Nothing will stop the $1.29 billion franchise of “Frozen” to cut a swath around the world, with their newest installment—“Frozen ll.” Hell could freeze over and the box-office for the Walt Disney Animation Studios new family film would continue to climb.
The creative team includes Jennifer Lee; story by Chris Buck, Marc E. Smith, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez.
“Frozen II” fans might be looking for a rehash of the first film but they will be disappointed. In more ways than I can list this installment is better.
“Frozen II” reunites siblings Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna’s creation the loveable snowperson Olaf (Josh Gad). This installment celebrates girl power to the maximum and their thirst for adventure is answered when Anna and Elsa set out to find the source of a mysterious song emanating from somewhere far to the north—a mythical place called Ahtohallan that holds the secret of their parents’ disappearance. There are other benefits in this quest like finding the key to nature and peace with the Northuldra, an indigenous tribe most have been taught to be terrified of.
“Frozen II” opens with a bedtime-story retelling of the kingdom’s mysterious past—as told by the royal sisters’ parents, King Agnarr (Alfred Molina) and Queen Iduna (Evan Rachel Wood) of Arendelle. Their grandfather (Jeremy Sisto) and head general Mattias (Sterling K. Brown) were magically attacked resulting in making the enchanted forest becoming wrapped in mist for more than 34 years. There is more to unpack here but I won’t spoil the details.
The award-winning songwriting couple Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez return with a song—“Into the Unknown”—that does not come close to “Let It Go.” “Frozen II” does have a lot of songs and a few do stick in your brain like the pop-infused musical number “The Next Right Thing.”
In the first film, we don’t know how or why Elsa is cursed with blasting snow and ice from her fingertips while Anna lacks magic altogether.
The queen privately wrestles with the feeling that she doesn’t belong in Arendelle but in “Frozen II” Elsa has a chance to get to the bottom of the mystery. The connection between the sisters is strong and to search further for answers, Anna insists on coming along.
Elsa is driven by a powerful belief that she has an unknown destiny and is convinced that “the truth must be found,” without flinching.
The forest is scary and the journey is dangerous but Elsa refuses to stop no matter the risk or cost.
Love is in the air for Anna, her would-be suitor Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) is trying to get the nerve to ask for her hand in marriage. He’s a nervous wreck and each time he attempts he winds up messing it up.
Like most men, Kristoff struggles with showing Anna his true feelings confiding to his best friend his loyal reindeer Sven.
“Frozen II” won’t disappoint. It truly has everything you would expect—fun songs, likable characters, amazing backdrops, hilarious jokes, adventurous episodes and a voyage of discovery plot coupled with female empowerment that makes you cheer that the gang is back!
“Frozen II” (Animation) A Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release of a Disney presentation of a Walt Disney Animation Studios production. Directed by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee. Screenplay by Jennifer Lee; story: Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck, Marc E. Smith, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez.
Starring Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff, Sterling K. Brown, Evan Rachel Wood, Alfred Molina, Martha Plimpton, Jason Ritter, Rachel Matthews, Jeremy Sisto, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Tudyk, Hadley Gannaway, Mattea Conforti.