On November 22, 2019, Frozen II hit theaters across the country. As a result, many fans of the first film rushed to their local cinemas to enjoy this enthralling movie. Carrying on the legacy of its preceding film, Frozen II draws in audiences with deeper, more detailed character personalities and visuals that work together to create an overall impressive film.

Prior to Frozen II, Frozen inspired audiences with its storyline that followed the young, orphaned Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) and her sister, Princess Anna (Kristen Bell). As Elsa learns how to properly rule the Kingdom of Arendelle, while coping with her secret ice powers, Anna faces different challenges through her distant relationship with her sister and her desires for adventure. Frozen set the scene for Frozen II by introducing Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), the future love interest of Anna, Sven, Kristoff’s reindeer best friend who plays a small, but crucial role through his kind presence, and Olaf (Josh Gad), the adorable, loving snowman who constantly entertains with his undying humor.

Following the first installment, which focuses on Elsa and Anna solidifying their sisterly bond and becoming strong, independent individuals, Frozen II, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, delves into the mystical mysteries of Arendelle and the history of the kingdom. Elsa and Anna, along with Sven, Kristoff, and Olaf, discover the natural powers of the world and how they factor in to create a stable environment that allows its people to prosper. The iconic quintet adventures together, finding out facts about the past that cause everyone in the kingdom to question its founding principles.

Along with imaginative storylines, one major aspect that makes the Frozen franchise memorable is its soundtracks. Previously, Frozen amazed fans with unique songs that had people singing along to every lyric. With “Let It Go,” “For the First Time in Forever,” and “In Summer,” the soundtrack of Frozen is hard to top. However, Frozen II takes everything from Frozen‘s soundtrack and makes it ten times better. The musical incorporation of Frozen II is anything but a letdown. The songs are creative and bold and incorporated during the perfect moments, making the soundtrack even better than that of Frozen.

Overall, the songs take a different path than those of Frozen. Personally, I feel that the new movie’s soundtrack is edgier and darker than that of its predecessor, while nevertheless still maintaining a kid-friendly tone. Notably, Idina Menzel blows “Let it Go” out of the glacier-filled water with “Into the Unknown,” which powerfully captures Elsa’s strong emotions. Similarly, Kristen Bell gives Anna an incredible voice as she tackles a substantial amount of grief in her featured song, “The Next Right Thing.” Kristoff and Olaf also had songs, each as commendable as those of Elsa’s and Anna’s. Both Kristoff and Olaf’s songs provide comic relief through their different music styles, easing the suspense-filled movie.

Aside from the musical elements of the film, Frozen II  thrills with stunning visuals. Some people may think that six years is a short amount of time, but the difference in cinematography between Frozen and Frozen II is drastic. I was left in awe with the crispness, color, and vibrancy of the film, every detail made to its utmost potential. Even people dragged against their will to Frozen II by their Disney-loving families will come out of theatres left in awe with the intricacy of Frozen II‘s production.

Additionally, I feel as though the storyline of Frozen II holds greater depth when compared to its predecessor. There was a stronger plot to this film that is not entirely bogged down by the overwhelming idea of self-discovery. In my opinion, Frozen highly incorporates a person’s individual power, which is great until it starts taking away from the overall action of a movie. Frozen II perfectly blends the impact of each character into its storyline, keeping a proper balance between the adventure and the internal conflicts of the characters.

Speaking specifically to the storyline, the entire concept of the film is quite enjoyable. Compared to Frozen‘s runaway Elsa and egotistical, power-hungry con-artist, Prince Hans, Frozen II is a more inspired when it comes to strong characters fighting for the overall good of their kingdom. Specifically, I enjoyed Elsa and Anna as they learned how to pursue their own strengths while still helping each other find their true purposes. The individual journeys in Frozen II kept audiences from boredom, different than the one major internal battle from Frozen.

Primarily, one of the key entertainments from the film is none other than the vibrant, light-hearted presence of the talking snowman, Olaf. Olaf adds a whole new light with his charisma, continuously adding his child-like dialogue to the mature setting of the film. Olaf is the prime of character development in Frozen II, which without, would leave the blockbuster missing a major cinematic element that is needed for a movie to be successful.

On the other hand, even though this film impresses through many different angles, it falls short in relationships, supporting characters, and event spacing. Elsa and Anna’s relationship is not the focus of the film, which is saddening since their relationship was the highlight of the first film. Elsa and Anna are separated for a large amount of time, leaving audiences hoping for the sisters to join together to accomplish their goals.

Also, compared to supporting characters from Frozen, like Prince Hans and the Duke of Weselton, who added to the story with their seemingly minor, but impactful roles, Frozen II, viewers are given smaller, less defined supporting characters that do not undergo large amounts of character development, creating a distance between audiences and the characters.

Finally, Frozen II falls short with inappropriate spacings between each part of the film. The beginning drags on as the film takes an unnecessary amount of time to introduce the characters, while the ending feels rushed and incomplete.

However, despite its minimal shortcomings, Frozen II thoroughly impressed me, keeping the audience engaged in gasps, laughs, and suspense throughout the entire duration. Following the journey of the two powerful sisters, fans of the franchise will be astounded by the experience. Personally, I left the theatre amazed by the majority of components in the movie. If you are a fan of emotion-filled, hearty adventure, Frozen II is a movie I completely recommend for anyone who is looking for a new, memorable classic for their collection.

9/10