Can you believe it’s been six years since the release of Disney’s Frozen?! I can’t, just because I feel like it was only yesterday when everywhere you would go, you would either hear Idina Menzel or Demi Lovato’s version of “Let It Go.” Ah, what a time that was – how funny that we, as humans, can become so on edge about something from a kid’s movie. Anyways, the sequel to Frozen was released late in November, deemed Frozen II, and after daily nagging, my S.O. finally came with me to see it, and we loved it!
Frozen II centers around the story of a tribe called the Northuldra and the Enchanted Forest that they used to inhabit, which was filled with the elemental spirits of earth, fire, water and air (the astrologist in me was living!). Because of a battle between the Northuldra and the soldiers of Arendelle, the spirits in the Enchanted Forest were angered and completely hid the forest from view. Princesses Elsa and Anna were told this story when they were children, and now that Elsa is queen and her powers are accepted throughout her kingdom, she’s getting a whole bunch of signs that lead her to this magical forest and the tribe within it. So many signs that after she sings quite a powerful ballad called “Into the Unknown” (get ready for “Let It Go” 2.0., people!), Elsa uncovers the forest and awakens the spirits that force all of the kingdom out of Arendelle. The adventure begins with Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven and Olaf entering the forest to figure out how to get everybody situated back into the kingdom.
We get the same kind of humor that made the first Frozen so enjoyable in this sequel. Olaf, especially, takes the cake for his “Samantha” line – keep an eye out for that if you haven’t seen it on social media already! Kristoff has his own inner conflict in Frozen II as he spends the whole movie trying to propose to Anna and failing until the very end. There’s also a bunch of cute secondary characters we get to meet from the Northuldra tribe, the Arendelle soldiers, and a little salamander too fiery for its own good.
Again, much like the first film, Frozen II carries a great message to believe in yourself, to learn how to accept change no matter how hard it can be, and a message of self-love that you are “the one you’ve been waiting for.” I love firsthand seeing the reactions of kids when they see powerful messages like these on the big screen.
The animation in this movie was my favorite thing about it! It was full of small details that blew the first film out of the water. From something as simple as Anna breathing lightly and moving while she sleeps to the crystals on Elsa’s gowns, it was impossible to look away from the beauty of the animation. The colors of autumn, the shapes the water spirit conjured, the snowflakes on Olaf’s body, every little detail is just marvelous! Definitely worth the wait. I cannot wait to see it again!
