"Frozen," Disney’s newest musical production, attempts to champion embracing one's true nature, but it feels conflicted in its approach. The animated 3-D adventure aims to both refresh and adhere to established conventions of traditional Disney princess movies—a balancing act meant to maximize merchandising appeal. It encourages young women to support each other, a vital message given the prevalence of social cliques, as long as there are charming potential romantic interests and amusing, wise characters present to complete the picture. This feels somewhat cynical, an effort to innovate without truly disrupting the formula. "Frozen" is arriving in theaters just before Thanksgiving and the holiday shopping season, presenting considerable marketing opportunities. Like earlier successes such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid,” a stage version seems destined for Broadway soon; the songs—which are lively and entertaining if not instant classics—are already prepared. Young girls will undoubtedly adore it, that much is certain. The film, directed by Chris Buck ("Surf's Up") and Jennifer Lee, is consistently beautiful to watch. A grand ice castle atop a mountain is particularly striking—sparkling, detailed, and visually rich, especially in 3-D. However, the movie first delves into the backstory of its princesses – not one, but two. The script, written by "Wreck-It Ralph" co-writer Lee and inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” incorporates contemporary humor while remaining firmly rooted in Scandinavian fairy tale traditions. When they were younger, sisters Anna and Elsa were close friends and playful companions. But Elsa's ability to conjure ice and snow with a touch becomes problematic when she accidentally injures her sister. Similar to the telekinetic abilities shown in "Carrie," Elsa’s power is triggered by intense emotions. A magical troll king heals Anna and removes any memory of the event, but the sisters’ relationship suffers lasting damage. Elsa's parents isolate her and shut down the castle, which deeply saddens young Anna. (Amongst the songs from Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez—the team behind "Avenue Q" and "The Book of Mormon"—"Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" is notably touching.) When they reach adolescence and it’s Elsa's turn to ascend to the throne at 18, the two have an awkward reunion. Anna (now voiced by Kristen Bell) is excited but somewhat apprehensive to see her sister again. The reserved and hesitant Elsa (played by Broadway veteran Idina Menzel) remains distant, hoping to avoid revealing her powers on coronation day with gloved hands. However, an encounter with a charming prince visiting Anna (Santino Fontana) sparks Elsa’s anger, resulting in the kingdom being plunged into perpetual winter. Distressed and frightened, Elsa flees into self-imposed exile—a development that somewhat diminishes "Frozen," as she is its most complex and engaging character. On her journey to the highest mountain she can find, Elsa performs “Let It Go,” her version of an anthem declaring independence; this soaring musical moment showcases Menzel’s talent and stands out as a highlight. (Her dramatic transformation from prim princess to ice queen does give her the appearance of a reality TV personality, though.) Following that, the story focuses on Anna's efforts to find her sister and restore order to the kingdom. She receives assistance from an unemployed ice vendor named Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer companion, Sven. They encounter a singing snowman called Olaf (Josh Gad, known for his role in "The Book of Mormon" on Broadway), who dreams of experiencing summer warmth. This quartet—reminiscent of “The Wizard of Oz”—embarks on an obstacle-filled journey to a formidable fortress. ("Frozen" at least has the courtesy of drawing inspiration from excellent sources.) While the adventure may feel familiar, the ending holds some surprises. Some appear unexpectedly and don't quite work out. But the most significant one—the one that represents a major shift in the messages conveyed by Disney animated classics for decades—is important not just for young girls but for all viewers.

Source on TMDB