Film Review By: Sari Cohen | HFLF Contributor
“Frozen 2,” which opened in theaters on November 22, just broke a new record, taking the top spot for the highest-grossing weekend in Thanksgiving history. It grossed a record-setting $124 million over the course of five days. In its opening weekend, the sequel to Disney’s 2013 animated juggernaut broke another record, bringing in $130 million domestically. That marks the highest-grossing debut for Walt Disney Animation Studios. “Frozen 2” ended up earning $358 million worldwide, making it the biggest global opening for an animated film the world has ever seen.
The box office reaction is no surprise, as the original from 2013 turned into an instant classic. The character of Elsa was the quintessential Disney nemesis. All of a sudden, she was everyone’s new favorite, and unlike those who came before her, she didn’t need a prince to rescue her. “Let It Go” (penned by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez) became an anthem for females everywhere. It told a story about a complex woman who was not about to be stereotyped or painted into a corner.
The music is a large part of what has kept that feeling alive for the past six years. It serves as a reminder for fans of all ages to celebrate whatever it is inside of each of them that makes them feel extraordinary. As the “Frozen” franchise continues to break down all sorts of barriers, it also propels us into the future. “Frozen 2” just became the first musical sequel to a Disney Animation feature film.
Talk of a follow-up came into play about a year after the original. After the initial installment, fans still had questions. They wanted to know why Elsa had powers. And what were the girls meant to do with their lives now that they had finally gotten together? Much like the characters in “Frozen 2,” the filmmakers themselves were journeying “into the unknown.” They knew that they wanted to honor the original, but they also wanted to take the sequel in a new and compelling direction.
“Frozen 2” has Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven venturing out of Arendelle into an enchanted land, in search of answers about Elsa’s past. Throughout the adventure, we learn about Elsa’s magical powers and find out more about her and Anna’s family.
Kristen Bell returns as Anna, along with Idina Menzel, who stars as Elsa. Josh Gad is also back as Olaf, as is Jonathan Groff, who plays Kristoff. The cast also features the voices of Sterling K. Brown, Evan Rachel Wood, Alfred Molina, Martha Plimpton, Jason Ritter, Rachel Matthews, Jeremy Sisto, and Alan Tudyk. Husband and wife songwriting duo Jennifer Anderson-Lopez and double EGOT winner Robert Lopez return for the sequel. Joining them is producer Peter Del Vecho, along with directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.
During a recent press conference in Los Angeles, words like courage, resilience, change, and growth were tossed around to describe what’s at the heart of “Frozen 2.” In the sequel, the tale of two sisters continues, and while the bond in the movie is written, the real-life bond between Menzel and Bell holds just as much inspiration. On stage, Bell praised Menzel for her singing prowess, conjuring up memories of hearing her co-star on Broadway years ago. She remembers initially being contacted by Disney and told to prepare a song with Menzel. “It was almost immediate this genuine sisterly bond,” Bell recounted. “I remember she put her hand on my shoulder she said ‘you sound so beautiful; this is going to be great.’ And I just melted.” It was a duet of “Wind Beneath My Wings” that sealed the deal. With that and a loose script, the project was greenlit. The rest, as we know, is history.
It was almost immediate this genuine sisterly bond, I remember she put her hand on my shoulder she said ‘you sound so beautiful; this is going to be great.’ And I just melted. Kristen Bell on singing with Idina Menzel for the first time
During the press conference, the cast spoke about how being a part of this legacy has influenced their lives, just as much as it has the fans. Gad joined Bell in his praises of Menzel, also discussing her Broadway days. Gad now gets to share this experience with his two daughters, who he says look up to this pair of fiercely independent Disney princesses.
A lot of the sequel is about evolution. Gad’s character, Olaf, has evolved right alongside Elsa and Anna. Olaf, who can now read, went from being an innocent ball of naivety to a character that is beginning to ask questions, questions that don’t always have easy answers.
We also see Groff expand the character of Kristoff. He gets to do some singing this time around, belting out the power ballad of all power ballads. Kristoff is a perfect example of how this franchise continues to chisel away at stereotypes. His ego-less love is just a start in the film’s war against toxic masculinity. As noted during the panel, Kristoff comes across more like “prince sincere” rather than “prince charming.” There’s even a line from the movie – “You feel what you feel, and your feelings are real.” Everyone on stage that day agreed that’s a message that will hopefully resonate with every little boy watching this film.
Wood calls the “Frozen” franchise, living, breathing works of art. The “Westworld” actress steps into the sequel to play Iduna (Anna and Elsa’s mother). It was said that her voice fell into that “sweet spot” somewhere between Menzel and Bell, cementing her into the “Frozen” family. “All Is Found,” which is Wood’s lullaby, ends up serving as a road map for the entire film.
Menzel said that for her, trusting the process allowed her to have fun with things, and that took away a lot of the pressure of having to produce a follow-up hit to “Let It Go.” As for Bell, she hopes people walk away feeling fulfilled, and with a feeling like stepping into their unknown might be exciting.
While we watch these characters evolve in the second film, and certainly come into their own, similar to the original, the message is still less about finding a partner and more about self-love. “Frozen 2” also encompasses several life lessons. In less than two hours, this film tackles everything from environmentalism to colonization, to the dismantling of the patriarchy – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.
Yes, this movie is a love story, but it’s a love story about two sisters. “Frozen 2” has humor and heart. Thanks to the cast and the crew (which includes more than 75 animators), this franchise has effectively changed the way we view what a princess should be.
While everyone’s takeaway of the film might be a bit different, there are a few morals to this story that you can walk out of the theater knowing to be true. “Frozen 2” teaches us that the truth will set you free. You must learn to love yourself. Embrace who you are. Love is enough. And, Idina Menzel is still the wind beneath Kristin Bell’s wings.
“Frozen 2” is in theaters now.
Twitter/Instagram – @disneyfrozen
Hashtag: #frozen2 #disney
