Frozen allowed me to let myself go and succumb to the icy musicality.

Rating: 7/10 (14 April 2018)

Disney have this structure hands down, they've been doing it for decades. Yet, every so often, one of their animations glisten like a snowflake in the cold breeze. Frozen is just that...but not without some frosty flaws. An adaptation of 'The Snow Queen', Anna and Elsa are housebound in their castle as a result of the latter's cursed icy elemental power. Believing she is causing more harm than good, she flees her kingdom in a bid to "let it go" by creating a crystal staircase to her ice shard castle adjacent to a snowy mountain peak. Why? Because it makes excellent staging for THE song. Every musical has one number that trounces the rest, the sole melody that will haunt your mind for the next five years. Radio stations played it, children listened, they sung it, you probably sung it and most likely your pet dog too. "Let It Go" is what makes Frozen...Frozen! And I'll stand by the fact that I still jumped out of my seat and launched my arms with honour and valour as I belted out the tune with an almighty roar. Oh, and umm...the film is good too. The message of "be yourself" is loud and clear, perhaps delivered slightly heavy handedly, but the sense of grandeur that this film withholds is quite extraordinary. It's a big epic tale filled with innocent princesses, an annoying talking snowman (seriously...urgh), handsome men with noble steeds, or reindeers in this case, and plenty of snow for an ever lasting winter. Classic Disney characters bolstered by a lukewarm script that makes you smile and feel emotionally vulnerable. The animation was simply stunning, particularly the finer details like Elsa's costume transition. Much to my surprise, there is actually a twist! And one I didn't see coming!? Props for pulling it off, did the film necessarily require it? No. But it definitely turned up the heat. I do find that Disney force irritating anthropomorphic characters just for the sake of keeping children amused, I welcome Olaf to the arena. Honestly, wasn't amused. However, Frozen may just be Disney's best musical, but not the best film.