Review: Frozen

A sheltered princess and a handsome adventurer set off on the journey of a lifetime. Danger and romantic tension ensues. Sound familiar? It's the basic premise for Disney's mega-hit Tangled. It also happens to be the same formula used in their most recent animated masterpiece Frozen. It would be easy to write this family-friendly film off as an unoriginal cash-grab but Frozen is so much more than that.

Based off the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale "The Snow Queen," Frozen tells the story of a courageous princess who goes off in search of her older sister after she has imprisoned their kingdom in eternal winter. Kristen Bell is marvellous as Princess Anna. Bell's voice has incredible range and she makes the character lovable. Anna can be a bit dippy and naive but she has a good heart. Unlike most Princesses under Disney's umbrella, Anna acts selflessly in the name of love for a family member rather than for a handsome prince. Jonathan Groff plays the rugged (yet somehow incredibly dorky) Kristoff, an ice trader who joins Anna on her quest. It goes without saying that some sparks fly between Kristoff and Anna. That places the film dangerously in the realm of predictability. So what is it that makes Frozen so special? Two words: Idina Menzel. Menzel plays the elegant ice-wielding Queen Elsa. The film comes across as a run-of-the-mill G-rated action-adventure with so-so musical numbers but it is the presence of the stunning snow queen that elevates the film to a new level. The show-stopping "Let It Go" is one of the best moments of the film and the song itself stands out as being on-par with other great Disney numbers. Menzel's vocals are flawless and she belts it out like no one but the Queen of Broadway can. While Anna will be dogged by Rapunzel comparisons until the end of time, Elsa is so unlike all other Disney characters. She is stoic and regal yet devastating in her self-sacrificing loneliness. Additionally, the dynamic between Elsa and Anna is interesting. It's one that feels fresh and unique due to the lack of familial emphasis in previous Disney films. By the end, we are reminded that sometimes you need look no further than your closest family member to find true, unconditional love.

In essence, Frozen is a delightful blend of what would happen if you tossed Tangled and Wicked together and sprinkled it with ice. That's not a bad thing. The themes in the film are varied and are appealing to people of all ages. While the music may not be on-par with Disney greats like Beauty & The Beast or The Lion King, Frozen features some of the best singing found in an animated film. Furthermore, Jennifer Lee is to be commended for managing to pull off some rather unpredictable plot twists and the animators should be applauded for the gorgeous, glittering landscapes they created. This more than makes up for Anna's resemblance to a certain heroine with 70-foot long golden hair. There's action, comedy and one hell of a fierce ice queen. If there's one movie to take your family to see this holiday season, it's Frozen.

Grade: A-