Frozen (2013) - Film Review

Starring: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad & Santino Fontana

Screenplay: Jennifer Lee

Directed By: Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee

Certificate: PG

 

In the past few years, Disney have been easing the use of their iconic princesses in their films, and in fact, the only recent Disney film I can think of off the top of my head to use one of these princesses would be 2010's Tangled. You could put this down to a variety of reasons, but personally, I'd argue that the princesses have strayed from the big screen because they may not sit well in a more modern context. But with the release of Frozen, which sees not just one, but two princesses, as well as far-away kingdoms and magic, could the princesses be about to return, and if so, will Disney be able to adapt them to suit today's world?

 

As young children, the future queens of Arendelle, Princess Anna and Elsa, lose their parents in a tragic accident at sea. Elsa is next in line to the throne, but was born with a secret that she struggles to keep secret – she has the magical ability to summon snow and ice. When Anna is accidentally hurt by Elsa's magic, the knowledge that Elsa even has magic is removed from her head, and Elsa must now keep it secret from everyone. But years later, at Elsa's coronation, she can no longer contain her secret, and as she flees Arendelle, she unintentionally sets off an eternal winter...

 

In years to come, I think Frozen will probably be best remembered for its impeccable array of characters. The characters in Frozen are perhaps some of the strongest to ever grace a Disney film, and not one character fits any kind of designated role or stereotype. Anna proves that she is far more than just another pretty Disney princess, Kristoff isn't just a handsome prince-type character (he isn't actually any kind of nobility, and neither does he become one by the end of the film) and Olaf is more than just comic relief and as time goes on, he even becomes the embodiment of the film's heart and emotions. (Spoiler Warning!) Originally, it seems that the only character to conform would be Prince Hans, who originally seems to be another perfect Disney prince, but a certain important twist concerning his character makes him such a better and more interesting character. For those that have criticized the aforementioned twist as coming out of nowhere or unbelievable, or questioned why he continues to help Anna for so long, there's a simple explanation. Hans's plan went wrong, and as a result of that, he's reacting and adapting to events out of his control, just as a real person would.

 

But while all the characters are terrific, one in particular stands out, and that's Elsa. Elsa could possibly be the best Disney character ever – she's multi-layered, complex and you could honestly spend all day talking about her. Is she the villain of the film, as was originally intended, or the hero? There's so much to talk about with her character, and she's the only Disney princess I can think of that doesn't have romantic attachments to any of the other characters. Add to this her struggle to keep her magic secret and her desire to be free, and she constantly feels like a relatable protagonist. In what is one of the best things to watch in Frozen, Elsa is also the character that undergoes the most change, going from self-critical and restrained, to accepting herself, through to full-on empowerment. All this can be seen in her solo song, Let It Go – something I'll definitely talk more about later.

 

Sadly, while as a whole, the characters in Frozen are its greatest strength, the way they're handled in the script can sometimes make it the film's biggest downfall too. All these character twists and defying conventions are great, but the film takes a long time getting round to it. For a long time, it looks as though Frozen is going to bring out every familiar Disney trope there is – magic, princesses, and the idea of a true love's act, originally thought to be a kiss from Hans, saving a main character. While the rug is pulled out from under our feet, the film takes a while in doing so and leaves it a bit late in the day. It's not implausible to think that by the time Frozen knows which way its heading, there will be several in the audience who will have already given up on it.

 

But back on the bright side, something the film does much better is handling relevant and complex themes in a mature and respectable way. For instance, many have identified LGBT subtext in Frozen, and while I agree with that, I also think it goes further than that. The character of Elsa in particular, with her magical powers symbolizing her difference, speaks up for those who are different, and I honestly believe this film speaks for anyone who may feel alone, discriminated against, part of a minority, or just simply left out, and it reminds them just how wonderful they really are. It's inspirational and I identify with its optimism, and I really respect the creative forces behind the film for respecting the intelligence of younger audiences. Above all else, this film has proved that Disney at least recognizes some of its flaws and works to improve on them. The film is brave enough to recognize that falling in love at first sight and then agreeing to marry that person on the same day... just doesn't happen, as horrible as it feels for me to say that, given that I'll forever be a romantic. But let's be clear, the improvements Frozen makes doesn't make any past Disney films bad, it just makes Frozen more suitable for today's audience.

 

On a more light-hearted note, it's worth mentioning that Frozen plays host to some fantastic musical numbers that are sprinkled throughout. Ordinarily, I have a very low threshold for musical numbers in films, and with some exceptions, I just can't seem to get into a lot of musicals; so with that in mind, you can be assured that the songs in Frozen are really good. With the exception of the trolls' Fixer Upper song, which was easily the most annoying and out-of-place moment in the film, songs like Do You Want To Build A Snowman?, For The First Time In Forever, and Love Is An Open Door were all charming, enjoyable and sounded great. The standout song is of course Elsa's solo Let It Go, which isn't just the best song of the film, but is now one of my favourite songs period. It would also be doing the film an injustice if we didn't mention the stunning quality of animation here. The hard work and years of research into animating realistic snow and ice has clearly paid off, and everything looks amazing, from the kingdom of Arendelle to the effects of Elsa's magic.

 

Set aside some structural issues, and Frozen is another worthy entry to the current second Golden Age of animation. The film is inspirational and uplifting throughout, and it will be hard not to at least be smiling every few minutes. While the film is wholly joyful, it also breaks down many outdated conventions and expectations, to deliver a smart fun-filled time for all the family. If nothing else, Frozen served as proof that Disney is starting to grow up, and I'm looking forward to seeing what this new era has to offer.

Frozen



9/10