‘Frozen II’ Movie Review: A Visually Spectacular Sequel Of Self-Discovery

Over the next few months or even years, it would be completely understandable for the Elsa and Anna trend to reemerge with the new anthem Into The Unknown accompanying them. Six years after the release of Frozen, Disney has once again brought a visually stunning treat to the table with its sequel Frozen II. And people are gobbling it all up all the same. Honestly, no one can blame them.

Frozen II is spectacular in all its glory with breathtaking visuals and a new roster of wonderful songs. All the film’s key moments can make anyone’s hearts soar. Then, there’s Elsa and Anna’s new wardrobe changes, their new adorable friends, and new myth and lore to explore. Basically, it’s an hour and 40 minutes of action and things being thrown at you with a lot of songs and glitz and glamour.

Generally, though, Frozen II manages to capture the magic and charm of the first film to some amount. It’s exciting, it’s funny, it’s sad, and it’s even a tad silly. But, just as how it’s characters grew older, the film also deals more than just the fancies of children. This time around, Frozen II tries to dip its toes into the throes of loss, betrayal, politics, and the pain of facing the skeletons in the closet.

New Lore and Origins

Frozen neatly tied things all together at the end of the film. The sisters are reunited against all odds. Elsa is crowned queen of Arendelle and finally embraces her powers. And Anna finds true love. At that point, everything seems to be in order and can be left at that. But, of course, with the reach and the box office achievements that Frozen raked in, there is no way that that story would be left at happily ever after. So, what better way to try and replicate the magic than to try to fill up a gap in the first film while continuing a more profound journey of maturity and self-discovery?

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That’s where the new lore of Frozen II comes in which directly relates to the origins of Elsa’s powers. In a little scene right at the beginning, we’re taken back to the sisters’ childhood. And we’re treated to a little bedtime/ origin story of an enchanted forest plus Evan Rachel Wood’s haunting lullaby All Is Found. In the present, this particular story is what haunts adult Elsa as she starts hearing beckoning voices in which she responds with the new princess anthem Into The Unknown.

In relation to this lore, we’re later introduced to a new ensemble of characters. There’s an adorable gecko representing the fire spirit, a majestic and fierce horse representing the water spirit, huge boulder giants representing the earth and a tornado/ gust of wind named Gail representing wind. They’re all surprisingly very likable elements of the film.  And on the other hand, they’re also used for the film’s attempt at climate change warning.

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There’s also the Northuldras and the lost Arendellian soldiers. Two of the most notable people here are Sterling K. Brown voicing the Arendellian soldier Mattias and Martha Plimpton voicing the Northuldra elder Yelena. Unfortunately, for all the talent they could’ve offered, they pretty much became bystanders given all that was happening in front of them already.

Another Musical Triumph

After a pretty quick turn of events, the group heads North for Elsa to follow the call. In the journey, Olaf’s new adolescent philosophical persona becomes more prominent. Of all characters, he’s been the one to turn a complete 180. He’s still sweet, funny, and lovable but, there’s a point in the film that his comical chatter becomes a tad annoying. However, there’s also a point where you can really appreciate that chatter.

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In the first film, Olaf felt more in touch with the kids. Now, he’s as relatable to adolescents and adults who don’t know what in the hell they’re doing in their lives. And he sums it all up in a hilarious sequence with the song Some Things Never Change. Josh Gad does a marvelous job bringing this character to life once again with as much tenderness and warmth just as he did in the first film.

Speaking of songs, Frozen II didn’t deliver as many iconic and catchy songs as its predecessor. Unlike Do You Want To Build A Snowman and Let It Go, the sequel’s songs need more than just one listen to grow on you. Perhaps this is because like the rest of the film, the soundscore also needed to mature to accommodate the topics that they’re dealing with. But, that doesn’t mean they’re not as great. Oscar-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez still delivered exhilarating numbers that made the film as enjoyable as it is.

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Although Into The Unknown has the same feels like that of Let It Go, it’s one hell of a jam. So is Elsa’s I Seek The Truth. Kristen Bell’s emotional solo with The Next Right Thing is also quite a pleasant surprise. And so is Jonathan Groff’s Lost In The Woods. His little Queen moment with that song was unbelievably cheesy but, it did a great job in showing off Groff’s amazing range.

Visually Stunning Storytelling

If there’s something that would trump the soundtrack in terms of success, it would be Frozen II‘s stunning visuals. This first film’s animations are a far cry from what this sequel offers. When the group arrives North, the audience is literally welcomed into a new world. And the animation that the film presents these new set pieces with is absolutely marvelous. We are treated to wider scopes of Arendell and the enchanted forest as well as more realistic and more detailed features for the characters.

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Every color, every detail, and every inch of the movements were simply done beautifully. And every time Elsa unleashes her ice powers, it’s just one visual marvel after another. I’m not saying that the other scenes were not as pleasant. But, Elsa’s moments on ice really are quite the visual scene stealers. It was truly a successful feat in animation that this sequel did so well. And despite everything else, this visual feat is something both kids and adults can very well enjoy.

Dipping Into More Adult Topics

Frozen II is as much a kid’s film as its predecessor. But, this time, it tried to expand its reach further by dipping into more complicated topics such as politics, colonial oppression, violence, spirituality, loss, and environmental conservation that the adults in the room would probably have to expound with the kids at home. But, as I said, it only dipped.

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This sequel might’ve taken a jump but, it didn’t stick the landing. Unlike the first film which had one clear cut message, this sequel had too many things it tried to tackle. And because it was swamped, the film was spread too thin. In the end, despite its efforts, it felt superficial. It flitted around these deeper topics and left us with a very little takeaway.

What’s more, it felt like a retelling of the first film just in different settings. It’s a tale of self-discovery but, upon closer look, the character development is weak. And there wasn’t even a real antagonist to the story which leaves us feeling a little cheated with the careless closure the film provided some of its subplots. With that, it seems like the glamorous visuals and the pleasant soundtrack served to cover the reality that this film is just empty. All in all, Frozen II seems to be made solely for commercial purposes rather than the narrative or the message.

‘Frozen II’ Overall Verdict

Despite its monumental flaws, Frozen II is still a stunningly spectacular watch. Its visuals and its soundtrack would definitely draw the crowd in and leave them feeling good. Even after nitpicking, I, myself, would still be willing to watch it all over again, to be honest. There’s something in me that just itches for that onscreen wonder and that temporary feeling of awe. That’s one thing Disney understands so well and that’s why it’s able to deliver something of this caliber.

Overall, Frozen II surpassed its predecessor by technical quality. The actors were just as monumental and they certainly did as much as the visuals and sounds. They did everything to make us feel the film. But, in terms of impact and message, the first film still stands stronger. The effort to draw in more mature crowds was admirable but it ultimately wasn’t enough. The only question now is whether there are still more adventures that remain for Elsa and Anna. Let’s just hope that if they do, Disney decides to give a plausible reason through the narrative and what it holds more than just the glitz and glamour it has.