Frozen 2 stands out from prequel
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Taking place three years after the first movie, Frozen 2 follows Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel), Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell), Olaf (voiced by Josh Gad), Kristoff (voiced by Jonathan Groff), and Sven (voiced by Jonathon Groff) as they explore a mysterious enchanted forest that holds magical powers in the shape of air, water, fire, and earth spirits. Together, they discover the truth about the Kingdom of Arendelle’s past, encounter the Northuldra tribe living in the forest, and learn more about where Elsa’s powers came from.
Although the movie’s target audience is children, there are aspects that older audiences can enjoy as well. For example, one standout scene is when Kristoff jumps into a musical number that is reminiscent of an ‘80s ballad, from the song’s lyrics, tone, and presentation. The song, titled “Lost in the Woods,” is amusing to watch with its unexpectedly dramatic visuals, undoubtedly inspired by the legendary band Queen.
Moreover, Kristoff and Olaf are given small character arcs that ultimately do not contribute much to the movie other than providing comedic relief. Kristoff is conflicted about how he is going to propose to Anna, while Olaf undergoes an existential crisis. With all of these subplots going on, the soundtrack felt like the only thing really tying these individual conflicts into a film.
With a much more complex storyline than the first movie, Frozen 2 should have had a longer running time. For starters, the first ten minutes dive straight into the nitty gritty details of Elsa and Anna’s parents’ past and their experience in the enchanted forest. Plus, there is hardly enough breathing room in between all the emotionally heavy scenes. An extended playing time would have been the perfect solution to the movie’s convoluted plot, which is in desperate need of more time to develop organically.
Overall, Frozen 2 is a great film that is, in some ways, better than the first. It has a fantastic soundtrack and contains remarkable character development for Elsa. However, the ending seemed a bit too perfect and unrealistic, given that there were hardly any negative consequences of Elsa and Anna’s rash decisions. That being said, Frozen 2 is still worth watching, especially considering how different it is from the first one.
