THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
US, 2009, 97 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David, Michael- Leon Woolley, Jennifer Cody, Jim Cummings, Peter Bartlett, Jennifer Lewis, Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard, John Goodman.
Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker.
An enjoyable Disney feature although the opening does not bode well with a rather soppy song and some gooey scenes of mother reading The Frog Prince to two little girls. Then the title comes on and the film picks up considerably.
US commentators were quick to point out that this seems to be the first mainstream American animated film to feature an African American lead. Though Disney had some elements (a song in Dumbo, a Southern setting in So Dear to My Heart), it is surprising that it was only in 2009 that this breakthrough in colour has arrived.
And breakthrough it does. The setting is New Orleans just prior to and during World War I. And setting is very important for the liveliness of the show. This is New Orleans, the home of jazz, with plenty of music and song (and an alligator, very friendly despite his big teeth, called Louis who plays trumpet!), with foot-tapping rhythms, colourful characters in even more colourful costumes, and some voodoo into the bargain.
And, Disney has not forgotten an array of animals, some cuddly (well it is difficult to cuddle frogs but one would if one could, even though the heroine screams at the prospect of kissing one, but that was before she was transformed into a frog herself) and friendly, like glowworms, and some fiercesome, like gnashing alligators.
And there are lots of songs that have tunes and rhythms, the work of Randy Newman who has composed for so many of the Pixar films (like Toy Story and Monsters Inc). Every principal character gets a showstopper – which means that The Princess and the Frog is going to follow Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King and be transformed into a spectacular and joyous theatrical event.
And the characters are strong. Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) is no blushing violet but rather a strong girl with an ambition to open her own restaurant (daring for the times) and working hard for it. Charlotte, her featherbrained wealthy white friend wants to marry a prince. Prince Naveen (Bruce Campos) arrives, penniless and disinherited and is conned by the sinister Shadow Man, Dr Facillier (Keith David is compelling in this role). There are also the above-mentioned creatures and some parents (Oprah Winfrey as Tiana's mother, Terrence Howard as her father and John Goodman as Charlotte's father).
Plenty of colour, action, humour and, surprisingly a final deathbed scene and funeral before the happy ending and a witty way of remembering that it is a princess (even if she looks like a frog) who has to kiss and redeem Prince Charming. Entertaining.
1. The popularity of this Disney film? Oscar nomination? A 20th century fairy tale?
2. The African American setting and characters? The African American heroine, the Indian hero? The African American villains? The affluent white people in Louisiana? Audience comments and critical comments on this choice by the Disney studios?
3. The hand-drawn traditional animation, the characters, the backgrounds? The Disney style? Colour, design, realism and fantasy, the choreography?
4. The range of songs, the showstoppers, the songs illustrating characters, romance, comedy, danger? Related to character and plot? The different atmospheres?
5. Louisiana, New Orleans in the Jazz Age, World War One and its background? The background of Tiana and Charlotte as little girls, the stories of the Frog Prince? Her growing up, working as a waitress, life in New Orleans, her hopes, to buy the restaurant? Her love for her father and devotion to him? His experience in the war? Her mother’s support?
6. Tiana and Charlotte, as young girls, growing up, the white and black contrast? Charlotte and her ambitions to marry somebody wealthy?
7. The news of Prince Navine, his arriving in New Orleans, the background in India, his personal extravagance, working with Lawrence, going to the city, the welcome, wanting to find a rich wife, his vanity and his response to the women’s reactions?
8. Charlotte, her hopes, her rich family, the big daddy? The caricature of the white southern families? The ball? Inviting Tiana, asking her to cook?
9. The introduction to Doctor Facilier, the associate henchman? The voodoo background, his song, the eerie visualisation of the voodoo? His voice, powers? His wanting Navine’s powers? Abducting Lawrence, bribing him, transforming him into the prince? Lawrence awkward as the prince? Navine being turned into a frog?
10. Tiana, the banquet, Navine, Charlotte? Her missing out on the bid for the restaurant? Her encounter with Navine, kissing him and her becoming a frog? The reverse of the fairy tale? Pursued by Doctor Facilier, their going into the swamps, searching for Mama Odie?
11. The details of the life in the swamps, the range of animals, insects, Louis, fireflies, alligators? The eeriness, the comedy? Finding Mama Odie, her refusing to change them – wanting to teach them a moral lesson and the real motives for their change?
12. The clashes between Tiana and Navine, yet falling in love? The importance of Navine’s blood, Doctor Facilier wanting it for Lawrence, to maintain his presence as Navine? The sinister aspecs of Facilier’s pursuit?
13. The firefly, being useful, being comic? Louis and his musical ambitions – and the overtones of Louis Armstrong? The contribution of the slapstick comedy, the verbal wit?
14. The plight, Facilier and his power, the authentic kiss, Tiana and Navine becoming themselves, marrying, Charlotte accepting this, the restaurant?
15. The variation on the Frog Prince – adapted to America, to the 20th century, to New Orleans?
