frozen ii movie review

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"Frozen II" has an autumnal palette, with russet and gold setting the stage for an unexpectedly elegiac tone in the follow-up to one of Disney's most beloved animated features. Even the irrepressibly cheerful snowman Olaf ( Josh Gad ), now permafrosted so even the warmest hugs don't melt him, is worried about change as the leaves turn orange and float down from tree branches. He is confident, though, that as soon as he gets older he will understand everything. After all, that's what he expects from Elsa ( Idina Menzel ), Anna ( Kristen Bell ), and Kristoff ( Jonathan Groff ). Anna reassures him (in song, of course) that yes, some things change, but some things are forever. She tells him that even when you don't know the answers you can always just do the next right thing, and that will help.

"Frozen II" is funny, exciting, sad, romantic, and silly. It has great songs and a hilarious recap of the first movie, and then it is all of that all over again. Plus an extra scene ALL the way at the end of the credits. This sequel can seem overstuffed at times, and tries a bit too hard to replicate the magic of the first film, but it is impressively willing to engage with some complicated issues in a frank manner that is accessible to children and insightful even for adults.

It throws a lot at us, like rock monsters, a cute fire salamander, and a magnificent water horse (the latter two likely to appear on holiday gift wish lists). The settings are gorgeously imagined and wonderfully inviting. Anna has a sensational new wardrobe. We learn family secrets, some comforting, some painful. Characters confront some of the most daunting human questions about loss, change, trust and how we can best heal the wounds of the past.

In a charming flashback, we see the princesses as little girls, playing together happily and being put to bed by loving parents. The king tells them a bedtime story from his own childhood about visiting an enchanted forest with his father to celebrate the completion of a dam the Arendellians built to help the indigenous people. But the gathering turned into an attack. The king was killed, and only the young prince survived, rescued by a mysterious character. Ever since, the enchanted forest has been barricaded by a powerful mist. The girls learn from their mother's lullaby that the river may hold some answers about what happened. "Dive down deep into her sound, but not too deep or you'll be drowned," the Queen sings. "When all is lost, then all is found." It's surprising how dark lullabies can get, a character points out.

In the present day, the sisters live happily in the castle, enjoying family time (Olaf is the Charades MVP) and caring for their community. But Elsa hears voices calling to her from the enchanted forest. She is afraid, but also thrilled. It is an invitation she struggles to admit that she wants to accept, leading to this film's belter ballad, "Into the Unknown." "I've had my adventure/I don't need something new ... don't you know there's part of me that loves to go into the unkn-ow-ow-own."

And so, after a warning from Kristoff's "love expert" friend Pabbie ( Ciarán Hinds ) and Olaf's not-always-helpful fun facts commentary along the way, they reach the enchanted forest. There, they meet new characters, sing some more songs, sort out some misunderstandings and try to protect each other. They confront the consequences of bad, even tragic choices made by their family.

Parents often ask me why children, especially preschoolers and middle-schoolers, like to watch the same movies over and over. I tell them that when everything around you seems to be drastically changing on a daily basis and you barely know yourself anymore, it can be a great comfort to have a movie friend that's the same every time. "Frozen II" is destined to be one of those movies children will want to see dozens of times. It will reward repeat viewings with both its reassuring messages about responding to change with courage and curiosity, and its challenge to understand the mistakes of the past so we can begin to work on "the next right thing" together.

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

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Film credits.

Frozen II (2019)

Rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements.

104 minutes

Kristen Bell as Anna (voice)

Idina Menzel as Elsa (voice)

Jonathan Groff as Kristoff (voice)

Josh Gad as Olaf (voice)

Sterling K. Brown as Lieutenant Mattias (voice)

Evan Rachel Wood as Iduna (voice)

Ciarán Hinds as Pabbie (voice)

Jason Ritter as Ryder (voice)

Rachel Matthews as Honeymaren (voice)

Alfred Molina as Agnarr (voice)

Jeremy Sisto as King Runeard (voice)

Jennifer Lee

Writer (story by)

Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Robert Lopez
Jeff Draheim
Christophe Beck

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‘Frozen 2’ Review: Long-Awaited Sequel Pushes Disney Into a Charming and Surprising New Direction

Kate erbland, editorial director.

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Editor’s note: This review was originally published for the theatrical release of “Frozen II.” It is now available to stream on Disney+.

Everything was in its (seeming) right place at the conclusion of Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck’s 2013 animated smash hit “Frozen,” as long-suffering princesses Anna ( Kristen Bell ) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) were reunited, the kingdom of Arendelle was freed from its eternal winter, Elsa was crowned queen (with her magic intact and appreciated), and Anna had found love with a doofy regular dude after banishing a nefarious smooth-talking wannabe Prince Charming type. Still, fans of the Disney feature have long clamored for a sequel to the musical charmer, if only to spend more time with a cadre of cute characters (including, of all things, a hammy reindeer and Josh Gad as a sentient snowman who has zero right to be as cute as he is) inside an inventive new world.

Perhaps they should have been careful what they wished for, if only because it’s about to be upended by a fresh new story.

Sure, Elsa eventually ascended to the throne, leaving her self-created ice castle behind and slipping into a role that had long been carved out for her, but does that choice truly reflect who she is? And while Anna has always been happy to play second (very supportive) fiddle to her gifted big sis, she’s consistently seemed like the better choice to lead a kingdom (and a Disney franchise) to new heights. Every sequel is tasked with dramatizing what happens next , but “ Frozen 2 ” is built on a sly bit of course correction that might rile the very people who wanted it so badly. The franchise — and the fandom — are better for it.

“Frozen” may have ended with everything in its right place, but Lee and Buck’s long-awaited followup makes the case that a sequel was necessary, not because it was demanded, but because “Frozen” was never the correct end of the story. Loving the characters and themes of “Frozen” and wanting to see more of them can only naturally lead to “Frozen 2,” which does away with so many of the happily-ever-after elements of the first film (and finds new, updated ones). By moving the tension between the traditional and the bold to the forefront, “Frozen 2” is one of the more daring visions of the future of Disney moviemaking, all bolstered by gorgeous animation and a handful of instant-classic new jams.

While “Frozen” used plenty of traditional plot points to guide it, including building off a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, imparting key lessons about doing the right thing, and making being part of the royal family sound like a fun gig, it was always laced through with some compelling subversion. Some moviegoers even latched on to Elsa’s alienation and desire to break free from expectations as indicative of her potential queerness — possible sexuality aside, crafting a bonafide Disney Princess who really, really didn’t want to be one is still a heck of a choice for Disney.

Picking up soon after the events of the first film, “Frozen 2” finds Elsa, Anna, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Olaf (Gad), and Sven the reindeer happily ensconced in a cheery Arendelle. And yet an early flashback to Anna and Elsa’s youth — before they were separated out of fear of Elsa’s icy powers — indicates that the seeds of this story were sown long ago. Since the first film, which offed Anna and Elsa’s parents in an off-screen shipwreck, fans have wondered about what really happened to the royal couple, another pair of loving adults lost to the whims of a studio that has always cherished the concept that parental death is key to personal growth.

“Frozen 2” gives the princesses — and the film’s audience — more time with King Runeard (Jeremy Sisto) and Queen Iduna (Evan Rachel Wood), as they share the fantastical fairy tale of an ill-fated political meeting that nearly killed the kid king, locked a distant forest and its inhabitants in a magical mist, and inspires Elsa to go looking for answers she can’t find in Arendelle. Much that’s been guessed about the super-secret plot of “Frozen 2” has turned out to be incorrect: there is no autumnal version of Elsa, no overt same-sex romance, no secretly alive parents. That’s for the best, because the surprises that “Frozen 2” unfurls are emotional, mature, and often quite dark for a kids’ film (tip: the youngest “Frozen” fans might need some warm hugs to get through a fraught final act).

As is so often the case, it starts with an unexpected journey. Early in the film, Elsa attempts to push away any thoughts about striking out into the unknown (as illuminated by a song that is, of course, titled “Into the Unknown,” one of two sturdy “Let It Go” stand-ins), and muses that everyone she loves is finally under one roof, so why would she need more? For someone as magical and secretly bent on living her own life as Elsa, you can see where the discomfort might creep in.

Anna, meanwhile, is happy as a clam, embarking on zippy signalongs with best pal Olaf (“Some Things Never Change” is just as fun and frisky as “Love Is an Open Door”) and looking forward to whatever the future might bring. Olaf, now maturing into something of an adult snowman (Was he a “snowkid” before? Best not to worry about it), is consumed by the idea that everything — including terrifying spirit-filled magical forests — will make sense when he’s older, while Kristoff just wants to put a ring on Anna’s finger.

When Elsa starts hearing an ethereal singing voice calling out to her, she’s compelled to follow it far North, and the rest of the crew can’t help but tag along, all the better to stick together and assuage Anna’s well-founded fears about losing her sister again. Of course, the journey and the voice lead straight to the distant forest, one filled with secrets and memories (many of them rendered literal by magic-conjured ice sculptures, a plot point that makes much more sense in practice). There’s also a handful of new friends to meet, all of which are welcome, many of which are underserved (Sterling K. Brown is the lone newbie who really gets to leave a mark).

In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2, Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven journey far beyond the gates of Arendelle in search of answers. Featuring the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad, “Frozen 2” opens in U.S. theaters November 22.©2019 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Keen observers will likely see how this all is going to play out, as previously illuminated by Iduna’s flashback appearance, complete with its own song (“All Is Found”). That doesn’t stop the film’s script, from Buck, Lee, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Marc Smith, and Allison Schroeder, from occasionally getting lost in the woods. Zipping between ruminations about the spirits that fill the forest (it’s certainly the most pagan Disney film in recent memory) to a convoluted exploration of the sins of the father (no, really) and a series of richly-animated and truly obvious revelations, “Frozen 2” is crammed with material, most of which works.

Despite the emotional upheaval of the final act, it also has a fair bit of amusement and spectacle. There’s tongue-in-cheek jibs about the Disney experience throughout, and Lee and Buck have some serious fun spinning the big musical numbers into fresh territory (Kristoff’s big song, “Lost in the Woods,” is filmed as something of a power ballad music video, more Guns n Roses than anyone could ever expect from the Mouse House, and one of the best parts of the film). Olaf is as deranged and cute as ever, moving from court jester to something of a classic fool over the course of a transformational outing. In a flashback, Anna and Elsa’s dad even makes off with a lightning fast joke about a “new Danish author.”

It all culminates in a wild, windswept mission for Elsa, one that capitalizes on her powers and pushes them to terrifying ends. The same can be said of the film’s animation, which has mostly adhered to the style of the original, all sweet faces and the occasional burst of icy action (Elsa can still make some insane snowflakes, and more ), before building to an ocean-swept sequence that’s vivid, terrifying, and more eye-popping than the “Let It Go” scene in the first film. Like the film itself, it’s scary and different, but it also shows off the inherent power of moving away from expectations and embracing the drama of real life. No sequel is essential, but “Frozen 2” makes the argument that, even in the fairy tale land of Disney, they can still be important.

Disney will release “Frozen 2” in theaters on Friday, November 22.

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Frozen II Reviews

Frozen II maintains the values of its predecessor, brotherhood and love between sisters. Sisterhood is a fundamental value since unlike some reigns portrayed in other stories, Anna and Elsa never fight for the throne or power, they are not greedy.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jan 27, 2024

Frozen II compensates for the six-year wait with a follow-up worthy of standing up to its original, which in my opinion, surpasses it. It really feels like a magical film.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jul 24, 2023

We also get amazing songs like Into The Unknown, Some Things Never Change, Show Yourself and of course Lost in the Woods. They're easily on par with Let It Go, Do You Want to Build a Snowman and For the First Time in Forever.

Full Review | Mar 31, 2023

Frozen II has affable intentions, but overall it fails to meet the expectations set by its predecessor, and it lacked real substance.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Mar 8, 2023

Just when you think Frozen II shows signs of doing something bold or confronting, it pulls back to a commercial safe zone, supplying Disney with an excuse to further their empire with future sequels and a reliable franchise.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Feb 23, 2022

Reminded me of an old adage that women have larger colour vocabularies and a greater sensibility for colour than (most) men, and that feeling certainly transmits here.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 5, 2021

So well done... it was just a beautiful experience.

Full Review | Sep 16, 2021

The plot of the sequel is both convoluted and familiar.

Full Review | Sep 10, 2021

While its music, visual effects, and general spectacle will wow audiences, it's nice to know that Disney is still maintaining the responsibility of exploring change in their stories through diverse ways.

Full Review | Sep 5, 2021

You will probably either laugh or cringe. I laughed out loud. And, yes, Olaf (Josh Gad) gets plenty of opportunities to entertain us, including a song that hilariously recaps what happened in the first film.

Full Review | Aug 12, 2021

The film's answers and resolutions may end up feeling too vague or abstract, but this bold and sensory approach to storytelling is something that I hope to see more of from Disney.

Full Review | Original Score: 4 / 5 | Jun 25, 2021

Like most sequels, Frozen II doesn't quite live up to the first film, but it's far from a waste of time. If nothing else, it's nice to be able to spend some more time with the engaging characters of Arendelle.

Full Review | Feb 17, 2021

The beauty of this sequel is that it is more intricate than the first, namely in plot. It ditches the simplicity of what boiled down to repairing a sister-sister relationship and opts instead for lofty, complicated concepts in a children's movie.

Full Review | Jan 28, 2021

While it's usually difficult to surpass the original, this broader, more engaging follow up to the wildly successful original speaks more to the power of togetherness than its predecessor even considered.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Dec 16, 2020

Pleasant and enjoyable but unlikely to leave much of a mark.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Dec 7, 2020

Disney's 'Frozen 2' far exceeds the original animated film. The character development, storyline and the overall themes are more nuanced, detailed and intriguing. There are some scenes that may insight fear in smaller kids, but overall it's kid-friendly.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Nov 15, 2020

Frozen 2 brings the strenghts of the first movie and takes them further (...). It's more balanced so kids and adults can enjoy the journey. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Oct 16, 2020

There's no question the Littles will enjoy Frozen 2. It's plenty colorful, even if it did feel long. I say "feel long" because it's only 103 minutes, but a lot is going on.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 16, 2020

Disney has managed an impressive act of tightrope walking in following up their latest golden goose with something that shimmers almost as brightly

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 16, 2020

It's a sweet tale of sisters doing it for themselves with a melancholic hinting at how childhood's innocence gives way to the concerns of the world and their place in it.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 15, 2020

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‘frozen 2’: film review.

THR review: 'Frozen 2,' the sequel to the 2013 Oscar-winning smash, follows the further adventures of sisters Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel).

By Todd McCarthy

Todd McCarthy

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Frozen 2 has everything you would expect — catchy new songs, more time with easy-to-like characters, striking backdrops, cute little jokes, a voyage of discovery plot and female empowerment galore — except the unexpected.

When you’ve made an original film that became the biggest-grossing animated movie of all time with a $1.27 billion worldwide haul, with income from an ongoing stage version and myriad merchandising sources as gravy, any temptation to mess with success would be deep-sixed in an instant. So, yes, Disney has been careful, cautious, conscientious and committed to continuing the franchise with the utmost fidelity to the original, resulting in a sequel that can’t miss with its massive constituency and will make another mint, but at the same time can’t help but feel predictable, safe and beholden to formulaic rules.

Release date: Nov 22, 2019

As in the first outing six years ago (but just three years later in terms of the narrative), Queen Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel ) remains an intriguing and rather more serious young woman than has been the norm for young female Disney royalty through the years, one who seems intent upon understanding her abilities and heritage. It’s her present preoccupation to explore and master them, to harness the power of nature — hers and that which remains to be discovered.

Domestic jibber-jabber among the royal family of Arendelle dominates the early-going in a rather let’s-get-reacquainted manner, and this is something at which Elsa’s chatty younger sister Anna ( Kristen Bell ) particularly excels. During this domestic first act set at the castle, a new song is introduced every few minutes, and there’s nothing wrong with that; as before, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez have turned out a host of snappy, catchy tunes, at least two or three of which seem very likely to become favorites. The songwriting team’s contribution to the franchise’s success can scarcely be overestimated.

Before long, however, a devastating storm serves to get everyone out of the house and a select few into an enchanted forest, from which Elsa feels like she’s “being called.” But while the troops gather to figure out what to do, some of the same crew from the previous film are given a few moments apiece to reintroduce themselves with their basic shtick, most notably including comic relief snowman Olaf ( Josh Gad ), who can be amusing in small doses, and Anna’s oafish beau Kristoff ( Jonathan Groff ), who, sadly, has become no brighter in the intervening years.

Although the pic to this point can hardly be called dynamic, Elsa’s almost mystical belief in a strange and unknown destiny begins refocusing the narrative once she sets out on her quest of self-discovery; she becomes, increasingly, an often brooding woman of “dark powers” convinced that “the truth must be found,” whatever it may be. She’s no innocent Dorothy looking for a way back home through a scary forest, although the journey has its emphatic perils. Rather, Elsa is a seeker and seer of a potentially high order, a woman determined to learn the truth about the world she inhabits and rules, whatever the risks and cost. This (along with some quite exceptional shape-shifting) is what makes Elsa stand out among the crowd of commoners and sets her increasingly apart from the more motley crowd accompanying her on her journey to hitherto unimagined places.

Without missing a beat, Frozen 2 at this point could have easily become a tale of a dead-serious journey, a kind of cartoon The Revenant with awful weather and dangerous creatures (here, notably, some enormous rocks that become hulking giants that shake the Earth when they walk). Visually, too, some of the effects point in the direction of a head trip. But, indeed and alas, that’s a different movie. The journey we get is an equivocation, one that seems momentarily tempted by destinations perhaps not on the map but understandably travels on another, much safer road.

So while it flirts with the dark side, where the movie actually goes are the destinations of colorful and undisturbing sensation (Elsa’s underwater exploits are particularly striking) and constantly reassuring humor. There’s nothing wrong with that in terms of the massive, all-inclusive audience Disney is aiming for and will most certainly reach, and no one wants to scare the 4-year-olds too much (there are moments in Bambi and Sleeping Beauty, at the very least, that supplied children of earlier generations with nightmares for years).

Certainly the overriding intent of Jennifer Lee’s script (she also solely wrote the first installment and co-directed both with Chris Buck) is to position Elsa as a serious role model/inspiration for girls and young women, a resilient, can-do, nothing-can-stop-me character able to overcome any challenge in her path. This she most certainly does, and a raft of co-story writers has joined in to try to stir the ingredients to the desired balance among drama, excitement, comedy, suspense, action and inspiration.

Unfortunately, if you stop to notice you can readily sense the efforts of the many cooks in the kitchen, recommending a bit more sugar here, a pinch of spice over there, bake this a little longer, put some extra frosting on just for good measure. The recipe is a good one, but you can feel all the fuss that went into it.

Production company: Walt Disney Animation Studios Distributor: Disney Voice cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff, Sterling K. Brown, Evan Rachel Wood, Alfred Molina, Martha Plimpton, Jason Ritter, Rachel Matthews, Jeremy Sisto, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Tudyk, Hadley Gannaway, Mattea Conforti, Aurora, Alan Tudyk, Santino Fontana, Libby Stubenrauch, Eva Bella Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee Screenwriter: Jennifer Lee; story by Chris Buck, Marc E. Smith, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez Producer: Peter Del Vecho Executive producer: Byron Howard Production designer: Michael Giaimo Editor: Jeff Draheim Music: Christophe Beck Original songs: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez Visual effects supervisor: Steve Goldberg Casting: Jamie Sparer Robert

Rated PG, 104 minutes

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‘Frozen 2’ Review: The Cold Still Never Bothers Them

The sisters and sidekicks from “Frozen” reconvene for another adventure with storms of feeling and a new power ballad.

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By Manohla Dargis

“Let It Go,” the warble heard around the world, wasn’t just the signature song from “ Frozen .” It was an anthem (“Here I stand!”) for the mighty, mighty girl power that helped push Disney into industry dominance. The company’s supremacy is often pinned on its highest profile franchises: Lucasfilm, Marvel and Pixar, which have historically featured male-driven stories. But Disney has also heavily profited from a sparkly pink world of adventure and aspirational uplift for spirited girls and women who “dream big,” to borrow a motto from its princess franchise.

The sisters from “Frozen,” the magical Elsa (the leather-lunged Idina Menzel) and the younger, perkily ordinary Anna (Kristen Bell, a honeyed soprano) aren’t part of the official princess juggernaut . Maybe that’s because Elsa was crowned queen in the first movie, though also because the sisters are big enough to have their very own franchise, having raked in a billion plus worldwide. So, of course they are back for another round of global domination in “Frozen 2,” a diverting, prettily animated musical, again written by Jennifer Lee, who directed the movie with Chris Buck.

“Frozen” neatly tied things up with Elsa having embraced her magic and wearing the crown, and Anna matched with a nice bland hunk, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff). But there’s no such thing as happily ever after in Franchise Land. So, after the reintroductions (hello, Olaf and Sven), Elsa performs a call-and-response with an ethereally pure voice, a “secret siren” (the Norwegian singer Aurora), in “Into the Unknown.” True to her new musical grail, Elsa ventures off into the unknown, followed by Anna, and together they climb the mountain, touch the sky and re-enter the circle of life.

The ensuing adventure is lively, amusing and predictably predictable with revelations, reconciliations and some nebulous politics for the grown-ups. It’s never surprising, yet its bursts of pictorial imagination — snowflakes that streak like shooting stars — keep you engaged, as do Elsa and Anna, who still aren’t waiting for life to happen. They’re searching, not settled, both active and reactive, which even today makes them female-character outliers on the big screen. Even better, this time this journey isn’t as tethered to romance. Kristoff yearns to propose to Anna and spends much of the story fumbling to pop the question, a light comic refrain that smartly never overwhelms the story.

Instead, the emphasis remains on the sisters. In “Frozen,” Anna found true love with Kristoff, but mostly she and Elsa found each other. It was a promising change of genre pace particularly given that Disney has long drawn from classic fairy tales (its first animated feature was “Snow White”), which it has struggled to recalibrate for changing gender norms. With “Frozen” it created grown heroines with different once-upon-a-time stories, one sealed with a man’s kiss, the other happily not. It was a modest liberating détournement along the lines of the first “Maleficent,” a rethink of Sleeping Beauty in which a kiss from a motherly queen, not a prince, wakes the princess.

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'Frozen II' Review: A Gorgeously Animated Sequel That Tops The Original

"Some things never change," or so go the lyrics in one of the songs in the highly anticipated Disney sequel Frozen II . This follow-up arrives six years after the worldwide phenomenon of Frozen took hold of popular culture, with its songs becoming so unavoidable and ubiquitous almost overnight. Frozen II attempts to carve out a place for itself while delivering the charm, catchy music, and core emotional underpinnings that so inflamed people's imaginations in 2013. With its eye-popping animation, world-building, and character exploration, Frozen II is nominally a slight improvement on its predecessor. But it's still limited by the burden of expectations. Arendelle is thriving in the reign of Queen Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel), yet the young leader is plagued by the mysterious sound of a beckoning siren call only she can hear. Coupled with her memory of the king and queen describing for her a strange, enchanted forest in the North where magic reigned supreme, Elsa is compelled to leave her home. Unable to quell her wandering spirit, she heads off to an enchanted forest in the North, joined by her sister Anna (Kristen Bell), Anna's beau Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer Sven, and the supposedly lovable snowman Olaf (Josh Gad). The core adventure is less about the sisterly bonds delved into during the 2013 original, and more about the pressing question of why Elsa is gifted with magical powers, and whether those powers might destroy or save their land. What works most in this film's favor is that it doesn't present itself as a direct copy of the original. Shrewdly, Anna and Elsa are teamed up for a bulk of the story, this enabling their connection to be more believable. Now at least, Anna and Elsa act like sisters, instead of lip service being paid to their relationship. Elsa, too, may still be a figure of some mystery, but Jennifer Lee's script (she co-directed the film with Chris Buck) is at its strongest when the icy queen is at the forefront. Anna, though less outlandishly klutzy than in the first film, is placed in a silly subplot with Kristoff, who's desperate to pop the question but unable to close the deal. It's not exactly a good thing that this film recalls the first-ever Disney animated sequel, The Rescuers Down Under , wherein the kindly male lead struggles to pop the question to his longtime girlfriend. But the similarities are...unexpected, if not straight-up unwelcome. Of course, the vagaries of what is expected of a sequel—the same, but more of it—means that there are more songs, including two big numbers for Elsa. ("Into the Unknown" has received the "Let It Go" treatment in the marketing campaign, but her other solo number, "Show Yourself", is the standout.) Groff, like Menzel, is a seasoned Broadway vet, although he ironically never got a show-stopping number in the original film. That has mercifully changed with Frozen II , where his 80s-throwback song "Lost in the Woods" is the best of all the compositions from songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristin Anderson-Lopez. It's one of many pop-culture in-jokes that toe the line between being too referential and just slyly funny enough. (To describe the song further would ruin one of the film's most delightful surprises.) There is also a great deal of Olaf, speaking of humor that tries to land on the right side of being too jokey. If you like the sentient snowman who loves warm hugs, you're in for a treat—Olaf jockeys with the two sisters as the second lead of the film. The rest of us have to stew in silence through extended comic bits that land with a thud, as when Olaf hurriedly rushes through a plot synopsis of the first film for a captive audience of new characters. Less continues to be more with Olaf, which means his screen time is an aggressive albatross hanging around the rest of the film. Those aforementioned new characters are plentiful, but it's fascinating that none of them make much of an impact, nor are they meant to. Sterling K. Brown appears as a long-lost Arendellian (Arendellite? We'll have to wait for the third film to know for sure) with a connection to Anna and Elsa's parents, acquitting himself nicely enough in a mildly thankless role. The same goes for Martha Plimpton and Jason Ritter, both as denizens of the mysterious forest where our heroes spend most of the film. Yet Frozen II is not about the new characters, instead trying to expand upon the creaky mythology of the original. (The expansion of said mythology does not improve its creakiness, sadly.) The truest improvement between films comes not in its story, but in its striking presentation. Though Elsa's powers arrive in full bloom in the enchanted forest, the real power of this movie comes through its gorgeous, often jaw-dropping animation. Much of the film's antagonism is driven by natural elements like air and water, which are visualized in crisp, detailed fashion that goes well beyond past Disney animated fare, hand-drawn or computer animated. An extended sequence midway through the film, in which Elsa goes on a very important journey of self-discovery, is visually one of the most accomplished sequences of the 80-plus years of Disney animation, period. The way that Disney animators have pushed computer technology to give life to even droplets of water is genuinely gasp-inducing. Whatever else can be said, Frozen II is truly beautiful. Frozen II has an insurmountable challenge in front of it. When the original arrived in the late fall of 2013, no one would have predicted exactly how massive it became. Its songs became instant anthems, its story tapped into the vibrant spirit of young women around the world, and its characters were quickly welcomed into the collective public's hearts. Nothing about this movie is going to ruin the original film's impact, and it's a more coherent story with a stronger emotional heart. It's a good movie, a solid follow-up to a slightly less entertaining film. But only when its visuals do the talking does Frozen II really sing. /Film Rating: 6.5 out of 10

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Frozen II review – magical journey into the unknown with Elsa and Anna

The sisters try to heal the sins of the past in a moving follow-up that touches on climate change and has at least one great song

T he more times I listen to Frozen II ’s rousing anthem Into the Unknown , the more I’m convinced of its earworm quality. It’s as good (and maybe better) than the indelible Let It Go . The much awaited sequel to Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee’s 2013 animated musical phenomenon sees Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) beckoned by a “secret siren”, whose disembodied soprano whistle leads her through the Enchanted Forest and to the River Ahtohallan to learn the difficult truth about her family’s past. “Can you face what the river knows?” sings her late mother (Evan Rachel Wood) in the opening flashback’s lullaby.

A battle means the forest has been sealed off for decades by a magical fog; Elsa and co discover that trapped within are its indigenous people, the Northuldra. The spirits of earth, air, water and fire are also volatile; the animators demonstrate the beauty, terror and instability of the elements via a neon pink forest fire and an ethereal water horse that Elsa rides across the unruly, dark sea. The new songs, on the other hand, are less consistent. Jonathan Groff’s Kristoff draws the short straw with forgettable 80s rock ballad Lost in the Woods , while chatty, cutesy snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) has a sweet but thin number about growing older, crooning with a faux-Sinatra lilt.

Frozen ’s formula cleverly matched the expansive dreams and deep anxieties experienced by children with Broadway-style belters (powered by actual Broadway stars Menzel and Groff). The rage-inducing loneliness that accompanies Elsa’s power or her non-magical sister Anna’s primal fears for her family’s safety are not obstacles to be overcome but incorporated into the storytelling. Here, the idea is developed further, with Elsa and Anna (Kristen Bell) vowing to undo the damage done by generations past, thoughtfully touching on the timely themes of colonialism and the climate crisis. Indeed, Anna’s moving solo The Next Right Thing advocates for taking the first small step towards change even when the future is uncertain.

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Trivia The song used to call Elsa to the enchanted forest is a type of Scandinavian herding call called kulning. It was used briefly in the score of the first movie. In Frozen 2, the kulning central to the plot is performed by a Norwegian singer Aurora .
Goofs When Anna tells the Rock Giants to throw their boulders, the first one hits the middle of the bridge, but when Anna is running back to Kristoff and Mattias, that part of the dam is not broken.

Olaf : Anna? Elsa? Sven? Samantha?

[pause; Olaf bursts out laughing]

Olaf : [in between giggles] I-I don't even know a Samantha!

Crazy credits There is a post-credits scene in which Olaf recaps the events of the film.
Connections Edited into Zenimation: Water (2020)
Soundtracks All Is Found Written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Performed by Evan Rachel Wood

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How long is Frozen II? Powered by Alexa
November 22, 2019 (United States)
United States
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Walt Disney Feature Animation - 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA
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$150,000,000 (estimated)
$477,373,578
$130,263,358
Nov 24, 2019
$1,453,683,476

Technical specs

Runtime 1 hour 43 minutes
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Surround 7.1
D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1
D-Cinema 96kHz 7.1
Dolby Digital
12-Track Digital Sound

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'Frozen 2' review: Disney's most beautiful movie ever is fiercely anti-colonial

Beautiful in both song and soul, 'Frozen 2' is the rare sequel that outshines its predecessor and advances the entire medium.

It’s been a long six years since Disney’s Frozen put the world on ice. Children who tortured parents to “Let It Go” on loop are now in middle school. They’re watching TikTok, not Elsa. Frozen 2 , the sequel, knows this. It knows its audience has grown. It knows the world has changed, and it’s discontent to rest on bedazzled laurels.

Frozen 2 , out November 22, is another sparkling light show with emotionally charged Broadway-ready bangers and a hint more prog-rock energy. But at the heart of the movie is a story about the fear of change, and the uncomfortable bravery it takes to accept it.

This is the rare sequel that takes evolution seriously, as Frozen 2 unspools its story to ask new questions about self-identity. Where Frozen was a queer parable about hiding oneself from the world, Frozen 2 is a confrontation of the systemic infrastructures that invisibly define one’s understanding of it.

Frozen 2 is a family musical about the evils of colonialism, about the pain it causes and the lies it creates. It’s about how newer generations, through no fault of their own, benefit from the privileges of ignorance and white-washed history. Frozen 2 tackles all these weighty themes and more, with all the singing snowmen, cute animals, and cheesy expressions of love fans of the original expect.

Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, written by Lee and Allison Schroeder ( Hidden Figures ), and songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Frozen 2 picks up shortly after 2013’s Frozen . Elsa (Idina Menzel) has settled as Queen of Arendell, but deep down she feels something is wrong.

In 'Frozen 2,' the heroes reunite in a new adventure that calls them to the far north of Arendelle.

Sometimes, Elsa hears a voice, a ghostly melody beckoning her. When the ancient spirits of fire, water, earth, and air awaken (and no, the Fire Nation does not attack), the spirits curse the Kingdom of Arendell, making the kingdom inhospitable. The spirits are basically the electric company, and Arendelle is way past due. Hoping to restore Arendell, Elsa journeys to a fabled forest her late father swore was real. Thus kicks off another adventure with Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Sven, and Olaf (Josh Gad).

There’s singing, there’s dancing, there are magical spirits with quirky personalities and cute animals with big anime eyes. On its sleek surface, Frozen 2 is as much Frozen as the original. The infectious music will play in your head for weeks, its vast autumnal landscapes rival Elder Scrolls and are some of the most breathtaking visuals ever put to screen, and the film has all the playful winks that imbue it with personality.

Frozen made an actual billion dollars, but Frozen 2 roasts it whenever it gets the chance. Kiddies who aren’t ready to grasp the movie’s bigger ideas will still envy Elsa’s outfits and howl at Olaf. The children at my screening broke the sound barrier from Olaf’s relentless gags.

With scenery that resemble a 'Final Fantasy' game, 'Frozen 2' might be the most gorgeous Disney movie of all time.

But for the bigger kids, Frozen 2 is a heavy movie. In Frozen , Arendelle was a kingdom in a vacuum, existing as a copied and pasted world from the Walt Disney sourcebook. Frozen 2 changes that. Because all kingdoms rise from the subjugation of a populace, Frozen 2 is among the first, or at least most prominent Disney movie in recent memory, to explore colonialism as part of a kingdom’s foreign affairs.

This is Frozen 2 : Characters leave their hometown, meet diverse new people, and discover a harsh truth about the world — the Disney musical of freshman year at a liberal arts college. To explain the specifics would be too much of a spoiler, and Frozen 2 arguably doesn’t go far enough to make its point actually sting. After all, this is still a film about two very fair skinned white women from a very white-influenced setting. But it’s no mistake Arendelle’s neighbors have darker complexions, black hair, and a frontier lifestyle than the Arendellians who walk on cobblestone streets.

But does any of this still make a good movie? The answer is YES. Frozen 2 packs a wallop with more dire emotional stakes than the first movie. It is still very much about Elsa and Anna’s sisterhood, which is put to the test here — another sign of significant growth since Anna asked Elsa to build a snowman.Olaf has also matured; he’s the kids’ vehicle, singing directly to them about how growing up is freaking scary, but you’ll come out better in the end if you don’t melt. A nice counterbalance is Kristoff, whose arc is a hysterical distraction from the dark places the other characters go.

Beautiful in both song and soul, Frozen 2 is the rare sequel in a world of sequels and spin-offs that elevates its predecessor while advancing itself and the medium of animation. Its imagination is as vast as the Final Fantasy -esque lands it explores, and its lessons profound enough to leave an everlasting impression. After all this time, Frozen still knows how to warm the heart.

Frozen 2 hits theaters on November 22.

‘Frozen II’ Review: Disney Sequel Is a Frosty, Fun Follow-Up

By Peter Travers

Peter Travers

When the animated musical Frozen skated into the multiplex in 2013, it grossed a record-breaking $!.27 billion in cold cash. Let it go? Hell, no! Six years later, Disney delivers an uneven but sensationally entertaining sequel to the Oscar winner that pulls out all the stops. The songs, again by the award-winning couple of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, are tantalizing earworms. The animation bursts with wonders — wait till you see what the CGI wizards do with water, the toughest element to animate. And it’s pleasure to re-connect with everyone’s favorite sister princesses: Elsa (belted by Idina Menzel) and Anna (trilled by Kristen Bell ), along with sassy snowman Olaf (hilarious Josh Gad), lovesick Kristoff (dreamy Jonathan Groff) and Sven the mostly silent reindeer as they set off on a new adventure that might get them all killed.

Last time, Elsa ran off to a winter fortress because her uncontrollable fingertips could fast freeze anything they touched, including Anna, who coaxed Elsa back without leaning on any dude. Even hunky Prince Hans (Santino Fontana) turned out to be a scheming bastard. It was truly a case of the sisters doing it for themselves. Sweet.

This time, Elsa is back on the throne in Arendelle with Anna by her side. But Elsa keeps hearing this haunting melody wafting in from up north. Is it the enchanted forest of Ahtohallan where the indigenous Northuldra tribe holds sway and where Elsa thinks she’ll find answers about the source of her own mysterious powers? Of course it is. Flashbacks provide clues through the royal sisters’ parents, King Agnarr (Alfred Molina) and Queen Iduna (Evan Rachel Wood), and grandfather King Runeard (Jeremy Sisto), all of whom may have fallen victim to an icy curse that Elsa means to thaw. She even sings “Into the Unknown,” a power ballad meant to follow “Let It Go” to Oscar glory and remind you that the trumpet-tonsiled Menzel has a voice that shakes the rafters.

For the sisters and their tribe, the road to Ahtohallan is filled with perils, especially those huge rocks that turn out to be menacing giants. And watch out for what’s under the sea. There are also new characters, including an impressive Sterling K. Brown voicing a soldier trapped in a frozen…well, it’s best we stop there in the name of “no spoilers.” Just know that Elsa must fight through a ghostly shadow world before she reaches the light.

It helps having jaunty tunes for Olaf (“When I’m Older”), Kristoff (“Lost in the Woods”) and Anna (“Some Things Never Change”) to cut through the murk. Jennifer Lee, who writes and directs with Chris Buck, can sometimes lose us in a thicket of convoluted plot lines. But the delight and dazzle of this frosty follow-up brings it all home in a climax that should have audiences panting for a part III. Why is the sequel never the equal? Frozen II just might break the jinx. There’s magic in it.

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Frozen II Review

22 Nov 2019

As a rule, animated Disney princess movies don’t get theatrical sequels – they end, by definition, with ‘happily ever after’. But then, 2013’s Frozen went far beyond your average animated Disney princess movie, a $1.2 billion box office behemoth that subverted fairy-tale notions of true love, with an earworm soundtrack that sent frazzled parents loopy on endless repeat listens. So it is that Frozen ’s happy ending gives way to a big-screen sequel that — as they tend to — goes bigger, bolder, and more epic.

It begins gloriously, with a lush, confident opening act that establishes the new status quo – Elsa ( Menzel ), in control of her ice powers, ruling Arendelle and living with love and warmth among sister Anna ( Bell ), soon-to-be-brother-in-law Kristoff ( Groff ), and goofy snowman Olaf ( Gad ). The first film’s frosty palette is swapped for a gorgeous autumnal aesthetic — all golden leaves, hazy sunsets and open fires — bolstered by a string of stirring musical numbers that deal beautifully with ideas of growth and impermanence (“I can’t freeze this moment, but I can seize this day,” sings Elsa). Frozen II isn’t just set in a season of change — it’s about the inevitability of it.

It’s also a more mature film that deals with notions of maturity, for an audience that has itself grown up in the six years since the previous outing. That means an expansive, mythical tone as the gang sets off on a quest tied into a mystery around Elsa and Anna’s family history, incorporating epic fantasy elements from Middle-earthian stone giants, to elemental spirits and indigenous tribal communities. Like Moana before it, Frozen II takes Disney further into Studio Ghibli territory, dropping binary good-and-evil storytelling for more nuanced depictions of the balance between humanity and nature.

The monolithic spectre of ‘Let It Go’ is not only winked at in a sharp gag, but is followed up with a double whammy of Elsa-bangers.

That the plot largely exists in service of world-building leads to a meandering middle act, driven by a mystery that remains narratively vague for too long and is largely obvious in hindsight. If the wider scope is admirable, the mythology-extending doesn’t always succeed, delivering backstory and familial revelations in hazy, hasty exposition that leaves big questions still unclear come the credits.

But just as Frozen transcended a tangled narrative thanks to its engaging characters and show-stopping music, Frozen II ’s plot missteps are more than compensated for by another suite of hits by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez . Olaf — who delivers a hasty recap of the previous adventure in the film’s funniest sequence — gets a particularly witty number in ‘When I Am Older’, repressing his trauma as he’s menaced by forest spirits. Kristoff gets the only notable misfire — a half-hearted parody of mopey soft-rock ballads. As for the musical elephant in the room, the monolithic spectre of ‘Let It Go’ is not only winked at in a sharp gag, but is followed up with a double whammy of Elsa-bangers, two fresh songs of spine-tingling self-discovery — the propulsive ‘Into The Unknown’ and mystical ‘Show Yourself’. If neither quite matches the last film’s breakout hit, that they both come close is impressive enough.

Where Frozen II does surpass its predecessor is in the jaw-dropping animation – one moment involving water drawn from a plank of wood is near-photoreal. Elsewhere, the film is far more stylish and playful than the prosaic original, with metaphysical character-driven sequences that make full use of the medium’s blank canvas, their imagery more emotionally intuitive than any expository dialogue. A scene of Elsa taming a spectral water-horse in the heart of a raging sea is simultaneously frightening, beautiful and enigmatic, drawing to mind Rey’s finger-clicking journey to self-discovery in Star Wars: The Last Jedi .

If the final act underwhelms in the action stakes, Frozen II still delivers where it really counts — the emotional beats and relationship between Elsa and Anna, who continually strengthen and uplift each other across the runtime. Among the not inconsiderable flaws, there’s enough greatness to make Frozen II worth Disney breaking its big rule for. And that in itself is a happy ending.

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‘Frozen 2’ Reviews: What the Critics Are Saying

By LaTesha Harris

LaTesha Harris

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Early reviews are in for the highly anticipated “ Frozen 2,” and the sequel stands its ground amid lukewarm responses.

Currently sitting at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, “ Frozen 2 ” has released to mixed reactions, the main sentiment being that while the film is unnecessary, Disney has released another money-maker that knows how to satisfy its audience. Some reviewers claim that the sequel’s adventures bypasses the original’s while others believe the heart and genius of “Frozen” is missing.

Variety ‘s Peter Debruge applauds the screenwriter and co-director Jennifer Lee for not creating a “mindless remake,” stating that the sequel feels more like a follow-up to Pixar’s “Brave.” Debruge says the film will resonate with younger audiences in a time of political strife; Anna and Elsa’s actions in “Frozen 2” parallel sentiments from teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg. “Conventional Disney princess movies — in which alabaster beauties from Snow White to Belle passively awaited the liberating effects of true love’s kiss — may have been taken at face value for most of the studio’s history, but today’s kids have gotten savvy,” he wrote in his review. “They recognize the often-problematic socializing effects of popular entertainment, and they demand better. They also know when they’re being patronized, and at times, ‘Frozen 2’ tiptoes a bit too carefully along that fine line, where escapism stops being fun because the adults responsible have started overthinking the politics of it all.”

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Slightly darker sequel charms with catchy songs, messages.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Although it's not an educational movie, it offers

Themes include teamwork, courage, perseverance. Po

Anna continues to be a brave, kind, loving sister,

Potential spoilers throughout this section. Severa

Anna and Kristoff are a couple, and they show affe

One use of "butt."

Nothing in the movie itself, but there are countle

Educational Value

Although it's not an educational movie, it offers lessons on importance of family and loyalty, of being open to the truth about the past, even when it implicates your own family or ancestors.

Positive Messages

Themes include teamwork, courage, perseverance. Positive messages include accepting and getting to know people from different backgrounds, protecting and helping the people you love, knowing how to be supportive, moving past obstacles by "doing the next right thing," acknowledging and understanding history and the past, even if it's uncomfortable and/or problematic. Continues to promote unconditional love, bonds of sisterhood and idea that true love is about partnership, communication, mutual respect, understanding.

Positive Role Models

Anna continues to be a brave, kind, loving sister, as well as a good partner and friend to Kristoff (if somewhat impetuous). Elsa uses her powers to help her kingdom and her loved ones. Both sisters are strong, independent women who lead confidently, communicate with and support each other. Kristoff is a supportive, encouraging partner to Anna and loyal friend to reindeer Sven. Olaf is cheerful, loyal but also thoughtful, philosophical. The people of Arendelle are a diverse group. The Northuldrans have many similarities to indigenous Scandinavian people.

Violence & Scariness

Potential spoilers throughout this section. Several flashbacks to battle that involves weapons (mostly swords), injury, danger, nongraphic death (we're told of one death, and one other person is obviously killed -- they're shown moments before assassination). The sisters find remains of their parents' shipwreck in an unexpected place, which makes them sad; other references to their parents' deaths. Frequent peril and risk: Chases, smashing, panic, falls, etc. Enchanted Forest can be scary: enormous Earth giants are initially frightening (especially when they hurl boulders at people), as is a water horse. Air spirits use a tornado-like cloud to roughly grab, spin main characters. Elsa is repeatedly tossed around by huge waves. Various elemental spirits (air, earth, fire, water) magically threaten Arendelle; the whole kingdom is in danger at a couple of different points; citizens must be evacuated. Billowing smoke and swirling, magical-looking fire that burns quickly and endangers characters. Definite spoiler alert! At one point it looks like Elsa has frozen permanently, and Olaf melts/flurries away as a result (little kids may be quite upset by this, but it's not permanent) -- Anna is extremely sad after that scene.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Anna and Kristoff are a couple, and they show affection for each other several times: hugging, a peck on the cheek, him carrying her, one big kiss and embrace. In flashbacks, Elsa and Anna's parents embrace.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Nothing in the movie itself, but there are countless merchandise tie-ins with the Disney movie, from toys, apparel, and figurines to costumes, accessories, books, and games.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Frozen 2 -- the sequel to Disney's 2013 blockbuster -- continues the adventures of Arendelle's magical Queen Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel ); her kind sister, Anna ( Kristen Bell ); and everyone's favorite snowman, Olaf ( Josh Gad ). This time around, the characters undertake a dangerous journey to a mysterious enchanted forest, hoping to discover the source of Elsa's powers. The sisters learn more about their parents' deaths and backgrounds; thanks to several flashbacks, viewers may feel even sadder about the orphans' loss. While there's lots of humor (thanks, Olaf!) and -- of course -- big musical numbers, the sequel is ultimately a bit more intense than the original. Expect perilous (though never graphic) scenes of elemental spirits chasing and attacking Arendelle/the main characters with wind, water, fire, and more. There are also chases, battle scenes with swords, dark secrets, and -- spoiler alert! -- a couple of upsetting (but temporary) deaths. Underlining everything are positive messages about sisterhood, empowerment, acceptance, tolerance, perseverance, and true love, and both Anna and Elsa are examples of strong women who lead confidently and communicate with and support each other. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Kids say (232)

Based on 117 parent reviews

Excellent - but might be too much for younger or sensitive kids

Scary sequel but has some cute parts, what's the story.

FROZEN 2 opens with a flashback to the king (voiced by Alfred Molina ) and queen ( Evan Rachel Wood ) of Arendelle telling young Elsa and Anna a bedtime story about a magical enchanted forest and the indigenous people of Northuldra who live there, along with the elemental spirits of air, water, fire, and earth. In the present, Queen Elsa ( Idina Menzel ) starts getting distracted by a siren call that only she can hear. While Anna ( Kristen Bell ) worries for her sister, Kristoff ( Jonathan Groff ) prepares to propose to Anna, and beloved snowman Olaf ( Josh Gad ), secure with permafrost, matures enough to have an existential crisis. As the voice's pull gets stronger, Elsa realizes that elemental magic is hurting her kingdom, so she sets out to find the long-hidden forest accompanied by Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf. Once they get there, they encounter a long-missing group of Northuldrans and Arendelle soldiers, who've been trapped for decades. Elsa must figure out how to use her powers to save Arendelle and restore peace with what's left of the Northuldrans. And, of course, Anna refuses to let her do it alone -- even if that means (accidentally) leaving Kristoff behind.

Is It Any Good?

This charming musical sequel again elevates sisterhood, empowerment, love, and acceptance -- while introducing catchy new songs that are sure to please young Elsa and Anna fans. The storyline in Frozen 2 is less straightforward than in the original: There are multiple character arcs, and the youngest viewers may not understand one of the Northuldra plot points (it's reminiscent of an ugly aspect of U.S. history concerning Native Americans). But there are several musical interludes (it feels like even more than in the first movie) and enough humor to keep viewers happy and satisfied. No longer awestruck by everything around him, Olaf is maturing in a hilariously philosophical way. He wonders about the meaning of the universe and his place in it and at times comes off like a clever, angsty teen (audiences may think of Groot more than once in this film). Of the new characters, Wood is a standout as the girls' mother, as is Sterling K. Brown as a veteran Arendelle soldier.

The music (again co-composed and written by spouses Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez) doesn't include an obvious successor to the once ubiquitous "Let It Go," although "Into the Unknown" features the same emotional crescendo of Menzel's stunning voice. Several of the songs sound similar, but that's to be expected from composers who hit the jackpot with a particular musical style. Groff's Kristoff finally gets his big solo, "Lost in the Woods," which is presented in the style of an '80s power ballad video and should elicit more than a few laughs from Gen X and older parents. Anna's song "The Next Right Thing" is compelling and bittersweet, and Olaf's "When I'm Older" has the comical tone audiences expect from the adorable snowman. The romance here is already established, so that subplot is more about Kristoff wondering whether Anna wants marriage as much as he does, when she's so preoccupied with her sister's well-being. While fans shouldn't expect the exact same kind of magic as in the original, Frozen 2 is a fitting tribute to Elsa and Anna's promise to protect and defend each other -- and their kingdom.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how the tone/intensity of Frozen 2 compares with the original. How much violence can younger viewers handle? Are the scenes of characters in danger or getting hurt too upsetting?

Who are the movie's role models? What character strengths do they exhibit? Why are courage , teamwork , and perseverance so important?

Which songs did you like most in the sequel? Do any of them compare to "Let It Go"? Do you prefer movies with musical numbers or those without?

What does it mean to "do the next right thing"? How does that idea help the characters in the story? How do you know what the next right thing is?

How do Anna and Elsa compare to other Disney princesses? Are they stronger examples of positive gender representation? Why or why not?

Movie Details

In theaters : November 22, 2019
On DVD or streaming : February 11, 2020
Cast : Kristen Bell , Idina Menzel , Jonathan Groff
Directors : Chris Buck , Jennifer Lee
Inclusion Information : Female directors, Female actors, Gay actors
Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Genre : Family and Kids
Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters
Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
Run time : 103 minutes
MPAA rating : PG
MPAA explanation : action/peril and some thematic elements
Awards : Common Sense Selection , Kids' Choice Award
Last updated : May 30, 2024

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Frozen 2 Review

A muddled message drags down this otherwise impressive sequel..

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Frozen 2 is nothing if not ambitious, and like any big undertaking, that ambition comes with flaws. The beautiful world of Arendelle and beyond is a total joy to explore but a confusing subplot that can't quite commit to its radical intentions takes away from the power and the message of the film. If you've got kids who loved the first movie then they'll probably adore this darker and more mature take on the characters they loved, though a warning: some of the new creatures are a little scary. Think The Neverending Story and you're close to the tone.

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Frozen ii review: disney's sequel is deeper & darker, if also messier.

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15 movie conflicts that could have been solved with simple communication, why now is the right time for a new live-action dragon ball movie, frozen 2 doesn't reach the heights of the first film, but with more complex emotional themes and better songs, there's still plenty of disney magic..

In the early 2010s, Walt Disney Animation Studios was coming off two princess films - The Princess and the Frog and Tangled - that were solid, but not wildly successful. Then came Frozen . A reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen", Frozen delivered Disney magic in spades, with a heartfelt story about sisters, a duo of incredibly cute creatures and a massively successful hit in "Let It Go". It all culminated in Frozen receiving widespread praise from critics and earning over $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Now six years later, Frozen 2 is hitting theaters, though it's perhaps more to do with Frozen's success than the story demanding it. Frozen 2 doesn't reach the heights of the first film, but with more complex emotional themes and better songs, there's still plenty of Disney magic.

After the events of Frozen , Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) are living happily in Arendelle, having family game nights with Anna's boyfriend Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer Sven and the magical living snowman created by Elsa, Olaf (Josh Gad). However, Elsa begins to hear a voice calling to her from the north and when magical spirits drive the residents of Arendelle out of their homes, Anna, Elsa and their friends decide to follow the voice. They track it to a mystical enchanted forest surrounded by an impenetrable mist that parts for Elsa's magic. In order to save Arendelle, the sisters will have to trust each other - and trust in themselves - as they learn the truth about Elsa's powers and the history of Arendelle.

To the credit of screenwriters Jennifer Lee and Allison Schroeder, Frozen 2 finds a compelling way to continue the stories of Anna and Elsa, with the former focused on protecting her sister (to the detriment of her other relationships) while the latter is still struggling to find her place in the world. However, in the writers' bid to give every character their own distinct arc, Frozen 2 winds up feeling a little bit like a hodge-podge of storylines that sometimes intersect. That's not to say the arcs aren't strong, because Frozen 2 does mine some very complex emotional themes for Anna, Elsa and even Kristoff's storylines. The Disney movie doesn't shy away from big and tough emotions, diving deep into some themes that are surprisingly dark for a children's movie, though Frozen 2 does offer a roadmap for kids to deal with the emotions it brings up. Still, it's not as cohesive a movie as Frozen was, which may be down to the sequel never even attempting to introduce a villain. Instead, Frozen 2 takes the risk of forgoing the typical Disney movie story structure for a more mature style - and while it doesn't entirely work, other aspects of the film are compelling enough to keep viewers engaged.

Such aspects of Frozen 2 that help propel the film forward include its new musical numbers, written by returning duo Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. While there isn't a wild breakout hit on the level of "Let It Go," overall the music is much stronger and has more standouts, like Menzel's "Into the Unknown" and Bell's "The Next Right Thing". (Groff's "Lost in the Woods" is also sure to be a crowd-pleaser.) In addition to the music, the animation of Frozen 2 is altogether absolutely stunning, and completely breathtaking at certain key moments. The filmmakers use Frozen 2's animation to visually complement the movie's themes, and just as the story is more complex, the animation is even more sophisticated as well. The level of detail is truly mesmerizing and elevates all other aspects of Frozen 2 .

So while the larger story of Frozen 2 may leave something to be desired, directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee deliver a visual and audio feast for viewers - one that will leave an emotional impact. Frozen 2 does lose some of the magic of the original movie, but that's to be expected when Frozen was such a surprising success. To their credit, the filmmakers smartly (but sparingly) play on Frozen's success, and use Olaf's brand of silly humor in more clever ways. Plus, with Sven meeting a whole herd of reindeer (including baby reindeer) and Frozen 2 introducing the impossibly adorable salamander Bruno, Disney delivers a whole cadre of cute animals for viewers young and old. There's a compelling mix of silly and complex in Frozen 2 that demonstrates Disney's evolving animation output. While much of Frozen 2 hits the mark, there's still something missing - whether that's some unknowable magic, a more cohesive story or a better reason for existing than simply to capitalize on Frozen's success.

Ultimately, Frozen 2 is a magical return to the world of Anna and Elsa, one that has matured with those who fell in love with the original. It's dazzling, entertaining and fun for the whole family, though it does skew a little older. It might be a little too dark for very young viewers, but again, Frozen 2 does handle its more complex themes in ways that children will understand, and will help children to understand themselves better. Many fans of the first film will find something to like in the sequel, and Frozen 2 does provide an enjoyable theater experience with its gorgeous visuals and impressive soundtrack coming to life on the big screen. Altogether, Frozen 2 is an admirable sequel, even if it's not quite as great as the original.

Frozen 2 is now playing in U.S. theaters. It is 103 minutes long and rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements.

Let us know what you thought of the film in the comments section!

The sequel to Disney's smash hit musical animated film, Frozen II sees the return of Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf as they embark on a new journey to save the kingdom of Arendelle. When Elsa and Anna learn about a betrayal that occurred between their nation and a local tribe in the Enchanted Forest, they discover they must seek the truth about their parents and the origin of Elsa's powers to stop the rampaging spirits and the takeover of their home.

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Frozen II (2019) Review

INTO THE UNKNOWN

Back in 2013, Walt Disney Pictures celebrated their 53 rd animated feature film with the release of Frozen . Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the film, which starred the voice talents of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad, tells the story of a fearless princess (Anna) who sets off on a quest alongside seasoned iceman (Kristoff), his loyal reindeer (Sven), and a magical yet naïve snowman (Olaf) to save her estranged sister (Elsa), whose uncontrollable icy powers have inadvertently trapped their home (the Kingdom of Arendelle) in an eternal winter. Taking inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Snow Queen”, Frozen was met with universal acclaim from both critics and moviegoers everywhere, with most praising the feature for its visuals, screenplay, themes, music, and voice acting. Additionally, some viewers considered Frozen to be one of the best Disney animated feature since the studio’s renaissance era (1989-1999). Along with its critical success, Frozen went on to become a commercial success as well, with the movie grossing $1.276 billion worldwide box office. At the award season, Frozen even went to win several key awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (“Let It Go”), the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, two Grammy Awards for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Song Written for Visual Media (“Let It Go), and several others. Now, six years have passed since the release of Frozen , and Walt Disney Pictures and director Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee finally return to the Kingdom of Arendelle with the highly anticipated sequel Frozen II . Does this long-awaited follow-up adventure deliver on the special “magic” that the first movie was able to conjure up or does the feature’s “enchantment” get lost within its own ambition and storytelling?

After the events of the first film, peace has found its way into the Kingdom of Arendelle, with Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel), her feisty sister Anna (Kristen Bell) ruling in harmony, with fellow friend Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) trying to work up the nerve to propose to Anna, leaning heavily on his reindeer companion Sven for support. However, while all seems peaceful, Elsa is soon pulled into a different direction, drawn to a spiritual voice that inspire urgency to the great Enchanted Forest, a realm that plays home to mystical forces, including an enigmatic civilization Anna and Elsa’s father, King Agnarr (Alfred Molina), once shared the details about with his children when they were little. When this elemental power pushes the people of Arendelle out of their homes and out of the kingdom itself, Elsa sets out to uncover more about the death of her parents, hoping to find the source of her magic. Unwilling to let her sibling embark on a solo mission, Anna tries to keep up with the ice queen, joined by Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf (Josh Gad) as they confront the secrets of the Northuldra’s Tribe and the power that the Enchanted Forest holds.

THE GOOD / THE BAD

Oh, yes…. Frozen . I remember when this movie original came out back in 2013. Of course, being a fan of animated movies, especially Disney’s animated features, I was very interested in seeing Frozen as the film’s marketing campaigns for it looked fantastic (and definitely eye-catching) of trying to be somewhat “reminiscent” old the Disney Renaissance era of animated motion pictures. So, when I actually saw it (on its opening night), I was too right about this movie…in a good way. Frozen felt like warm nostalgia of classic Disney animated features; embracing its “signature identity” of singing princesses, talking / animated sidekicks, and tales of true love that helped pushed the story of Anna and Elsa to soaring new heights of quality children’s animated entertainment. Of course, I loved “Let it Go”, which I do agree got “overplayed” after the film’s release, but is still such a great Disney song (I even put it as #5 of my Top Ten Best Disney Songs list). Additionally, I even said (back then) that Frozen was gonna be a big hit with everyone and it surely did, with the everything from box office sales, to toy products / merchandise, to its soundtrack (both physical and digital formats); with the whole “Frozen” brand becoming a juggernaut (and profitable) force in Disney’s sales. All in all, Frozen was tremendous entertaining animated film by Disney and (at least to me) deserve all the praise it has received.

This bring me back to the point of talking (and reviewing) Frozen II , Disney’s follow-up sequel film to 2013’s Frozen . Naturally, given how much I loved and enjoyed the first film, you can tell that I was curious to see if Disney was gonna do a sequel and when the feature would materialize. Of course, with Disney being Disney (trying to build a “franchise tag” with a lot of their properties), that very idea materialized a few years later when they made that announcement that Frozen II would happen and be released in 2019. You can tell I was quite excited to see this sequel and to see where this new animated adventure would go and how it will all shaped up to be…a successful sequel or a disappointing flop. As to be expected, the movie was highly promoted throughout most of the 2019 year, with the film’s marketing campaign (i.e. movie trailer, TV spots, products / merch, etc.) capitalizing on the much anticipation of the film’s release. Plus, I was interested to see much the movie would differ from the first movie, with Frozen II promising to be more complexed and even darker than its predecessor. So, I went to see Frozen II on its opening night; expecting great things from this long-awaited sequel. What did I think of it? Well, despite a few messy areas within its narrative, Frozen II is a solid (yet confusing) sequel that delivers on being an entertaining animated endeavor, with its impressive animation and talented voice talents. It doesn’t overtake the first Frozen , but it has a deeper (and more mature) story to tell.

Returning to the director’s chair are both Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the same “dynamic duo” behind the first Frozen movie. Thus, as one would expect, the creative minds behind the uber popular first endeavor seems likely a perfectly choice in helming a sequel feature by trying to capture the same “Disney magic” with Frozen II . In this regard, the movie succeeds and deliver very engaging sequel installment that feels very much “in line” for both a Disney animated movie as well as being follow-up adventure to the first feature. Buck and Lee know this world (i.e. the Kingdom of Arendelle and the people therein), so the idea of the duo returning to the project is a harmonious one that works and will surely delight fans out there. Indeed, the cards are certainly stacked against Buck and Lee, with the first film, which was (more or less) intended to be a standalone animated feature. So, what Buck and Lee are able to create / present in Frozen II is something quite interesting and unique, framing the sequel with a more sophisticated and deeper narrative plot for the movie’s characters to explore. In addition, the film offers up new material for Frozen II to explore, expanding the world with new lore and mythology (i.e. the elemental spirts of Enchanted Forest), which are quite intriguing as well as expanding upon the mystery behind Anna and Elsa’s parents. Buck and Lee seize this opportunity in Frozen II and stage the film’s events in a deeper (and sometimes darker) tale than the first movie, which certainly does add more “emotional impact” in Frozen II . This is also due to the film’s script, which was also penned by Buck and Lee as well as Marc Smith, Robert Lopez, and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, which allows the Frozen characters to evolve a bit more and share / experience another dramatic adventure that delves into different facets of personal journey, especially in Anna and Elsa’s sisterly path. All in all, while there are some of the mechanics that aren’t completely ironed out (more on that below), Frozen II still delivers a fascinating narrative with a entertaining and emotional sequel that certainly proves worthy of its original 2013 film.

Where one of the areas that Frozen II undisputedly shines is in its presentation, which is absolutely gorgeous to see. The first Frozen movie was indeed quite beautiful and stunningly detailed that really was the “top notch” animated feature of 2013. Likewise, Frozen II’s animation is highly impressive and certainly pushes the boundaries of animation; making the movie’s characters and backdrop settings even richer and more detailed “look and feel” to this Frozen world. There’s just something about the movie’s animation looks incredible and certainly takes animated movie’s styles to a new level (i.e. more realistic-looking and fluid than the previous Frozen ). Additionally, the cinematography for the film of which Buck and Lee present is also exquisite; offering up some sublimely slick and cinematic sequences that are sprinkled throughout the movie in dazzling and spectacle way. Lastly, the film’s score, which was composed by Christopher Beck, is great and definitely hits all the right melodic notes from start to finish.

Of course, being a Disney movie, Frozen II continues its predecessor’s trend to feature a selection of musical songs that its characters sing; helping to elevate both the story’s emotional beats as well as continuing to embrace Disney’s signature identity. Reflecting the film’s deeper story and dramatic moments, the songs utilized in the movie are thematically charged and have a more “grow up” feel of dealing with issues that the characters expressive in the film. Of course, this is thanks to the script (harmonizing with the movie), but also with the original writing duo of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez giving Frozen II some emotional strong songs like “Into the Unknown”, “The Next Right Thing”, and “Lost in the Woods” (this sequence is amusing as its presented almost like a music video). The only downside is that none of the Frozen II songs quite surpass any of the songs from the first film. Not even “Into the Unknown”, which can be considered the equivalent to Frozen’s “Let It Go”, can outshines that extremely popular breakout song. Then again, “Let it Go” is one of the songs that really hard to trump and outdo.

Unfortunately, there are a few pieces in the movie that hold Frozen II back from surpassing the original film. For starters, the film, while ambitious and expansive, seems like it bites off more than it can chew and doesn’t know how to present parts of its narrative. Much like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil , Disney’s other fairy tale sequel, Frozen II expands upon the original movie by adding new lore and mythology into the mix; making the movie’s world (and its story) larger in comparsion to the original film. While what’s presented is indeed interesting and intriguing, the movie (or rather the film’s script handling) gets muddled into its execution and how it circumnavigates its own story. There’s a lot to say in Frozen II’s story, with plenty of ideas, concepts, and characters (both old and new), but how the movie (and its script) plays it out is a little bit mismanaged and how it wants to spell out its own story. This includes some parts of the narrative, which are presented vaguely, and could’ve been easily expanded upon rather than thinly sketched. Then there’s also the conflict of the Enchanted Forest, a huge centerpiece of Frozen II. Again, it’s definitely interesting and wonderous to behold, but it just feels like the movie never fully explains parts of it, especially within the various elemental spirits that dwell. There are also a few continuity issues that I felt were a bit perplexing, especially those surrounding Anna and Elsa’s parents (King Agnarr and Queen Iduna). I’m not saying that the movie is terrible or bad, but the narrative, despite more complexed and more sophisticated, seems like it could’ve been more refined in certain areas in order to deliver a through story within its wholesome presentation. General speaking, despite having a solid presentation, Frozen II just simply out beat nor outmatch the likeability of the first Frozen movie.

There’s also a similarity between Frozen II and to Avatar: The Last Airbender (not so much that horrible live-action movie, but more of the popular cartoon series). I can’t say much on the similarities (without spoiling the film), but fans of the Avatar: The Last Airbender will clearly see the sometimes mirror reflection found in Frozen II , which kind can be both a blessing (for some) and curse (for others) in film criticism. To me, I somewhere in-between as I liked it, but was a bit disappointed that Frozen II didn’t go further with some of the material.

What helps overlook some of these criticism remarks is in the voice talents for Frozen II, with many of the core talents from the first feature returning to reprise their Frozen character roles once again. Of course, leading the charge in the movie are actresses Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, who plays Frozen II’s main princess protagonist characters of Princess Anna and Queen Elsa of Arendelle. Bell, known for her roles in Veronica Mars , House of Lies , and Forgetting Sarah Marshall , is still heartwarming as Anna, the livelier and more energetic of the two sister princesses. Like before, Bell’s enthusiastic voice lends some “spunkiness” to the character, but Frozen II gives the character of Anna more room to grow as she concerns herself over Elsa’s well-being and how she must to do the right thing; offering plenty of character growth in maturity for her. Likewise, Menzel, known for her roles in Enchanted , Rent , and Glee , delivers another emotionally stirring performance as Elsa, who is once again placed at the “heart” of the feature. Like before, Elsa takes center stage for the movie definitely adds another layer to the “Snow Queen” character architype; almost like a tragedy (if you think about). Collectively, Menzel is “pitch perfect” (no pun intended) as Elsa and hits all the right notes and moments with the character; making her once again memorable throughout. Plus, I always love when Menzel really “belts” it out in her songs, especially in “Into the Unknown” and in “Show Yourself”. As a side-note, Elsa does get a new look in Frozen II and I love it!

In more secondary roles, the characters of Kristoff and Olaf return and compliment the feature’s main protagonist characters of Anna and Elsa, with actors Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad returning to their post respectfully. Goff, known for his roles in Looking , Glee , and Boss , certainly has a certain charm in making Kristoff a likeable character, with Frozen II’s story giving him more of mature plot thread of trying to work up the courage to ask Anna for his hand in marriage. Some might argue that it’s a bit cliché of sorts, but Kristoff (as a character) deals with the emotional stress and nervousness of the situation (again, adding more maturity into the plot), with Goff showcasing plenty of charisma and sincerity into his vocal performance. Plus, his rendition of “Lost in the Woods” is great. Similarly, Gad, known for his roles in The Wedding Ringer , Pixels , and Beauty and the Beast , is once again a true “crowd pleaser” in the movie, with the character of Olaf getting the most laughs and comedic spotlight moments throughout Frozen II . Gad hits all the right timing moments with Olaf and the character is hilarious in his more “mature” (yet still inherently goofy) persona in the movie. Indeed, some viewers out there think that the character of Olaf (and Gad himself) is a bit “overrated”, but Gad certainly knows the character and makes it his own and plays more of a pivotal part in Frozen II’s narrative. Additionally, actor Ciaran Hinds ( Game of Thrones and Rome ) returns to reprise his role as Grand Pabbie, the leader of the Trolls that raised Kristoff from youth.

New characters are introduced in Frozen II and, while the voice talents behind them are fine, I felt that the movie could’ve easily (and should’ve) expanded upon these roles, with a bit of greater emphasis on their involvement on the film’s story than what was given. Perhaps the character that makes the most memorable impression is in the character Lieutenant Destin Mattias, one of the leaders of a group of Arendelle soldiers that are trapped within the Enchanted Forest. Voiced by Sterling K. Brown ( This Is Us and The Predator ), the character isn’t quite as well-rounded and having depth beyond his initial introduction, but Sterling’s voice makes the character memorable (at least to me). In more smaller roles, actor Alfred Molina ( Spider-Man 2 and The Da Vinci Code ), actress Evan Rachel Wood ( Westworld and Across the Universe ), and actor Jermey Sisto (Clueless and Wrong Turn) as Anna and Elsa’s parents (King Agnarr and Queen Iduna) and their grandfather King Runenard. While their screen-time is limited (kind of expected it), these voice talents are perfectly fine for the movie with Molina, Wood, and Sisto lending “seasoned gravitas” to these supporting roles.

The rest of the new cast, including actress Martha Plimpton ( Parenthood and The Goonies ) as Yelana, the leader of the Northuldra tribe, actress Rachel Matthews ( Happy Death Day and Looking for Alaska ) as Honeymaren, a member of the Northuldra tribe, and actor Jason Ritter ( Parenthood and Gravity Falls ) as Ryder, a member of the Northuldra who is Honeymaren’s brother and shares Kristoff’s love of reindeer, are woefully underdeveloped in the movie. Of course, their acting talents in providing the voices for these respective characters are perfectly fine, but the movie just never allows these characters to be fully developed beyond their initial set-up, which is disappointing as these particular characters could’ve been easily expanded upon and had “more to do” in the film. Alas, they weren’t, which is sad.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Get ready to let go of the past and answer the call as Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf go beyond the Kingdom of Arendelle to uncover the truth in the movie Frozen II . Director Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee’s follow-up sequel certainly does need prove to be a solid sequel endeavor that goes deeper (and sometimes darker) storytelling for our favorite Frozen characters and certainly expanding the film’s world with new lore and mythology to entice the story in this second adventure. While the movie does struggle in how its present some of the new elements (never truly surpassing the original Frozen) and misses a few opportunities along the way, the rest of the feature is a wonderful sequel endeavor, which is complimented by the film’s impressive animation, mature character threads, solid voice talents, and just a entertaining sequel that works. To me, I liked this movie. Yes, this movie can’t beat out the original Frozen , but it is still a wholesome endeavor that delivers a fine follow-up adventure. Thus, my recommendation for this is a favorable “recommended” as I’m sure that most fans of the first movie (as well as young viewers out there) will eagerly want to see this movie and will be delighted with this second Frozen Adventure. Will there be a Frozen III ? While that answer is still uncertain, but I would certainly welcome the idea (as I’m sure many fans out there will agree). In the end, whether or not the next chapter is to be written, Frozen II is fine (yet slightly imperfect) sequel endeavor; showcasing that the “House of Mouse” still has some of its “signature magic” left to conjure within its animated feature films.

4.1 Out of 5 (Recommended)

Released on: november 22nd, 2019, reviewed on: november 27th, 2019.

Frozen II is 103 minutes long and rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements

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DVD & Streaming
Action/Adventure , Animation , Comedy , Kids , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

November 22, 2019
Voices of Kristen Bell as Anna; Idina Menzel as Elsa; Jonathan Groff as Kristoff; Josh Gad as Olaf; Evan Rachel Wood as Iduna; Jason Ritter as Ryder; Sterling K. Brown as Mattias; Rachel Matthews as Honeymaren

Home Release Date

February 25, 2020
Chris Buck|Jennifer Lee

Distributor

Movie review.

It’s rarely a good sign when you start hearing voices. It’s even worse when you have, y’know, a kingdom to run.

And Elsa really wants to be a good queen to the tiny city-state of Arendelle. Who could blame her? It’s her duty for one thing, given that she inherited the place from her father. Second, Elsa went to all the trouble of saving the kingdom in the last movie (with a little help from her friends and especially her sister, Anna). And she can’t let that sort of derring-do and sacrifice go to waste now, can she?

But the singing voice is maddeningly persistent. And it seems to be calling her to a mysterious, magical forest—a land that her father told her and Anna about long ago.

That territory, Northuldra by name, isn’t exactly a vacation spot in Arendelle lore. Long ago, Elsa and Anna were told when they were just children, their grandfather went up to make peace with the people there (even giving them a shiny new dam). But he was betrayed. What followed might’ve been the shortest war in Arendelle history: A fearsome battle broke out, but then the forest’s nature spirits got involved—sending many an Arendellian scurrying and sealing the whole place away behind an impenetrable wall of magical mist.

Could the voice be now calling Elsa into that mist? And if so, for what purpose?

Elsa needs to find out quickly. Because even though the mist is still firmly in place, the forest’s magical spirits have begun causing havoc beyond that foggy perimeter. Arendelle is under attack not by the Northuldrians, but by these elemental forces themselves, magical manifestations of earth, air, fire and water. Soon, the city’s citizens are forced to flee to the countryside.

Elsa is determined to save her kingdom. But she’s also determined to find the source of this mysterious voice. Could it be whispering to her to help her better understand the source of her own magical powers? Is it related to the elemental attacks on her kingdom? She doesn’t know for sure. But she tells Anna, “I believe whatever is calling me is good .”

Anna’s not so sure, and she’s determined to protect her big sis at any cost. She’s going with Elsa to the fearsome north, and don’t try to stop her. Anna’s beau Kristoff and his hulking reindeer, Sven, volunteer as well. And Olaf, the talking snowman? He promises to bring snacks.

Yes, Elsa’s ready for another adventure: to investigate the voice and further explore the nature of her wonderous, fearsome powers. But this time she won’t be doing it alone . This time, she knows there are people in her life that she can’t let go.

Positive Elements

What’s stronger than Elsa’s fearsome freezing powers? Why, the love of two sisters , of course. No chill has fallen over Elsa and Anna’s relationship here: Both are deeply committed to each other’s well-being, and the sacrifices that Anna especially is willing to make for her sister are powerful and, at times, profound.

But on some level, Frozen II is about (ahem) letting go—about the separate paths that we sometimes must travel to pursue what we’re meant to do and, by extension, to pursue the greater good. Elsa, for instance knows that Anna can’t follow her all the way to where she needs to go, despite her sister’s loyal determination not to be separated from her again.

But it’s not easy. And at one pivotal point, Anna falls nearly into despair. But she perseveres and does what she can do to help both Elsa and Arendelle itself. She realizes that her next step, though it seems as if it might destroy everything, is still the right choice for her to make.

The film reinforces this one-step-at-a-time approach to decision-making with a song called “The Next Right Thing.” Though desperation threatens to overwhelm her (“Hello darkness/I’m ready to succumb”), Anna makes the brave decision to trust “a tiny voice [that] whispers in my mind” that tells her, “‘You are lost, hope is gone/But you must go on/And do the next right thing.’” And so she does.

Kristoff, incidentally, is still completely committed to Anna (despite some rough patches here and there). And Olaf, now gifted with permafrost that heat can’t melt, is growing up and growing more thoughtful. He mulls a number of existential questions and laments the changes he sees going on all around him. But eventually, he realizes that there’s one thing that’ll never change: love .

Spiritual Elements

Elsa’s powers in the original Frozen were fairly unfettered by particular spiritual baggage. Like the enchantments we’ve seen in a bevy of other magic-coated tales, her potent ice-shaping powers simply are.

But Frozen II takes a step past that understanding of Elsa’s abilities, pushing into an “origin story” explaining her magic abilities that seems more akin to nature-centric paganism.

Four elemental “spirits” are at work here—those of earth, air, fire and water. Each has its own symbolic stone totem in the enchanted forest, visually evoking the monoliths at Stonehenge. Elsa accidentally creates a sky filled with ice crystals, each of which bears elemental symbols as well.

Each spirit comes with its own physical embodiment, too: Fire comes as a gecko-like creature (a reference to the mythical salamander, perhaps); water as a horse; earth as giant, rocklike critters; and air as a tornado-like swirling wind that characters start calling “Gale.” (Elsa later learns of a fifth element that she must find.)

All of these elements are powerful, godlike entities that in many ways shape the world around them, for good or ill. And when the destruction of a place is circumvented, we’re sagely told that the “spirits” spared it. [ Spoiler Warning ] Elsa, we eventually learn, is somehow the magical key to uniting these four spirits in a kind of harmony. And by movie’s end, Elsa begins to feel like something closer to a goddess herself.

We hear a troll say that everyone must “ pray ” that everything will turn out right.

Sexual Content

Despite highly publicized speculation, Elsa does not come out as a lesbian here. She does develop a friendship with another young woman named Honeymaren, but there’s nothing in the film that suggests a sexual or romantic connection between the two.

Frozen II’ s only romantic subplot advances in the form of Kristoff and Anna’s relationship. Kristoff really wants to ask Anna to marry him, though he struggles to find the right way to pop the question. Nevertheless, they’re still clearly an item, and we see them both hug and kiss repeatedly.

When they’re riding in a Sven-pulled sled, Anna asks Kristoff what he’d like to do—hinting that she’d like to make out (which, the film suggests, is something that’s happened before). Kristoff sings passionately, with the help of several reindeer, about a love gone wrong. (Anna also tells a dressed-up Kristoff that she prefers him “in leather,” an innocent remark in context but one that may sound suggestive to some in the audience.)

Elsa, meanwhile, is still very much wedded to her duties and the exploration of her powers¬—still shunning any explicit romantic attachment at all. In a flashback, we see the girls playing with icy figurines. And while Anna has the boy and girl figures smooch and “get married,” Elsa makes a face in disgust.

An Arendelle soldier still pines for an old flame he last saw some 34 years ago. In flashbacks, we see Elsa and Anna’s father and mother together frequently, clearly very attached to each other. When people look at Olaf askance, he assumes they’re staring at his snowy nudity. “I just find clothes restricting,” he explains. Elsa wears a slightly low-cut gown on one occasion.

Violent Content

In flashback, the sisters’ father recounts that when he was a boy, the people of Northuldra betrayed his own father. We don’t see the act of betrayal, but we do watch as sword-wielding Arendelle soldiers battle with the forest’s human inhabitants.

Olaf insists that water can remember things, and it turns out that’s true here. Using her powers, Elsa conjures up “memories” (in the form of icy sculptures) that seem to point to the moment right before someone died. She sees two people about to be drowned in a shipwreck in one instance. And later, a sculpture materializes of a man about to murder another.

The nature spirits we see can be quite violent and, at times, dangerous. Fire races through the forest, and while Elsa tries to extinguish the flames with her ice, Anna’s still nearly overcome by the smoky fumes. A watery avatar pushes Elsa under as if in attempt to kill her; a flood threatens to engulf a city. Rocky giants galumph after people, tear up trees and throw titanic rocks, destroying things (as titanic rocks are prone to do). One character is rescued just in the nick of time from them. All the spirits create quite a bit of havoc in Arendelle—tearing up streets and threatening citizens. Several characters are yanked up in a pretty frightening tornado.

Characters fall from some significant heights. One freezes. Two slide down a massive hill in an icy boat, eventually landing in a rushing, giant-infested river. Olaf suffers lots of abuse that snowmen, you think, would be prone to: his twig arms are yanked off, his nose is pushed through his face, etc. Sometimes his whole segmented body falls apart, albeit comically. But he and others suffer forms of trauma that might make sensitive watchers cry.

We hear references to death and dying.

Crude or Profane Language

Drug and alcohol content, other negative elements.

Olaf is a font of often useless information, including the fact that certain animals “poop squares.” He warns people from handling his disembodied feet because, “I don’t know what I’ve been walking in.”

An act of betrayal forms a critical piece of the narrative. Also, we should make note of some more socio-political elements, that we’ll unpack down below.

The original Frozen , released in 2013, was something of an animated revelation. Beyond its long and storied run at the box office (it eventually made nearly $1.3 billion worldwide) and its iconic song “Let It Go” (a song that likely haunts many a parent to this day), it purposefully upended Disney’s “true love’s kiss” trope and turned it into an inspiring statement on familial love. And while the movie was not without controversy, I thought that most of the messages were pretty great.

Six years later, all those little 5-year-olds who sang “Let It Go” ad nauseum are older now, on the verge of teenhood themselves. And it seems like Disney wants this franchise to grow up a little, too—while still bringing new 5-year-olds into the Frozen fold.

Olaf is the most obvious conduit for the franchise’s growing maturity: As a snowman whom Elsa has magically enabled to survive heat, he’s growing older, too, and he’s got questions , man—along with a certain faux world-weary charm.

But that thematic approach extends to the movie’s other themes as well. Messages about family and friendship and love are still here, but the characters are dealing with issues related to loss and grief and betrayal and what to do in the face of all of those things. The movie’s exhortation to do the “next right thing” when things look hopeless is deeper than it might first appear. For those who suffer from their o wn dark struggles , this message may resonate powerfully.

But the movie treads into still more complex territory as well, offering barely hidden allusions to real-world issues: Frozen 2 comes with an explicit environmental message, of course, but it goes deeper—one that might lead to thoughts and conversations about America’s own complicated history with its land and its people. You don’t need to step too far afield to see its commentary on duplicitous leaders, fearful policies, environmental overreach and even issues related to reparations.

All that may well make Frozen II feel, to many conservatives, relentlessly and problematically progressive. And that’s before we even get to the spiritual issues discussed earlier. Any whiff of Christian influence we find here comes well buried in quasi-pagan mulch.

For these reasons, Frozen II is not a slam-dunk, take-the-whole-fam movie for everyone. In its attempt to create a more mature movie, Disney made it, ironically, a little more superficial. Its feints toward current, complex questions move it away from the original’s timeless, inspirational relevance. And for some, those same feints—along with some much darker narrative moments, too—will push this movie out of bounds.

That said, other families may see this film as a great opportunity to talk about Frozen II’ s spiritual issues, as well as its other themes of loss, change and hope, from a Christian point of view.

Parents naturally influence their children when they’re young. But as kids grow, they begin to notice other voices, too: friends, other adults and the media around them. That process can feel disorienting for parents. But you still have a significant window to influence the kinds of adults your children will one day become. Here are more ideas on how to be a voice of influence.

Stay Connected to Your Family Through Journals

How Dads Connect With Their Children

Catching a God-Sized Vision for Your Family

Exploring Grace Together: 40 Devotionals for the Family

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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Movie review: 'frozen 2' and 'a beautiful day in the neighborhood'.

Bob Mondello

The simultaneous openings of Frozen 2 and the Mr. Rogers bio-pic A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood offer a chance to talk about the changing nature of children's entertainment.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Zootopia 2: Release Date And Other Things We Know

Ready to try everything again?

Release Date
Other Things We Know

One of Disney’s best 2010 movies is coming back for a second film – that's right, Zootopia 2!

Back in the 2010s, Disney Animation was really on a roll with its releases. From both Frozen movies doing obscenely well (and a third Frozen film is on the way ) to movies taking place inside video games to animated films about superheroes, there was something for everyone to love. One film that was very well received was Zootopia.

Released in 2016, Zootopia is an animated movie about a bunny named Judy who moves to the big city to become a police officer and gets herself involved in a case where predator animals are going missing. The film talks about many different social issues, including prejudice and so much more, and is critically acclaimed. The film itself earned over a billion dollars at the box office, so clearly, it was a success.

It's taken some time for Zootopia 2 to be confirmed, but thankfully, we are here to say it is happening. And here is what we know so far about it.

What Is The Zootopia 2 Release Date?

At the time of writing this, Zootopia 2 will be released on November 26, 2025, according to Deadline in February 2024 – which, truthfully, isn't that surprising.

Deadline confirmed the news that the film was happening in 2023, so the timeline makes sense that it would premiere two years later. While it's a shame it won't be premiering as part of the 2024 movie release schedule, it's great that we won't have to wait too long.

This also lines up with a consistent Disney trend. For several years, Disney Animation has released a film around Thanksgiving—this includes several of their last films of the previous decade, like Tangled, both Frozen films, the highly rewatchable Moana , Encanto, and many more. In fact, Disney is releasing Moana 2 this year in November 2024.

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The Zootopia 2 Cast Has Not Been Announced

No cast has been confirmed just yet for Zootopia 2, and that includes both Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin as Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps. While we might expect them to return to their voice roles for the sequel, there's been no confirmation just yet if we're going to hear their voices in the lead roles.

CinemaBlend's Rich Knight shared his thoughts about wanting a Zootopia sequel, and here is what he believes should happen.

The original movie was released eight years ago, and both of them have been doing well in Hollywood. Jason Bateman, specifically, had a whole run with a very well-received television show on Netflix, Ozark , that earned him plenty of acclaim and awards. Aside from that, Bateman has also starred in films like Game Night, Air, and more.

Ginnifer Goodwin wrapped up her time on the hit series Once Upon a Time and then had another acclaimed role on television when she starred in the anthology series Why Women Kill. She also held a prominent role in the show Pivoting, and appeared in several guest roles on many TV shows.

Aside from the two leads, here are some of the other cast members of the original Zootopia. Again, no one is confirmed for the sequel yet.

Idris Elba as Chief Bogo
Jenny Slate as Dawn Bellwether
Nate Torrence as Benjamin Clawhauser
Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps
Don Lake as Stu Hopps
Tommy Chong as Yax
J. K. Simmons as Mayor Lionheart
Octavia Spencer as Mrs. Otterton
Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton

Once we know who is going to appear in Zootopia 2, we'll let you know!

The Story Is Unconfirmed – But There Are Theories The Cast Have Had

Judy and Nick looking somber in Zootopia

The story of Zootopia 2 has remained under wraps at this point, and we don't know what exactly is going to happen next, but both Bateman and Goodwin had theories about what they would want to happen if there were a sequel, back when the first movie came out.

In 2016, both Bateman and Goodwin interviewed with CinemaBlend on their ideas for a potential sequel, and both had intriguing ideas. Goodwin commented that she wanted to see the "script flipped" a bit and have Nick be the one to convince Judy to fight for the world if a sequel were to happen:

You and I know what happens at the end of the movie, and I would like them to along on this adventure in their new roles. But because they are playing new roles, I would also like to see Nick [Wilde] have to be the one to convince Judy [Hopps] that the world is worth fighting for.

That would honestly make for a great story – and also make their friendship that much better to watch as they balance each other out.

Bateman, on the other hand, had a more straightforward idea – one where Judy and Nick are out there, roughing up bad guys:

The two of us, kicking ass out there. Cleaning up the streets. We're a couple of new cops out there. So, bad guys, be warned.

For those who don't recall, the Zootopia ending saw Nick and Judy becoming a team, both working for the police to make the city better for its citizens after everything that happened. And truthfully, I could see them doing precisely that – kicking ass and taking names.

That said, we're still theorizing about the sequel, but if these theories have any legitimacy, I'll be happy to watch either film.

Zootopia 2's Rating

There isn't a set Zootopia 2 rating just yet, but I'm sure it's safe to expect that it will most likely be rated PG. Disney films rarely breach the PG-13 rating for any of their animated films.

The live-action films can stray in that direction, but the animation is made for kids most of the time, so they want to make sure the children can come to the movies.

Jared Bush Is Co-Directing

The last thing we know is that Jared Bush is co-directing Zootopia 2. The director confirmed the news on his Twitter account, saying that they had been working on the film "just fur you"—obviously, the franchise's fans. The Disinsider also said that Bush is co-directing the film with Josie Trinidad, so these two will be helming the sequel.

Byron Howard and Rich Moore directed the first film, while Bush co-wrote the screenplay. Bush, however, has also worked on Moana , and he won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for his work on the fantastic 2021 film Encanto .

Zootopia 2 is in good hands, and I hope that we will soon get even more information. I am dying to get back to this world of animals.

A self-proclaimed nerd and lover of Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire, Alexandra Ramos is a Content Producer at CinemaBlend. She first started off working in December 2020 as a Freelance Writer after graduating from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in English. She primarily works in features for movies, TV, and sometimes video games. (Please don't debate her on The Last of Us 2, it was amazing!) She is also the main person who runs both our daily newsletter, The CinemaBlend Daily, and our ReelBlend newsletter.

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COMMENTS

Frozen II movie review & film summary (2019)
Advertisement. "Frozen II" is funny, exciting, sad, romantic, and silly. It has great songs and a hilarious recap of the first movie, and then it is all of that all over again. Plus an extra scene ALL the way at the end of the credits. This sequel can seem overstuffed at times, and tries a bit too hard to replicate the magic of the first film ...
Frozen II
Dec 6, 2019 Full Review Denise Pieniazek Puesta en Escena (AR) Frozen II maintains the values of its predecessor, brotherhood and love between sisters. Sisterhood is a fundamental value since ...
Frozen II review
There's also an amusing running gag about Kristoff's maladroit attempts at a marriage proposal being misunderstood by Anna. It's an entertaining revival, though a thaw is beginning to set in ...
'Frozen 2' Review: Long-Awaited Sequel Offers New Disney Direction
The franchise — and the fandom — are better for it. "Frozen" may have ended with everything in its right place, but Lee and Buck's long-awaited followup makes the case that a sequel was ...
Frozen II
Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jan 27, 2024. Frozen II compensates for the six-year wait with a follow-up worthy of standing up to its original, which in my opinion, surpasses it. It really ...
'Frozen 2': Film Review
THR review: 'Frozen 2,' the sequel to the 2013 Oscar-winning smash, follows the further adventures of sisters Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel). Frozen 2 has everything you would expect ...
'Frozen 2' Review: The Cold Still Never Bothers Them
True to her new musical grail, Elsa ventures off into the unknown, followed by Anna, and together they climb the mountain, touch the sky and re-enter the circle of life. The ensuing adventure is ...
'Frozen 2' Review: Following Familiar Characters Into the Unknown
'Frozen 2': Film Review In the spirit of fairy-tale revisionism, this Disney sequel reunites the cast to explore how challenging 'ever after' can be, while forging a new adventure.
'Frozen II' Review: A Gorgeously Animated Sequel That Tops The ...
It's a good movie, a solid follow-up to a slightly less entertaining film. But only when its visuals do the talking does Frozen II really sing./Film Rating: 6.5 out of 10. In our Frozen 2 review ...
Frozen II review
T he more times I listen to Frozen II's rousing anthem Into the Unknown, the more I'm convinced of its earworm quality.It's as good (and maybe better) than the indelible Let It Go.The much ...
Frozen II (2019)
Frozen II: Directed by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee. With Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa's powers in order to save their kingdom.
'Frozen 2' review: Disney's most beautiful movie yet is ...
Beautiful in both song and soul, 'Frozen 2' is the rare sequel that outshines its predecessor and advances the entire medium. It's been a long six years since Disney's Frozen put the world on ...
'Frozen II' Movie Review: Disney Sequel Is a Frosty, Fun Follow-Up
'Frozen II' is a fun, frosty and power ballad-filled follow-up to Disney's 2013 blockbuster, says Peter Travers. Our review.
Frozen II Review
Release Date: 21 Nov 2019. Original Title: Frozen 2. As a rule, animated Disney princess movies don't get theatrical sequels - they end, by definition, with 'happily ever after'. But then ...
Frozen II
Frozen II - Metacritic. 2019. PG. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. 1 h 43 m. Summary Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf go far into the forest to learn the truth about an ancient mystery of their kingdom. Animation. Adventure. Comedy.
'Frozen 2' Reviews: What the Critics Are Saying
Early reviews are in for the highly anticipated "Frozen 2," and the sequel stands its ground amid lukewarm responses. Currently sitting at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, "Frozen 2" has released ...
'Frozen 2' delivers for those willing to chill out and enjoy
Because the first movie generated such a bracing gust of enthusiasm, "Frozen 2" will inevitably be nitpicked and judged against those lofty standards. Still, there's plenty to enjoy for ...
Frozen 2 Movie Review
What you will—and won't—find in this movie. Educational Value. Although it's not an educational movie, it offers. Positive Messages. Themes include teamwork, courage, perseverance. Po. Positive Role Models. Anna continues to be a brave, kind, loving sister, Violence & Scariness.
Frozen 2 Review
A muddled message drags down this otherwise impressive sequel. It's hard to follow up a movie like Frozen. The first film was a smash hit that undermined the tropes of fairy tale storytelling ...
Frozen 2 Movie Review
Frozen II Review: Disney's Sequel is Deeper & Darker, If Also Messier. Frozen 2 doesn't reach the heights of the first film, but with more complex emotional themes and better songs, there's still plenty of Disney magic. In the early 2010s, Walt Disney Animation Studios was coming off two princess films - The Princess and the Frog and Tangled ...
Frozen II (2019) Review
Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the film, which starred the voice talents of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad, tells the story of a fearless princess (Anna) who sets off on a quest alongside seasoned iceman (Kristoff), his loyal reindeer (Sven), and a magical yet naïve snowman (Olaf) to save her estranged ...
Frozen II
For these reasons, Frozen II is not a slam-dunk, take-the-whole-fam movie for everyone. In its attempt to create a more mature movie, Disney made it, ironically, a little more superficial. Its feints toward current, complex questions move it away from the original's timeless, inspirational relevance.
Movie Review: 'Frozen 2' And 'A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood'
Two movies - Disney's animated fairy tale "Frozen 2" and the Mr. Rogers movie "A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood" - both films aimed at different audiences and different age groups. But critic ...
Zootopia 2: Release Date And Other Things We Know
Back in the 2010s, Disney Animation was really on a roll with its releases. From both Frozen movies doing obscenely well (and a third Frozen film is on the way) to movies taking place inside video ...

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