Geekscape Reviews ‘Frozen 2’ In 4DX

Back in 2013, Frozen unexpectedly became a worldwide phenomenon and audiences refused to let it go. Disney had a new cash cow on their hands, keeping the property alive over the last six years through animated shorts, Broadway plays and video game tie-ins to keep Anna and Elsa active in the public consciousness. Despite this, an eventual follow-up would have some pretty big snow boots to fill with the task of somehow building on what many feel to be a transformative approach to Disney’s princess stereotype. Much like the original film however, Frozen 2 manages to subvert expectations once again by being more than a simple cash-in. Let’s be honest; Disney could have released anything with the Frozen name attached and surely could have rode off into the sunset with hundreds of millions of dollars in hand. Instead, Frozen 2 grows up with its audience, treading the path of a completely different genre while tackling some pretty dark themes, showing that the house of mouse isn’t afraid of gambling with one of their most popular franchises. And the film is better off for it.

Taking place about three years after true love between siblings put an end to the kingdom of Arendelle’s eternal winter, Princess Anna, Queen Elsa, Anna’s boyfriend and official ice salesman of the kingdom, Kristoff his reindeer Sven and Olaf, the living snowman / walking toy advertisement have spent that time living openly as a family. While Anna hopes this period of freedom with her sister and the rest of her loved ones will never end, inevitable change is on the horizon. Kristoff is trying and failing to find the right time to propose to the princess while Elsa can’t help but feel like something’s missing in her life, which is only complicated by a mysterious spirit that echoes in her ear. The echo leads her to an enchanted forest with deep ties to the kingdom’s past, inadvertently puts the kingdom in danger, (something Elsa is seemingly making a habit of), when a group of elemental spirits is accidentally released. To right this wrong, the royal family decides to lead by example by traveling deeper into the forest and bringing balance back to nature. But will Arendelle’s past catch up to its royalty, what ties does it have with their parents’ accidental death and will their connection to Elsa’s powers once again separate the sisters?

If the original Frozen could be called a modernized fairy tale, Frozen 2 takes a completely different route as a full on adventure movie. Taking us out of the kingdom and into the larger world both increases the scope of the story while allowing the characters to take on some exciting new roles throughout the course of the film. Elsa’s plot is the most familiar, who once again finds herself trying to right the wrongs that she inadvertently created, but with the theme of self discovery constantly hovering in the back of her mind. While she had her own message of acceptance in the original movie, she finds herself constantly struggling with the idea that being comfortable isn’t necessarily what is right. As her journey towards the truth behind her powers comes closer to its conclusion, the looming idea of her having to choose her true self over the family she’s grown to love is an inevitable cloud that adds gravity to the narrative as the film progresses.

Anna on the other hand, was separated from her sister for so long up until the end of the first film that now she never wants to be away from her sister’s side to the point where it’s clear she’s clinging way too hard. When the deep love they share for each other breaks down into co-dependency, the younger sibling is constantly in over her head in her attempts to prove she’s just as capable as her sister more out of fear of losing her than doing what’s best for herself or her family. This constant need to stay by her sister eventually alienates her would-be fiance, who was a constant, mostly equal partner in the first film. Finding himself routinely ignored and cast aside, the question as to whether or not there’s enough room in Anna’s heart for him begins to weigh down on the mountain man. This is all while Olaf’s own coming of age begins to shape, with him absorbing as much information as he can, (and being sure to recite it), while learning that perhaps grown-ups don’t have all the answers.

All these plot points are tied into some incredibly adult and increasingly dark themes, ranging from self discovery and learning to let go, (no pun intended), to the breakdown of relationships, the death of loved ones, crippling depression, (to the point where a character contemplates being ready to die, no joke), and learning to live for yourself instead of in the service of others. Even Olaf isn’t afraid to grow up with the audience, surely mimicking many a child who went through the phase where they’re questioning everything between the two film’s release dates. All of these concepts are neatly wrapped in a fun adventure story, with some of the best 3D animation I’ve seen to date. From the effects with each of the elementals to the breathtaking Show Yourself musical number, the animation here blows the first movie out of the water, which is impressive since I think it still holds up pretty well. The sheer emotion on the character’s faces make you feel for them so deeply at a human level, (a hard task to accomplish when their eyes are about half the size of their heads.)

This blow away animation is only further enhanced by watching the film in 4DX, which I found added greatly to the immersion factor thanks to its various effects. Snow is a given, with points where the theater would be sprinkled with flakes whenever the ice queen herself shows off her power. With the elementals coming into play however, water and wind especially stand out throughout the film’s run time, helping you feel like you’re on this adventure with the cast. If you decide to go this route, bring a jacket. The effects manage to emulate the film’s namesake by making the room noticeably cold thanks to the water and wind.

As expected, Frozen 2 doesn’t lack in huge musical numbers helmed by its talented voice cast. With Evan Rachel Wood joining in as Anna and Elsa’s mother in flashbacks, Kristen Bell, Adele Daz… erm… Idina Menzel and Josh Gad all shine once again. Even Jonathan Groff, a musical veteran in his own right who was woefully underused in the first film, makes up for it this time with an incredible power ballad that manages to be both hilarious and heavy at the same time. With that said, if you’re a fan of musicals, you might be disappointed in the fact that the film is really top loaded with music. The pacing feels noticeably off, with the first half hour constantly bombarding you with music, followed by the latter portion of the movie foregoing its musical roots in favor of the adventure story, which still ultimately feels rushed once it reaches its conclusion. Certain plot threads, namely Kristoff and Anna’s relationship troubles, are also lost in the shuffle, being largely forgotten about in the second half until they’re resolved in a way that feels completely unearned. It’s crazy to say this since the film is already lengthy for an animated film at about 1:45, but it really could have used another 10 minutes or so to flesh out its ambitious to-do list.

Is Frozen 2 as good as its wildly popular predecessor? Only time will tell how audiences react to it after it has time to settle. For my money, it’s a hard question to answer since the sequel is a vastly different movie in its own right, which Disney should be commended for when this could have easily been a success without taking any risks. What I can say is that this follow-up is a visual marvel, an emotional roller coaster and a musical triumph that finds a different way to subvert all expectations with heavy themes and self-referential humor throughout. Certain plot points aren’t fleshed out as much as they should be and the pacing feels off at points as it rushes towards its conclusion that feels a little too neat compared to its increasingly bleak narrative, but overall, it’s safe to say that we have another hit on our hands. Now get ready to get those songs stuck in your head all over again. The Panic at the Disco cover is a banger.

Final Score: 4.5/5