frozen 2

review by daniel hanlon

 I can’t think of a film released in recent times that has infiltrated every possible space in the world quite like Frozen has. Time has proven how impossible it is to go without seeing Elsa cosplays and  Halloween costumes, children at every corner with Olaf teddy bears, and shopping centres, cafes and buskers playing ‘Let It Go’ long past the release of the film. With this in mind, Frozen 2 had to do something magical to work its way out of its predecessor’s shadow. Following Disney’s previous, disappointing franchise sequel, Ralph Breaks The Internet, my expectations were cautiously low.

However, Frozen 2 is a rare sequel. It stands on its own while bearing the weight of expectation. The film is decidedly darker this time. It deals with the themes of maturity, responsibility and, surprisingly, the treatment of indigenous people, with Elsa (Idina Menzel), Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and Olaf (Josh Gad) venturing into an enchanted forest to save the kingdom of Arendelle. The stakes have risen and now the group must fight to save their homes from a range of beasts representing the four elements, all while discovering their family history and the source of Elsa’s powers. 

The animation – particularly in the action sequences – is beautiful, as is to be expected with Disney. The intricate sewing patterns of the sisters’ dresses and the speckles in Olaf’s snow could have you second guessing if elements of the film were live action. But this isn’t the sequel that fans of the original are prepared for. The film’s soundtrack is sufficient but, perhaps feeling that topping ‘Let It Go’ was unachievable, the composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez offer songs that show off Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel’s vocals but without breathtakingly climactic moments. 

But when Frozen 2 falters, it quickly bounces back. Whereas Frozen used its soundtrack to push the film along, the sequel is primarily story and action focused. This could sound disappointing, given how memorable the original’s songs were, but the overall effect will dazzle viewers – notably Elsa’s mission in the second act which supersedes the thrill of castle-building and golem-creating in the original. In the six years between releases for the franchise, Disney has realised that its viewers have grown older and have dared to make a film that will challenge younger viewers with its questions about how to treat those native to the enchanted forest.

Each of the four main characters gets an even amount of screen time, but the star is Josh Gad’s Olaf, whose journey to maturity finds him loudly questioning the problems of the world around him. Like a mix of Sartre and Detective Pikachu, his zaniness could fall flat and be cringeworthy, but instead continues to bring out the dark humour that he has become loved for and relieves the unexpectedly tense moments. 

Ultimately, Disney has defied the law of diminishing returns. Hesitations because of the quality of Ralph Breaks The Internet and Cars 2 are unnecessary, as Frozen 2 is more appropriately ranked alongside Toy Story 2. Letting go of a catchy soundtrack for a more mature film that has grown more aware of itself in a bigger world, Frozen 2 succeeds. 

Frozen 2 will open in screens across Ireland on November 22.