In the past when Disney has put a "fresh spin" on a classic tale they've wound up with the generally risible likes of Treasure Planet. Fortunately, following on from 2011's Tangled this does a good job of taking a similar approach but adding some strong ideas and emotional resonance.


From the off the film is pleasingly unafraid to deal with darker themes in a confident manner. We are introduced to Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) as children, princesses playing together in the castle. Elsa was born with magical powers, which, as she ages, grow in strength and almost have devastating consequences for Anna. A band of trolls (lead by Ciarán Hinds' Pabbie) instill a sense of fear in Elsa's parents, causing them to shelter her from others, locked away in the castle, her magical hands gloved so as to conceal her abilities.


In one of the film's most startling and elegantly sad shots a terrible fate befalls their parents, years pass and it is the day of Elsa's coronation. Anna is more excited about the possibility of meeting the man of her dreams, and hastily falls for and gets engaged to Prince Hans (Santino Fontana), their impetuous arrangement causes an argument between the sisters, leading to Elsa's powers being revealed, causing panic and sending her off into the wilderness. However, unwittingly, she has caused the entire kingdom of Arendelle to be plunged into an endless winter.


Anna teams up with a mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and his reindeer Sven, setting off to confront Elsa.


Where Tangled's narrative often stalled thanks to a lack of propulsion in its songs, Frozen is more savvy, using the musical numbers to either drive the narrative forwards, which also means that once we reach the film's final furlong the musical numbers start to try up. It also features a delightful throwback to the wackier tunes of Disney's past when Anna and Kristoff encounter the surprisingly brilliant character of Olaf the Snowman (Josh Gad), who has a delightfully optimistic obsession with sunshine and heat and provides most of the film's big laughs.


More importantly though, and really elevating the film head and shoulders above anything Disney has done for about fourteen years (Pixar doesn't count) is the relationship between the two sisters and the film's focus on that above a lesser film's distractions. Ultimately this is a film about - as many Disney films are - being true to yourself, about celebrating what makes up different and special, and about love in all its forms.


More than all that it's a successful blend of drama, adventure, comedy, songs, and big teary-eyed emotions in a fashion that Disney undoubtedly hasn't achieved since The Lion King almost 20 years ago. It lacks that film's wealth of songs that'll be stuck in your head for months afterwards, but it more than compensates for that with its strong story-telling and intelligently realised characters.


A perfectly unpatronising, thought-provoking and joyful film that everyone could enjoy.

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