- Frozen is a compelling story of sisterhood and being true to oneself. It might be my favorite Disney film yet and is also one of my favorite movies of 2013.
- With one significant exception, Writer/Director Jennifer Lee and Director Chris Buck’s principle characters are well developed. Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (an astonishingly good Idina Menzel) are flawed, multi-faceted and sympathetic individuals. Kristof (Jonathon Groff) isn’t as layered as the female leads, but he has enough depth to generate concern. Even snow man Olaf (Josh Gad) works, despite having only one dimension.
- The lone exception, and it’s a problematic one, is Hans (Santino Fontana). I instantly predicted his motivation, but that has little to do with Lee’s screenplay. She doesn’t give enough clues as to his true purpose, and thereby renders the final reveal less effective than it could have been. Hans is, in other words, Frozen’s biggest flaw.
- Its greatest strength is harder to define, because so many elements work in its favor.
- The cast, highlighted by Menzel and Gad, are universally fantastic.
- The animation is astonishingly beautiful and includes some of the most striking visuals I have seen in any movie this year (starting with the way Elsa creates her ice palace) .
- The songs, especially “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” “For the First Time in Forever,” and “Let it Go” are memorable and impacting. Indeed, the show-tunes generate much of Frozen’s emotional resonance, of which there is plenty.
- I want to highlight that point. Frozen is excellent, primarily because it has a strong emotional core. We care about these characters. We want them to solve their problems, and we feel their frustration whenever they don’t know how.
- Which is why a predictable plot and relatively thin narrative do not limit the film or count as flaws.
- As importantly, Lee and Buck are careful to present their queen and princess as strong young women, a fact that is appreciably important in the movie’s climax. This might be my favorite ending in any animated film. Ever.
- A fair amount of Frozen is laugh-out-loud funny.
- Which is one reason this movie will appeal to audiences of all ages: young children, pre-teens, teens and adults.
- As though it isn’t already abundantly clear: I love this movie and recommend it as strongly as I recommend any 2013 film.
- Final Grade: A-
jjames reviews 
It’s a pleasant movie that will have everybody smiling by the end of it. Boys, girls, men, women, dogs, cats, etc! Good review.
Agreed.
And thanks.
I’m sure I’ll probably see some of this whenever it comes out to VOD and the wife watches it. Good stuff!
Thanks. Definitely worth watching, even if not just for the Mrs. IPC.
I like movies that the whole family can enjoy. I will be seeing this one. Good review!
Thanks. You’ll like it.
One of your favorite movies of 2013? WOW, now I’m super curious to see this. I LOVED Tangled so I think I’d love this one too. I actually watched a Disney movie this weekend too, and older one, The Hunchback of Notre Dame š
That is one I haven’t seen, actually. What do you think? Worth the time to view and effort to seek it out?
And yeah. I have Frozen in the Current Top 10, at least for now. It is a gripping tale with some excellent characters. You should totally see it. š
Hi James, oh yeah definitely. The story is actually darker than what you’d expect from Disney but still has the lighter touch like fun songs and goofy characters.
I definitely will try to see this, maybe on matinee next weekend or something.
Everyone seems to love this film but me! I can see that it would be great for the kiddies but have no real desire to see it again, myself.
My kids loved it. So did I.
I don’t watch all that many films more than once, but I’d be happy to see this one again.
Good review. I will wait, though–can hardly get to the cinema to see the adult films, my kids are grown and can’t imagine going out to see this. Interesting that you hold this in high regard. I will say, UP, was one of my favorite films, so why not Frozen?
Up is great, too. I’m not sure which I like more.
Frozen, like Up, has an emotional core that appeals to older audiences, in addition to silliness and a heartwarming message that appeals to the younger ones. (I also happen to be raising two daughters, so it’s focus on sisterhood hits me a little more than it might others.)
Do you think it’s true what they’re saying – that this is the first “new” Disney classic? I’m excited to see this, love your review. š
It might be, yeah. I personally think it better than the Lion King (though it has some of the same flaws, they aren’t quite as glaring). I also like it more than the other princess stories (new or old), though I do really like Tangled, as well.
Like I said in the review, this might be my favorite Disney movie yet. So I guess it could qualify it as a New Classic. š
Great review! I don’t usually watch animated films but this sounds like a perfect choice for Christmas, so I think I’ll give it a shot.
Thank you.
I highly recommend it (though it’s more a winter flick than a Christmas one). Either way, I hope you like it!