Movie Review- Frozen II: Looks stunning but fails to stir

Johnson Thomas

This sequel to Disney’s super-hit animation musical film Frozen has characters which are grown up. Kristoff is ready to settle down with Anna, Elsa becomes more in tune with her magical side, and Olaf is getting smarter. The screenplay envisages a back story for Anna and Elsa’s parents and also exposes the source of Elsa’s magic.

Cuddly antics, goofy shenanigans, anime slapstick and numerous songs to mark every occasion, fill up the narrative. There’s not much adventure or thrills this time round because the director duo—Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee— aims to stun you with visual majesty. But the happy times don’t last forever. An elemental power in the enchanted mist en-locked forest telepaths a voice to Elsa, urging her to seek out the source. Thereafter the narrative becomes a quest for the unknown as the ice queen finds herself grappling with an identity crisis as she follows her inner voice and finds her true calling – away from the comforts of Arendelle.

There’s not much newness to the story other than the uncovering of a secret past. Anna continues to play second-fiddle to her magically powered sister while Kristoff continues to make a mess of expressing his true feelings for Anna. This attempt to mature the characters and make the film a more young adult experience, might lose it its core audience.

The film has a psychological density that is likely to fly over the heads of the under-5s. Giving more screen time to the talking snowman, a reindeer sidekick and having a frequent serenade of songs helps, but it’s not enough. The songs don’t have recall value even though they sound good, the comedy, drama, action/thrills, musical orchestrations and romance fail to keep the enjoyment fluid and flowing. So, it’s basically the most stunning animation craft ever seen, here, that really makes this experience special. Six years in the making, Disney has left no stone unturned to make the craft spectacular. The colours, textures and shapes enlivened here are a bountiful and wondrous harvest for the eyes.