I know it is May, and no one is thinking about cold weather, but my two-year-old is currently in her Frozen era. Everything has transitioned from Moana to Elsa, Anna, and Olaf. I am sure I will have some who disagree with me but hear me out as I have seen Frozen II maybe 27 times in the last two months. I think Frozen II is a better movie than Frozen. Please keep in mind that this is just an opinion piece, but below are a few of the reasons I feel this way. I will do my best to keep the spoilers to a minimum for those who may not have seen it.
Plot
The plot of the original Frozen is not interesting and quite predictable. It has some strong, funny characters and elements, but overall, it falls short. Frozen II has a better plot in that it broadens and expands upon the characters. It gives them more personality and depth. Take Olaf, for instance. Again, this is my opinion, but he starts off as really annoying in the first movie but grows to become more lovable and empathetic as Frozen II progresses.
Frozen II also branches into the history behind the characters and why Elsa has her powers. Some moments are a little dark, I will admit, but they really help bring all of the elements of the story together. The scene where Elsa and Anna find their parents’ ship comes to mind. It focuses on righting past wrongs, finding one’s true self, and appreciating that differences make each person special.
Music
The songs in Frozen II are fantastic! My daughter is obsessed with “Into the Unknown” and I love “Lost in the Woods” and “Show Yourself”. Seriously, “Lost in the Woods” has some great Chicago/Peter Cetera vibes, and I am here for it! Some of the bands I used to listen to back in the early and mid-2000s cover a couple of the songs too. Shoutout to Panic! At The Disco and Weezer! (I am clearly showing my age here.)
Frozen has one song that EVERYONE played over and over (and over) again – “Let it Go”. I will admit that scene in the movie is pretty great though. “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” is probably the next most memorable song, but the other songs in the movie are pretty forgettable.
Ending
Admittedly, the ending of Frozen has a good message in that it shows that love conquers fear. Elsa realizes this and can bring an end to the winter she caused. But it is a bit chaotic and kind of abrupt. Elsa still remains an outsider even though all the other main characters get their happy ending. However, Frozen II shows how Elsa discovers where she fits in. She learns how truly special she is and that she is enough.
Overall, I love the Frozen II movie because it shows the importance of discovering, appreciating, and celebrating everyone’s differences and acknowledging how special they are because of them. I hope that is one of my daughter’s takeaways as she grows too. There are obviously so many more elements in Frozen II that I did not cover (like how great are Anna’s and Elsa’s dresses), but I did not want to spoil anything for new viewers. You will have to watch it to discover them for yourself.
