Frozen 2 is a satisfying sequel that might even be better than the original
Frozen 2 is a movie that’s worthy of the hype — and despite the second-movie syndrome most Disney sequels suffer, it might even be better than the original.
Disney’s Frozen took the world by storm back in 2013, giving both kids and adults a compelling story and stunning soundtrack, the likes of which they hadn’t seen from a Disney animated film in quite some time. And anyone wary about the movie getting a sequel can officially be at ease: Frozen 2 lives up to its predecessor; in fact, it may even be better than the original movie.
The film opens with Elsa and Anna living contentedly in Arendelle. Elsa’s the queen, Anna is in a loving relationship with Kristoff, and Olaf and Sven are never too far off from the group. All of them seem to have found their happily ever after, even if Elsa can’t help but wonder whether there’s more out there for her.
Of course, happily ever after doesn’t make for a good storyline, and the film quickly rips the characters’ contentment away from them. Almost as soon as Anna can musically admit that some things never change, everything changes. That’s because Elsa wakes legendary spirits of the forest — spirits who are determined to have the sisters discover the truth about Arendelle.
Once the spirits wake, the people of Arendelle are forced to evacuate their home. And with the future of their kingdom at stake, Elsa and Anna set off to right whatever wrongs they need to. Unfortunately, Arendelle has more wrongs in the past than either of them anticipated.
The relationship between Elsa and Anna is what moves Frozen 2 forward, and it’s this that sets the film apart from most other Disney princess stories. This was the case with the first movie as well, but the sequel does a splendid job of building on their relationship with one another. Not only does it emphasize the sisterly bond between them, but it also makes sure to showcase their independence. In fact, each of them becoming their own person is a major plot point of the film.
Even with Anna’s growing independence, though, her relationship with Kristoff remains — and honestly, it’s more compelling in this film than the original. Kristoff seems determined to defy the toxic masculinity tropes we often see from love interests, and he even gets his own song in this installment — one that’s full of emotion and sentiment usually reserved for traditionally feminine characters.
Olaf, as always, provides comic relief that’s more than satisfactory. There are plenty of tear-jerker moments during Frozen 2, but thanks to our favorite snowman, there are just as many laugh-out-loud ones. Even the most mature adult will find amusement in Olaf’s insistence that everything will make sense when he’s older. (Also, we still want to know who this Samantha is.)
Frozen 2 builds on the world the characters live in as much as it expands their character arcs, and the world building is truly one of the biggest successes of the second installment. It’s amazing just how much history and magic this movie manages to pack into its under-two-hour runtime, and none of it ever feels like forced information dumping. Add in the stunning animation, and it’s hard to find much to complain about when it comes to the movie’s setting.
Apart from a few predictable plot points toward the end of the film, Frozen 2 is a near-perfect addition to Anna and Elsa’s story. Disney fans looking for a movie that challenges more traditional princess narratives are sure to fall in love with Frozen all over again after seeing the sequel.
Next. Disney's Frozen 2 experts discuss the process behind the characters. dark