Disney is back at it, once again proving it is a king at the box office and appealing to all ages and genders. With their new animated musical feature Frozen, everything you think you know about their princess stories will be proven wrong. There's definitely a switch up in the formula, though it may not seem like it in the beginning. There are actually big plot twists in here that I didn't see coming. The film is written with such cleverness and wit that it's hard to determine just what will happen next.
The voice acting and singing is absolutely phenomenal in this film. Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel lead the pack with impressive characterization in their voices along with some killer vocals. Menzel, with her Broadway background, delivers the most chill-inducing performance in the movie. However, the soundtrack is so beautifully written, filled with the happy and catchy choruses we know Disney is capable of, mixed with some heartbreaking and dark pieces that add a completely new dimension to the animated musical genre. The other standout voice was that of Josh Gad, who plays the comedic relief character Olaf, a snowman that has been given life and skips around, filled with optimism at all times.
The animation and 3D weren't too much of a standout, but that's definitely not saying it was bad. It looked incredible on the big screen and the third dimension added that chilliness of the snowy air whipping around you. Some specific shots of an ice castle and the town they live in also bring some extra spectacle with the 3D, but overall it's probably nothing necessary to enjoy this film. I will say, however, there is a clip before the movie that basically makes the 3D surcharge worthwhile, so choose how you will.
There's just something genuine and real in the storytelling of Frozen. It doesn't try to be something it's not, and it is filled with powerful themes of family and sacrifice. The original songs written for the movie were incredible, both in the well-written lyrics and the fact that they'll be stuck in your head for weeks. Overall it's a movie that will tug on all of your emotions: sadness, joy, surprise, and hilariousness. And if none of that pulls you in, I don't know what to tell you. Disney knows its audience, and knew that it needed to switch up its formula. Sure, you'll still see some things coming, but overall Frozen takes so many twists and turns you'll end up enjoying the ride rather than predict what'll happen next. A-
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