The target audience for Disney’s Frozen 2 is all of the girls who saw and loved the first film in 2013, and since, be it in theaters, on DVD, HBO or Disney+. And there are tens of millions around the world. I am certainly not part of that audience. Frozen 2 is going to make a boatload of money and earn the distinction of #1 movie at the box office its opening weekend, week, and most likely its second weekend and week, as well.
No matter how much any critic pontificates about the film, their opinions matter zero when it comes to how much money Frozen 2 will make. That includes my own thoughts about the film.
Is Frozen 2 an awful movie? No. Is it a film that needed to be made? No. It’s a blatant cash grab by Disney.
The film opens with a flashback scene as Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) are toddlers. Their father is telling them the story of how and why the forest they are surrounded by is the way it is. “There are different people in the forest,” he explains. Meaning otherworldly people. The forest is full of magic and magical creatures. They find out that their grandfather has built a mighty dam, “a gift of peace.” He instructs them to not let down their guard.
Something went wrong, however, and the forest people attacked. There was a brutal battle and grandfather was lost. The forest and its people turned their magic against everyone else.
This little story, pre-opening credits sets the stage for what is to come, including a multitude of entirely forgettable songs.
We find out that Elsa has been hearing voices. She announces that when she was a child “There was this voice and someone saved me. The spirit then vanished.”
We also are made aware that a powerful mist covered the forest locking whomever was inside the forest in and anyone else out.
Upon hearing the voice as an adult Elsa sets out to find out what magical powers the forest has. One of the wise men in the town, upon hearing that Elsa is to begin her journey, warns everyone. “We always feared Elsa’s powers were too much for this world. Now we need to pray she has enough power.”
Beloved characters (and Disney merchandising opportunities) Olaf, Sven and Kristoff return and delight. Some more than others. Olaf is still annoying, recounting trivia that may or not be true. “Do you know that we blink 4 million times a day?” he asks.
Upon entering the forest, Elsa is confronted by everyone who has ever died in it, in their frozen form, including her parents and her grandfather.
In a nonsensical subplot a “water has memory” theme permeates the film.
Upon Elsa’s journey into the forest, she encounters a water horse that tries to attack her. She tames it. She finds out the “truth about the past” and sets in motion a plan to make wrongs right. Not without the help of her sister, Anna, however.
In a scene right out of Avengers: Infinity War, Olaf starts “flurrying away”, decomposing just like Spiderman (Tom Holland) did. This time around, watching Olaf (not completely) disintegrate, instead, doesn’t pull at the heartstrings as much. Maybe because we know how everything will end.
Thankfully, even though the film runs about an hour and forty five minutes, it seems like it goes by a lot faster.
The best part of the film is a new character who never gets a name. It is a lizard-like creature that doesn’t speak. It does, though, have the capability of destroying anything and everything around it, as it is the antithesis of Elsa. It can turn to fire, instead of ice.
I do have to say this: The film will confuse children and many adults alike. Either little girls will be whispering “Mommy, what just happened?” or whatever did happen will go over their heads because they are so mesmerized with the great animation.
Without giving away the ending, one of the sisters gets married. And everything seems to end with a “happily ever after” as any Disney film would (and should). Will there be a Frozen 3? Of course there will be.
Wild About Movies Grade: C
Frozen 2 Review by Tim Nasson
