Frozen II
Disney released Frozen in 2013 to praise as a smart princess movie. The film played with and subverted stereotypes and offered up some snappy songs while preserving the family values that Walt wanted all his pictures to embody. The movie hauled in so much money that Disney changed its theme parks to keep up with demand. If all this makes you hope for a fresh and inventive sequel, you should probably let it go.
I had to.
The sequel finds Queen Elsa of Arendelle (voiced by Idina Menzel) trying to be a good ruler. She loves her people and her family, and all have accepted her ice powers. Still, she’s unsatisfied. Worse, she hears a mysterious voice calling her from the north. She’s tempted to follow it and find if there are other magic people in the world, but she’s hampered by her duties.
While Elsa dreams of exploring the mysteries of the north, Anna (Kristen Bell) seeks to keep all things the same and everyone she loves as close as possible.
But change is inevitable, and a mysterious force falls upon Arendelle, shaking the ground and drying up the water. Terrified their kingdom will fall to this unknown power, the people prepare to leave. Amid all this, Elsa and Anna recall an enchanted forest in a bedtime story told by their parents. The forest was once home to indigenous people who lived on the land and saw magic in nature. When Arendelle reached out to these people, offering a truce so both kingdoms could flourish, there was a battle, and the enchanted forest shut itself off from the world.
Now, it seems, the forest wants a reckoning.
Anna, Elsa and the whole crew from the first movie head north, determined to save Arendelle and learn more about their kingdom’s past. The journey will test their bond as sisters, bring up hidden secrets of the past and feature a few snappy tunes you’ll likely hear ad nauseum on every kid-friendly radio station.
Frozen II is a frustrating film. It offers a few interesting ideas but fails to follow through on any. At its core is a message Walt Disney would have approved of. Even if it’s hard, even if things look bleak, always do right. That’s a great lesson to teach kids. It’s too bad the movie isn’t interested in following through in the plot with that lesson.
The movie flirts with reparations and restoring stolen native lands but ultimately allows magic to fix things because a real-world solution would require more than a singing snowman and a queen with ice powers. It preaches sacrifice in the name of what’s right, but no sacrifice is needed for things to work out. That’s the more disappointing by comparison, as Disney’s Zootopia crammed surprising depth into a movie about fuzzy animals confronting systemic racism.
Characters are disappointing, too, as they don’t seem to grow much. Anna is still perky and steadfast, to the point of being obnoxious. Elsa is still a magical neurotic who just wants to be left alone (though she does get a kicky new hairdo to symbolize her further freedom). And Kristoff, well, Kristoff really has nothing to do here, and the movie seems to know it.
Since it won’t make a bold political statement and it won’t allow its characters to grow in any significant ways, just what does Frozen II do? You’ll get some pretty animation. There are funny moments with Olaf. The new songs aren’t as catchy, but kids will undoubtedly learn them and belt them from the backseat for months. There’s more action this time around, almost as if Disney was considering adding Elsa to the Marvel universe.
Overall, the movie will surely be a blockbuster, but it’s hardly a classic. If you don’t have kids clamoring to see it, save yourself the money and check it out on Disney+ in a few months.
Fair Animation • PG • 103 mins.
~~~ New this Week ~~~
21 Bridges
Detective Andre Davis (Chadwick Boseman) joins the hunt for a pair of cop killers loose in New York City. The police close down Manhattan Island until they’re found, blocking off all 21 bridges. As violence erupts in the city, Davis learns that there may be more to the story than the official reporting.
When he questions what’s up, things turn violent. Soon he must decide who his real enemy is.
A violent cop thriller about corruption that’s filled with action, 21 Bridges is the sort of unimaginative potboiler you watch late at night when you don’t have the attention span to watch something more complex. This may be exactly the violent action film you need to release your pent up aggression before — or after — seeing your family at Thanksgiving.
Prospects: Dim • R • 99 mins.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is a journalist who knows humanity is flawed. When he’s assigned to profile beloved children’s television host Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks), he assumes he’ll be able to uncover a dark secret about the seemingly squeaky-clean man and write a juicy story. What Lloyd finds, however, is that Fred Rogers might be as kind as his image.
This film about the power of goodness is based on the true story of the friendship between Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. Hanks is winning raves for his portrayal of Rogers. This movie should be a feel-good flick that’s well worth the ticket.
Prospects: Bright • PG • 108 mins.