Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee.
Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff.
Running Time: 108 minutes.
Certificate: PG.
Synopsis: Elsa’s (Idina Menzel) coronation has arrived, and for the first time in years she will have to meet people from the outside world. However, her freezing abilities can’t be contained for the night and she ends up bringing the worst winter known upon her town. She flees, unknowing of the spell she’s cast on the city and it’s up to her sister Anna (Kristen Bell) to find her and bring summer back to Arendelle.
After recent disappointing flicks BRAVE and TANGLED, Disney’s classic tale is back. FROZEN is the tale of two sisters, taking inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘Snow Queen’ and putting Scandinavia and its cold weather in focus. And what better time to present snow, reindeer and woolly mittens than in time for Christmas.
The film’s teaser did not divulge much about the story other than its snow setting and a talking snowman to serve as the good-hearted but foolish sidekick. However, the film is great entertainment for both children and adults, with its sarcastic comedy and double entendres making it a movie which can be fully enjoyed and loved, instead of simply endured for the sake of the children.
The damsel in distress concept may have been scrapped, but Disney still insists on its penchant for orphan protagonists who need to discover themselves and rise to the occasion. FROZEN is in addition very interesting as what used to be clear role division has become a battle between good and evil from within, and not purely on the surface.
Sisters Anna and Elsa are FROZEN’s protagonists, yet serve as each others’ antagonists. While Elsa freezes the town and leaves people to die, Anna is a culprit, leading the pair to find a need to save themselves, their relationship and their town. Kristen Bell adds a modern voice to the princess Anna, and shines in both her vocal and comedic performances. The music is spectacular, moving away from the simple rhymes and rhythms which we’ve had to endure recently and gone back to the epic masterpieces with Broadway performers like Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff.
FROZEN will without a doubt be considered a Disney classic in a few years, up there with the epic THE LION KING.
FROZEN is released in UK cinemas on Friday 6th December.
