review by Brianna Reed

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 is 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, there is still plenty of Disney magic.

Frozen 2 opens with a flashback to the king, voiced by Alfred Molina, and queen, voiced by 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. In the present, Queen Elsa, voiced by Idina Menzel, starts getting distracted by a siren call that only she can hear. While Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell, worries for her sister, Kristoff, voiced by Jonathan Groff, prepares to propose to Anna, and beloved snowman Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad, secure with permafrost, matures enough to have an existential crisis.

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 film focused on protecting her sister 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 is not to say the arcs are not strong because Frozen 2 does mine some very complex emotional themes for Anna, Elsa and even Kristoff’s storylines.

The Disney movie does not 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 is not as cohesive of 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 does not entirely work, other aspects of the film are compelling enough to keep viewers engaged.

Like the best Disney animation, “Frozen 2” effectively operates on multiple levels. And like any follow-up to a major hit, it comes burdened with expectations that are challenging to fulfill. The first movie generated such a bracing gust of enthusiasm, “Frozen 2” will inevitably be nitpicked and judged against those lofty standards. Still, there is plenty to enjoy for those willing to chill out, and yes, let the past go.