with fellow friend Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) trying to work up the nerve to propose to Anna, leaning heavily on his reindeer companion Sven for support. However, while all seems peaceful, Elsa is soon pulled into a different direction, drawn to a spiritual voice that inspire urgency to the great Enchanted Forest, a realm that plays home to mystical forces, including an enigmatic civilization Anna and Elsa’s father, King Agnarr (Alfred Molina), once shared the details about with his children when they were little. When this elemental power pushes the people of Arendelle out of their homes and out of the kingdom itself, Elsa sets out to uncover more about the death of her parents, hoping to find the source of her magic. Unwilling to let her sibling embark on a solo mission, Anna tries to keep up with the ice queen, joined by Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf (Josh Gad) as they confront the secrets of the Northuldra’s Tribe and the power that the Enchanted Forest holds.

THE GOOD / THE BAD

Oh, yes…. Frozen . I remember when this movie original came out back in 2013. Of course, being a fan of animated movies, especially Disney’s animated features, I was very interested in seeing Frozen as the film’s marketing campaigns for it looked fantastic (and definitely eye-catching) of trying to be somewhat “reminiscent” old the Disney Renaissance era of animated motion pictures. So, when I actually saw it (on its opening night), I was too right about this movie…in a good way. Frozen felt like warm nostalgia of classic Disney animated features; embracing its “signature identity” of singing princesses, talking / animated sidekicks, and tales of true love that helped pushed the story of Anna and Elsa to soaring new heights of quality children’s animated entertainment. Of course, I loved “Let it Go”, which I do agree got “overplayed” after the film’s release, but is still such a great Disney song (I even put it as #5 of my Top Ten Best Disney Songs list). Additionally, I even said (back then) that Frozen was gonna be a big hit with everyone and it surely did, with the everything from box office sales, to toy products / merchandise, to its soundtrack (both physical and digital formats); with the whole “Frozen” brand becoming a juggernaut (and profitable) force in Disney’s sales. All in all, Frozen was tremendous entertaining animated film by Disney and (at least to me) deserve all the praise it has received.

This bring me back to the point of talking (and reviewing) Frozen II , Disney’s follow-up sequel film to 2013’s Frozen . Naturally, given how much I loved and enjoyed the first film, you can tell that I was curious to see if Disney was gonna do a sequel and when the feature would materialize. Of course, with Disney being Disney (trying to build a “franchise tag” with a lot of their properties), that very idea materialized a few years later when they made that announcement that Frozen II would happen and be released in 2019. You can tell I was quite excited to see this sequel and to see where this new animated adventure would go and how it will all shaped up to be…a successful sequel or a disappointing flop. As to be expected, the movie was highly promoted throughout most of the 2019 year, with the film’s marketing campaign (i.e. movie trailer, TV spots, products / merch, etc.) capitalizing on the much anticipation of the film’s release. Plus, I was interested to see much the movie would differ from the first movie, with Frozen II promising to be more complexed and even darker than its predecessor. So, I went to see Frozen II on its opening night; expecting great things from this long-awaited sequel. What did I think of it? Well, despite a few messy areas within its narrative, Frozen II is a solid (yet confusing) sequel that delivers on being an entertaining animated endeavor, with its impressive animation and talented voice talents. It doesn’t overtake the first Frozen , but it has a deeper (and more mature) story to tell.

Returning to the director’s chair are both Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the same “dynamic duo” behind the first Frozen movie. Thus, as one would expect, the creative minds behind the uber popular first endeavor seems likely a perfectly choice in helming a sequel feature by trying to capture the same “Disney magic” with Frozen II . In this regard, the movie succeeds and deliver very engaging sequel installment that feels very much “in line” for both a Disney animated movie as well as being follow-up adventure to the first feature. Buck and Lee know this world (i.e. the Kingdom of Arendelle and the people therein), so the idea of the duo returning to the project is a harmonious one that works and will surely delight fans out there. Indeed, the cards are certainly stacked against Buck and Lee, with the first film, which was (more or less) intended to be a standalone animated feature. So, what Buck and Lee are able to create / present in Frozen II is something quite interesting and unique, framing the sequel with a more sophisticated and deeper narrative plot for the movie’s characters to explore. In addition, the film offers up new material for Frozen II to explore, expanding the world with new lore and mythology (i.e. the elemental spirts of Enchanted Forest), which are quite intriguing as well as expanding upon the mystery behind Anna and Elsa’s parents. Buck and Lee seize this opportunity in Frozen II and stage the film’s events in a deeper (and sometimes darker) tale than the first movie, which certainly does add more “emotional impact” in Frozen II . This is also due to the film’s script, which was also penned by Buck and Lee as well as Marc Smith, Robert Lopez, and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, which allows the Frozen characters to evolve a bit more and share / experience another dramatic adventure that delves into different facets of personal journey, especially in Anna and Elsa’s sisterly path. All in all, while there are some of the mechanics that aren’t completely ironed out (more on that below), Frozen II still delivers a fascinating narrative with a entertaining and emotional sequel that certainly proves worthy of its original 2013 film.

Where one of the areas that Frozen II undisputedly shines is in its presentation, which is absolutely gorgeous to see. The first Frozen movie was indeed quite beautiful and stunningly detailed that really was the “top notch” animated feature of 2013. Likewise, Frozen II’s animation is highly impressive and certainly pushes the boundaries of animation; making the movie’s characters and backdrop settings even richer and more detailed “look and feel” to this Frozen world. There’s just something about the movie’s animation looks incredible and certainly takes animated movie’s styles to a new level (i.e. more realistic-looking and fluid than the previous Frozen ). Additionally, the cinematography for the film of which Buck and Lee present is also exquisite; offering up some sublimely slick and cinematic sequences that are sprinkled throughout the movie in dazzling and spectacle way. Lastly, the film’s score, which was composed by Christopher Beck, is great and definitely hits all the right melodic notes from start to finish.

Of course, being a Disney movie, Frozen II continues its predecessor’s trend to feature a selection of musical songs that its characters sing; helping to elevate both the story’s emotional beats as well as continuing to embrace Disney’s signature identity. Reflecting the film’s deeper story and dramatic moments, the songs utilized in the movie are thematically charged and have a more “grow up” feel of dealing with issues that the characters expressive in the film. Of course, this is thanks to the script (harmonizing with the movie), but also with the original writing duo of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez giving Frozen II some emotional strong songs like “Into the Unknown”, “The Next Right Thing”, and “Lost in the Woods” (this sequence is amusing as its presented almost like a music video). The only downside is that none of the Frozen II songs quite surpass any of the songs from the first film. Not even “Into the Unknown”, which can be considered the equivalent to Frozen’s “Let It Go”, can outshines that extremely popular breakout song. Then again, “Let it Go” is one of the songs that really hard to trump and outdo.

Unfortunately, there are a few pieces in the movie that hold Frozen II back from surpassing the original film. For starters, the film, while ambitious and expansive, seems like it bites off more than it can chew and doesn’t know how to present parts of its narrative. Much like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil , Disney’s other fairy tale sequel, Frozen II expands upon the original movie by adding new lore and mythology into the mix; making the movie’s world (and its story) larger in comparsion to the original film. While what’s presented is indeed interesting and intriguing, the movie (or rather the film’s script handling) gets muddled into its execution and how it circumnavigates its own story. There’s a lot to say in Frozen II’s story, with plenty of ideas, concepts, and characters (both old and new), but how the movie (and its script) plays it out is a little bit mismanaged and how it wants to spell out its own story. This includes some parts of the narrative, which are presented vaguely, and could’ve been easily expanded upon rather than thinly sketched. Then there’s also the conflict of the Enchanted Forest, a huge centerpiece of Frozen II. Again, it’s definitely interesting and wonderous to behold, but it just feels like the movie never fully explains parts of it, especially within the various elemental spirits that dwell. There are also a few continuity issues that I felt were a bit perplexing, especially those surrounding Anna and Elsa’s parents (King Agnarr and Queen Iduna). I’m not saying that the movie is terrible or bad, but the narrative, despite more complexed and more sophisticated, seems like it could’ve been more refined in certain areas in order to deliver a through story within its wholesome presentation. General speaking, despite having a solid presentation, Frozen II just simply out beat nor outmatch the likeability of the first Frozen movie.

There’s also a similarity between Frozen II and to Avatar: The Last Airbender (not so much that horrible live-action movie, but more of the popular cartoon series). I can’t say much on the similarities (without spoiling the film), but fans of the Avatar: The Last Airbender will clearly see the sometimes mirror reflection found in Frozen II , which kind can be both a blessing (for some) and curse (for others) in film criticism. To me, I somewhere in-between as I liked it, but was a bit disappointed that Frozen II didn’t go further with some of the material.

What helps overlook some of these criticism remarks is in the voice talents for Frozen II, with many of the core talents from the first feature returning to reprise their Frozen character roles once again. Of course, leading the charge in the movie are actresses Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, who plays Frozen II’s main princess protagonist characters of Princess Anna and Queen Elsa of Arendelle. Bell, known for her roles in Veronica Mars , House of Lies , and Forgetting Sarah Marshall , is still heartwarming as Anna, the livelier and more energetic of the two sister princesses. Like before, Bell’s enthusiastic voice lends some “spunkiness” to the character, but Frozen II gives the character of Anna more room to grow as she concerns herself over Elsa’s well-being and how she must to do the right thing; offering plenty of character growth in maturity for her. Likewise, Menzel, known for her roles in Enchanted , Rent , and Glee , delivers another emotionally stirring performance as Elsa, who is once again placed at the “heart” of the feature. Like before, Elsa takes center stage for the movie definitely adds another layer to the “Snow Queen” character architype; almost like a tragedy (if you think about). Collectively, Menzel is “pitch perfect” (no pun intended) as Elsa and hits all the right notes and moments with the character; making her once again memorable throughout. Plus, I always love when Menzel really “belts” it out in her songs, especially in “Into the Unknown” and in “Show Yourself”. As a side-note, Elsa does get a new look in Frozen II and I love it!

In more secondary roles, the characters of Kristoff and Olaf return and compliment the feature’s main protagonist characters of Anna and Elsa, with actors Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad returning to their post respectfully. Goff, known for his roles in Looking , Glee , and Boss , certainly has a certain charm in making Kristoff a likeable character, with Frozen II’s story giving him more of mature plot thread of trying to work up the courage to ask Anna for his hand in marriage. Some might argue that it’s a bit cliché of sorts, but Kristoff (as a character) deals with the emotional stress and nervousness of the situation (again, adding more maturity into the plot), with Goff showcasing plenty of charisma and sincerity into his vocal performance. Plus, his rendition of “Lost in the Woods” is great. Similarly, Gad, known for his roles in The Wedding Ringer , Pixels , and Beauty and the Beast , is once again a true “crowd pleaser” in the movie, with the character of Olaf getting the most laughs and comedic spotlight moments throughout Frozen II . Gad hits all the right timing moments with Olaf and the character is hilarious in his more “mature” (yet still inherently goofy) persona in the movie. Indeed, some viewers out there think that the character of Olaf (and Gad himself) is a bit “overrated”, but Gad certainly knows the character and makes it his own and plays more of a pivotal part in Frozen II’s narrative. Additionally, actor Ciaran Hinds ( Game of Thrones and Rome ) returns to reprise his role as Grand Pabbie, the leader of the Trolls that raised Kristoff from youth.

New characters are introduced in Frozen II and, while the voice talents behind them are fine, I felt that the movie could’ve easily (and should’ve) expanded upon these roles, with a bit of greater emphasis on their involvement on the film’s story than what was given. Perhaps the character that makes the most memorable impression is in the character Lieutenant Destin Mattias, one of the leaders of a group of Arendelle soldiers that are trapped within the Enchanted Forest. Voiced by Sterling K. Brown ( This Is Us and The Predator ), the character isn’t quite as well-rounded and having depth beyond his initial introduction, but Sterling’s voice makes the character memorable (at least to me). In more smaller roles, actor Alfred Molina ( Spider-Man 2 and The Da Vinci Code ), actress Evan Rachel Wood ( Westworld and Across the Universe ), and actor Jermey Sisto (Clueless and Wrong Turn) as Anna and Elsa’s parents (King Agnarr and Queen Iduna) and their grandfather King Runenard. While their screen-time is limited (kind of expected it), these voice talents are perfectly fine for the movie with Molina, Wood, and Sisto lending “seasoned gravitas” to these supporting roles.

The rest of the new cast, including actress Martha Plimpton ( Parenthood and The Goonies ) as Yelana, the leader of the Northuldra tribe, actress Rachel Matthews ( Happy Death Day and Looking for Alaska ) as Honeymaren, a member of the Northuldra tribe, and actor Jason Ritter ( Parenthood and Gravity Falls ) as Ryder, a member of the Northuldra who is Honeymaren’s brother and shares Kristoff’s love of reindeer, are woefully underdeveloped in the movie. Of course, their acting talents in providing the voices for these respective characters are perfectly fine, but the movie just never allows these characters to be fully developed beyond their initial set-up, which is disappointing as these particular characters could’ve been easily expanded upon and had “more to do” in the film. Alas, they weren’t, which is sad.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Get ready to let go of the past and answer the call as Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf go beyond the Kingdom of Arendelle to uncover the truth in the movie Frozen II . Director Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee’s follow-up sequel certainly does need prove to be a solid sequel endeavor that goes deeper (and sometimes darker) storytelling for our favorite Frozen characters and certainly expanding the film’s world with new lore and mythology to entice the story in this second adventure. While the movie does struggle in how its present some of the new elements (never truly surpassing the original Frozen) and misses a few opportunities along the way, the rest of the feature is a wonderful sequel endeavor, which is complimented by the film’s impressive animation, mature character threads, solid voice talents, and just a entertaining sequel that works. To me, I liked this movie. Yes, this movie can’t beat out the original Frozen , but it is still a wholesome endeavor that delivers a fine follow-up adventure. Thus, my recommendation for this is a favorable “recommended” as I’m sure that most fans of the first movie (as well as young viewers out there) will eagerly want to see this movie and will be delighted with this second Frozen Adventure. Will there be a Frozen III ? While that answer is still uncertain, but I would certainly welcome the idea (as I’m sure many fans out there will agree). In the end, whether or not the next chapter is to be written, Frozen II is fine (yet slightly imperfect) sequel endeavor; showcasing that the “House of Mouse” still has some of its “signature magic” left to conjure within its animated feature films.

4.1 Out of 5 (Recommended)

Released on: november 22nd, 2019, reviewed on: november 27th, 2019.

Frozen II is 103 minutes long and rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements

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