FROZEN II
US, 2019, 103 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Idina Menzel, Kristin Bell, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff, Sterling K.Brown, Evan Rachel Ward, Alfred Molina, Martha Plimpton, Jason Ritter, Jeremy Sisto, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Tudyk.
Directed by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee.
The original Frozen had an extraordinary impact in 2013, attracting a vast audience. It was a huge box office success – and, was seen, again and again, by young audiences on DVD and on television. It is somewhat surprising that it has taken so long for the sequel to appear.
This reviewer was present at a preview with some hundreds of children in the audience with their parents, many of the little girls, under 10, with their Princess dresses and eager anticipation – which seems to have been satisfied.
Once again, there are the two sisters, Elsa and Anna (voiced by Idina Menzel and Kristin Bell). But, if we were wondering what they were like when they were little, this is the opportunity to find out a bit more. They are devoted. And they have a wonderful mother and father, mother singing songs, father telling stories which reveal some of the darker side what had happened to the kingdom of Arendelle.
Then, they are grown-up, past the adventures of the earlier film, happy in the kingdom but worried about the disappearance of their parents. Worth noting that, as with the original film, there is no Prince Charming but the rather awkward local lad, Kristoff, rehearsing over and over again how he might propose to Anna and she too busy to have time to listen to him. There is also Olaf, the snowman, who provides most of the comedy, both in action and in jokey remarks. And, Kritoff has his reindeer who also gets his comic moments.
But, then it becomes interesting for the older audiences as well. The sisters set out on a quest to find their parents, to discover what truly happened in the past, to go through the forest of mist, findiing victims of war is living in the forests, and the opportunity for Elsa to use her magic powers and for Anna to use her common sense and her forceful character. Kristoff and the others, of course, helping her except when Elsa is frozen.
Needless to say, there is a happy ending (even for Kristoff), the quest and mission accomplished, and happy ever after for all in Arendelle.
1. The popularity of the original film? Story, characters, songs? (And no Prince Charming as such)?
2. The popularity of the sequel, the story of the two sisters, the background of the family, the evil curse, the quest?
3. The bright animation style, the range of voices, the range of songs?
4. Audience knowledge of the two sisters from the original film? Their background as children? The two little girls, the bonding? The characteristics of each? With their parents, the nobility of the king, the love of the mother, stories and songs, the king revealing the story of the past? The atmosphere of magical powers? Elsa with the magic? Anna ordinary?
5. The sisters growing up, the bonding with each other? The King on the expedition, disappearance? The background of the two communities, agreements and peace, the building of the dam, the story of the attack, the kingdom under threat? The visualising of the past, the revelation of the treachery of the grandfather? The consequences?
6. The range of characters, Kristoff, earnest, fumbling, his love for Anna? The reindeer and the action, the comedy? Olaf and his comic turns? The comedy?
7. The forest, the darkness and mist? The decision for the quest? Elsa feeling she must go to find their parents? Anna wanting to go, Kristoff accompanying them?
8. The travel, the range of adventures, discovering the wreck, no survivors?
9. The revelation of the past, the treachery of the grandfather, the betrayal? Finding the survivors in the forest? The range of people, ordinary, warriors, teaming with the sisters, supporting them?
10. Anna and Kristoff, her ordinary powers, involved in the search? Kristoff and the reindeers?
11. Elsa, her powers, the capacity to freeze, going on, her becoming frozen?
12. Anna, the group of survivors, the lifting of the spell?
13. The action of the quest, the adventures, the songs, the reindeers’ songs, heroics?
14. The kingdom and the refugees, being saved, the kingdom restored, everybody able to return?
15. Elsa and her powers and her mission? The symbols of Earth, Air, Fire, Water? Elsa as the fifth power? Anna, Kristoff, her becoming Queen?
