A classic for the new generation

Rating: 8/10 (24 March 2014)

Is it wrong to have walked into Frozen with such high expectations? Just a week after writing a lengthy blog about how one of the defining meanings behind my consistently gray wardrobe is to represent neutrality before entering a film even with numerous forces that allow for judgment and opinion-forming to occur I entered Frozen with a very high bar in place that I was hoping it would live up to.
This is where my recognition for separate forces intruding on ones open-minded approach to a film comes in. Frozen has been in wide release in America since November 2013, is one of only eighteen films to gross $1 billion - one of the five to be an original product and unrelated to a preexisting franchise - has made prominence by its effervescent soundtrack, has been ubiquitous in many toy-store aisles, and is currently topping the favorite film list by the same young girls who can't even keep count of how many times they've seen it thus far.
Based on that astounding resume, even with the high standards and the factor of the animation bar being raised within the last decade or so, I think having higher expectations for Frozen isn't such a wrongheaded thing. The only issue is that when a film is positioned in this high of a light over time, and one hasn't the film until much later in its run, it sets up a bigger opportunity to disappoint than it does to impress thanks to unintentionally higher expectations based on exposure and praise.
Let's cut to the chase, though - I found myself really enjoying Frozen overall, admiring the remarkable beauty in its visuals, the memorable songs sung throughout the film, the eccentric and, for the most part, lovable characters, and the warm feel it provided consistently reminiscent of the Disney princess films of yesteryear. To put it simply, this is Beauty and the Beast/The Lion King level quality for the new generation.
Without spending too much time on the story, the film centers around Elsa, the Princess of Arendelle, who has the magical power to create snow and ice from thin air, and Anna, her younger sister. Anna and Elsa have held something of a cold (no pun intended) relationship since childhood, growing more and more distant and shunning one another after an accident induced by playing when they were young kids. Yet now that she's older, Elsa has caused a yearlong winter, much to the dismay of Anna, who takes it upon herself to travel to her older sister's coronation and break her infinite cold spell as well as mend their relationship.
Along the way, Anna meets the likes of Kristoff, an avid climber whose only real friend is Sven, a loyal moose, as well as meeting Olaf, an eccentric and cheery snowman who wishes to experience the wondrous qualities of summertime. While embarking on this dangerous but worthwhile quest, Anna contemplates whether or not to marry Hans, the Prince of Southern Isles, who she feels she has fallen in true love with after only meeting him for a short amount of time.
Instantaneously, the standout of Frozen its high-spirited soundtrack, right down to Idina Menzel's Oscar-winning song "Let it Go." In a world where so many animated films bear tired songs that are drab and more often than not forgettable, Frozen incorporates very memorable songs sung by its variety of characters, with my personal favorites being "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?," "Love is an Open Door," and "Reindeers are Better than People." On top of that, Frozen also includes a lively and highly-detailed visual scheme to match its premise, with what appear to be animated acres of pearly white snow decorating the trees and the ground, with the texture of ice and buildings looking consistently sublime. This is a rare Disney film that makes you invested in its world where some just keep you at arm's length as a passive observer. Frozen does what few films do and that's offer you to come play in the snow with everyone.
If Disney has proved anything with Frozen and Wreck-It Ralph and Dreamworks with Despicable Me and How to Train Your Dragon it's that Pixar is not the only animation studio with the power to create a story that will appeal to children as well as adults. Pixar has been criticized recently for being in something of a slump since their recent string of animated films has not been as impressive as their streak had been for several years prior. If anything, these films from two enormous companies is a wakeup call to Pixar basically iterating the idea that they have rough and tumble competition, whether they'd like to admit it or not.
On a final note, is there some disappointment I experienced with Frozen? Maybe a little bit; I'm growing incredibly weary of princess films for one and thought maybe this would've worked better as a story about two ordinary siblings rather than draping them in princess and attire, and I occasionally found Olaf to be an annoying, overly-quirky little side character. However, above all, I see Frozen being as cheerfully regarded by the new generation as The Lion King is for my generation.
Voiced by: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, and Santino Fontana. Directed by: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.