Review: 'Frozen'

I find it kind of ironic that 3D, CGI animated films are even more cartoonish and goofy than the traditional hand drawn animated films. Especially when the computer animated ones are striving to look more real and alive. Well I'm sorry, but I don't see it.

For some reason, the look and feel of hand drawn animation always felt more elegant, graceful and, well, alive. 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991), for example: We are more than aware that what we are looking at is a cartoon, but when the animators give most of the characters the proper proportions and bodily features that we see in real life, the more engaging they become and gripping the story and emotions can be. But in a movie like 'Frozen', despite the characters clearly being more three-dimensional, they are surprisingly more exaggerated than ever before. Their bodies are too thin, the heads are too round and the eyes are too big. They also move way too quickly, and give little feeling of physicality and realism. Half of the illusion and enchantment that I remember, as a kid, from animated Disney films is lost because of it.

The computer animation may work for Pixar, and that's because Pixar created it. They brought their own different addition of animation to the table. And that's perfectly acceptable. But as far as traditional Disney animation goes, I don't feel like it works out too well.

The story and songs for 'Frozen' are pretty generic and predictable. Many plot elements from other animated Disney films are borrowed from and put in this movie, yet they only have half the effect. Some of the time, there is really nothing wrong with that, but occasionally it's very disappointing. And here, it is that. For me, at least. The audience I saw this with were enjoying themselves greatly. They were laughing at all the jokes, gasping at all the twists and turns and everything. And all I have to say is, 'Good for them'. I really mean that. This newer style of Disney animation clearly has an audience and they obviously relish in the magic.

The strongest story element in here is the relationship between the two sisters, Anna and Elsa. I like that the writers are trying to create stronger female role models for young girls. There's also at least one song in here that didn't feel too bland and forced, called Let It Go. That's just two of the small good things I got out of this movie.

I hope it's not because I'm getting older that I didn't enjoy this as much, because, on the contrary, I am just as much a kid at heart as I ever was in my childhood.

My rating: 2.5 / 4