'Frozen II' - A Movie Review

Is everybody ready? It’s time to journey off into the unknown.

Frozen II is a sequel to the popular animated film released in 2013. Hearing a mysterious voice, Elsa ventures into the forest exploring more about her ice powers. Anna furiously tries to stay together with her sister as the gang faces new challenges on their own.

Upon learning that there was going to be a sequel to Frozen I was both excited and skeptical at the same time. While I loved the movie when it first came out, afterward it became too popular that the film got old for me. While Frozen II is a strong sequel that develops the characters in growth, the story felt scattered.

Elsa and Anna’s strong sibling bond is the core of Frozen II. Their interactions are heartwarming. I loved their scenes as kids and comforting one another during moments of stress. At times they felt a little too close, but they brought out an important message about independence, courage, and believing in yourself.

Kristoff brought a valuable lesson to the screen about how young boys shouldn’t be afraid of their feelings. His song ‘Lost in the Woods’ was one of my favorites. Not only does it have a rocking 80's vibe to it, but it is a sentimental song that provides a sincere message to younger boy audiences.

While Elsa and Anna are trying to figure out this mysterious secret, Kristoff attempts but fails to propose to Anna. I actually thought they were already married. Frozen II dons another important message about love. Like the first film, you cannot rush love. I think it was a great idea that Anna and Kristoff waited to get to know each other better before marrying.

One of the reasons why Frozen was a hit among audiences was because of Olaf. Most of his scenes felt drawn out and writers were trying too hard. At times, Olaf got on my nerves, taking focus away from the main story. I think writers were struggling with what to do with him for the film.

Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad give incredible performances as the four main characters, bringing out genuine emotion. Other voice talents include Martha Plimpton, Jason Ritter, Rachel Matthews, Jeremy Sisto, and Ciaran Hinds. I am so happy that writers expanded the roles of Anna and Elsa’s parents (Evan Rachel Wood and Alfred Molina), giving them a proper conclusion.

The songs are catchy in Frozen II. ‘Into the Unknown’ has become one of my new favorite tunes. That and ‘Show Yourself’, ‘The Next Right Thing’ and ‘When I am Older’ are great new editions to the film.

The visual effects are stunning! Backgrounds and character designs are breathtaking. The scene where Elsa runs across the water, testing her powers is the signature moment of the whole film. Animators outdid themselves letting the film breathe and show off how far animation has become.

As for the story, it’s not the strongest aspect of the film. Storylines felt scattered and didn’t focus on one plot-line. Again, the sequel of Frozen had a lot to make up for seeing how the first movie was so popular among fans. The climax also felt unfinished and rushed. There could have been more focus on characters and certain story elements that needed to be explained more.

Overall, I believe that Frozen II was a nice follow-up. It’s a film about growth and believing in yourself in dark times. You have to catch this movie on the big screen to witness the beautiful visual effects and to have a laugh.