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The promotional campaign for 2013's Frozen has been selling an entirely different motion picture, which thankfully renders the finished product a delightful surprise. Whereas the trailers foreground both the action beats and the bumbling slapstick comedy, the heart of Frozen is something else entirely, and the resulting picture is staggering in its visual artistry, originality and heart. It's not just good, but genuinely great, a magical throwback to the Disney animated movies of the 1990s when princesses were the order of the day. Frozen will be a godsend for those who adore Disney princess movies, but it will also work for anyone seeking a fun time, as it's smart and playful enough to engage viewers of just about any demographic. This is Disney's best animation in years, and that's saying something with Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled also under the studio's belt.
As young girls, sisters Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) were close, sharing many fond memories of childhood playtime. But Elsa is cursed with the ability to conjure ice, leading to an accident involving Anna that almost kills her. To protect Anna, her memories of Elsa's powers are taken away, and Elsa locks herself away from the world, hoping to find a way to control her curse. Following the death of their parents, the pair grow up in isolation, with Anna left wondering why her beloved sister shut her out. When the day comes for Elsa to be crowned queen of the land of Arendelle, Anna romances a handsome prince named Hans (Santino Fontana). But Elsa doesn't approve of the coupling, and the ensuing argument pushes the nervous new queen to unleash her powers in front of everyone, covering the kingdom in ice and bringing about a permanent winter. Escaping high into the mountains, Else hopes to live in exile, but Anna feels responsible for her estranged sister's outburst and hopes that Else can bring back the summer. Heading out into the cold in pursuit of Elsa, Anna is assisted by ice dealer Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer pal Sven, and a living snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad) who dreams of experiencing hot weather.
Frozen is a loose adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson story The Snow Queen, which Walt Disney actually tried to adapt back in the 1940s before concluding that it was never going to work Disney-style. Yet, co-director/writer Jennifer Lee (who wrote Wreck-It Ralph) has managed to crack the nut at last, and it's hard to imagine anyone doing a better job. What's surprising about Frozen is that the trademark love story tangent does not play out exactly as anticipated - in fact, the heart of the story is the love between Anna and Elsa, with male interests playing a more ancillary role in the tale. The picture's third act is better left unspoiled, as it's beset with twists and turns, bestowing the flick with more innovation than anyone had a right to expect. There's Disney formula at play here, but the tale is coloured in with such zeal and wit, and this is the most unpredictable House of Mouse animation for a considerable amount of time.
In keeping with Disney tradition, Frozen is one step away from being a full-fledged musical, as the picture is peppered with scenes of characters pouring out their hearts in various energetic numbers to advance character development. The best is easily Elsa's Let It Go, which is also the greatest Disney song since the '90s - it's a show-stopping number, sumptuously animated and beautifully sung. Not all of the songs are home runs, but the vocals are consistently excellent, and it's easy to imagine kids listening to the soundtrack on repeat for months on end. What's also exciting about Frozen is how genuinely funny it is, with Lee's writing exhibiting the type of wit and sophistication often saved for Pixar productions. In any other movie, Olaf would be a useless Jar Jar Binks-like sidekick to keep the kids happy, but here he's a brilliant creation who lights up the screen whenever he appears. As long as you have a sense of humour, there's a good chance you'll laugh at Olaf's antics.
Frozen's comedic moments and songs are remarkable, but the picture also excels from a technical standpoint, boasting spectacular art and costume design, not to mention luscious animation. Most impressive here are the character expressions, which are exceptionally complex and nuanced. This is particularly evident with Sven the reindeer - he never vocalises a word, yet he says a great deal through his physical reactions and expressions. The princesses here are terrific creations, too (yes, plural - there are two princesses). Anna may be perceived as just one more Disney princess, but she's more feisty and charmingly awkward than prim and proper. Plus, Elsa is the closest thing to an antagonist that Frozen has until the third act, which is groundbreaking in a Disney movie. Luckily, both characters are voiced with spunk and spirit; Kristen Bell is almost unbearably cute, while Idina Menzel gives real dimension to her animated role.
With its strikingly original storyline, an array of colourful characters and a narrative structure that belies expectations, Frozen is a borderline revolutionary effort from the House of Mouse. It's a new instant classic for the studio which manages to be suitable for family consumption without specifically pandering to the little kids.
8.9/10
