Though it’s delightful in places and visually enchanting, it doesn’t come close to the original.
Disney's Frozen 2, directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, ventures a little more beyond the Disney template than Frozen did, although not as much as we would want it to. But the mere fact that it attempted to be so bold in its themes, animation, and lyrics in the process makes it a film worth watching.
Early into Frozen 2 — the sequel to 2013 hit Disney animated musical film — one of the two leads in Elsa (Idina Menzel) sings: “I've had my adventure, I don't need something new. I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you.” Those lyrics are part of “Into the Unknown”, a solo with a wordless appearance for the Norwegian singer Aurora that comes closest to the earworm success of “Let It Go”, but they can also be read as a reference to the film's existence in the first place. Outside of the fact that the original made over a billion dollars and became the biggest animated movie of all time upon its release, why did Disney make Frozen 2? And does it have a bigger purpose than to simply refuel Disney's merchandising efforts?
Many think Frozen 2 was unnecessary, and that’s not counting exhausted parents of little kids who listen to ‘Let It Go’ on loop and want everything Frozen-themed. These other folks believe the sequel couldn’t possibly have anything more to say any better than the original. With Frozen, directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck gave us a power ballad for the ages. And wasn’t the first one quite a rule-breaker in terms of Disney movies? They had me at “You can’t marry someone you just met.” So the question remained, did Elsa and Anna’s story need to carry on after the standard happy ending?
After watching Frozen 2, I can assure you, yes. Yes, it did. Frozen 2 begins with a flashback to Elsa and Anna's childhood, where their parents — King Agnarr (Alfred Molina) and Queen Iduna (Evan Rachel Wood) — essentially set up the building blocks of the sequel, involving an enchanted forest that was enveloped in an impenetrable fog after the four forest spirits were enraged for reasons not entirely clear. Thirty-four years later and a little over three years since the events of the original film, everything is fine and dandy in the kingdom of Arendelle. As further proof, the cast croons how “Some Things Never Change”. Except Elsa is being pulled to a mysterious voice only she can hear, which is all the more alluring given the title of Queen has never really been her true desire.
Disney's Frozen 2, directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, ventures a little more beyond the Disney template than Frozen did, although not as much as we would want it to. But the mere fact that it attempted to be so bold in its themes, animation, and lyrics in the process makes it a film worth watching.
Early into Frozen 2 — the sequel to 2013 hit Disney animated musical film — one of the two leads in Elsa (Idina Menzel) sings: “I've had my adventure, I don't need something new. I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you.” Those lyrics are part of “Into the Unknown”, a solo with a wordless appearance for the Norwegian singer Aurora that comes closest to the earworm success of “Let It Go”, but they can also be read as a reference to the film's existence in the first place. Outside of the fact that the original made over a billion dollars and became the biggest animated movie of all time upon its release, why did Disney make Frozen 2? And does it have a bigger purpose than to simply refuel Disney's merchandising efforts?
Many think Frozen 2 was unnecessary, and that’s not counting exhausted parents of little kids who listen to ‘Let It Go’ on loop and want everything Frozen-themed. These other folks believe the sequel couldn’t possibly have anything more to say any better than the original. With Frozen, directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck gave us a power ballad for the ages. And wasn’t the first one quite a rule-breaker in terms of Disney movies? They had me at “You can’t marry someone you just met.” So the question remained, did Elsa and Anna’s story need to carry on after the standard happy ending?
After watching Frozen 2, I can assure you, yes. Yes, it did. Frozen 2 begins with a flashback to Elsa and Anna's childhood, where their parents — King Agnarr (Alfred Molina) and Queen Iduna (Evan Rachel Wood) — essentially set up the building blocks of the sequel, involving an enchanted forest that was enveloped in an impenetrable fog after the four forest spirits were enraged for reasons not entirely clear. Thirty-four years later and a little over three years since the events of the original film, everything is fine and dandy in the kingdom of Arendelle. As further proof, the cast croons how “Some Things Never Change”. Except Elsa is being pulled to a mysterious voice only she can hear, which is all the more alluring given the title of Queen has never really been her true desire.
In her attempts to reach out via song — this is where “Into the Unknown” comes in — Elsa accidentally awakens the enchanted forest spirits, which in turn take out their anger on Arendelle, putting her people out of a home. Now, Elsa has no option but to journey north towards the said forest. Anna protests because she's concerned for her sister, but she — and her boyfriend Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer Sven, and the talking snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) — eventually tag along. It's here that Frozen 2 properly kicks into gear, with the makers getting the opportunity to showcase new locales and magical elements, as they make use of autumn's range of colors, Nordic folklore, and salamanders to bring it to life.
Narratively, Frozen 2 is fairly predictable, either because it hints too strongly or because its twists aren't original at all. And in filling in gaps and addressing held-over queries, it ends up revisiting what it sort of tackled already in the first film: family bonds. It doesn't know how to add to what has come before, and hence it can't provide the character growth that a sequel demands. The more interesting family thread is the one that deals with the sins of the past. Its message is progressive as it should be, but the need to have a happy ending gets in the way. Other characters suffer too. Kristoff has no role in the plot, so he's ruled out of Frozen 2 midway, and Olaf's concerns about growing up are never brought home.
For what it's worth, those two — Olaf and Kristoff — are responsible for some of the biggest laughs in Frozen 2. (At the India premiere, the younger ones hollered the most at Olaf's inquisitiveness and obliviousness and Elsa's showcase of her near-limitless powers.) Though most of Olaf's comedic lines will likely be too on-the-nose for adults, a standout moment for Gad is his breathless recap of the events of the original. Speaking of self-aware humor, Elsa admits she too can't stand “Let It Go”, the closest Frozen 2 comes to a fourth-wall-breaking moment. With Kristoff, the highlight is “Lost in the Woods”, a power ballad that channels ‘80s glam rock and is replete with every music video cliché you can dream of. It's deliberately cheesy and campy, and it's a hoot.
For what it's worth, those two — Olaf and Kristoff — are responsible for some of the biggest laughs in Frozen 2. (At the India premiere, the younger ones hollered the most at Olaf's inquisitiveness and obliviousness and Elsa's showcase of her near-limitless powers.) Though most of Olaf's comedic lines will likely be too on-the-nose for adults, a standout moment for Gad is his breathless recap of the events of the original. Speaking of self-aware humor, Elsa admits she too can't stand “Let It Go”, the closest Frozen 2 comes to a fourth-wall-breaking moment. With Kristoff, the highlight is “Lost in the Woods”, a power ballad that channels ‘80s glam rock and is replete with every music video cliché you can dream of. It's deliberately cheesy and campy, and it's a hoot.
But those delightful scenes aren't enough to lift up a sequel that simply isn't as inspired as the original in both forms of writing: the story or the songs. (wife-husband duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez return as the songwriters, and they also played a part in the former to0 this time around.) Sure, Frozen 2 had bigger boots to fill since no one at Disney expected Frozen to become the hit that it did. But director Buck and writer-director Lee are unable to spin a new yarn that has the same staying power as Olaf in permafrost. In the end, it ends up being a film that has lots to show but little to say, a common critique for films today that are trying to cash in.
Of course, if Frozen 2 ends up making a billion dollars as well on the back of the original's success, Disney will no doubt want a third entry somewhere down the line. But — to paraphrase Elsa — I've had my adventure and I'm afraid of what Disney risks if it follows the money.
Frozen 2 is out November 22 in cinemas in India in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
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