Disney has always done a phenomenal job of developing inspirational character and stories, while teaching and inspiring young audiences to pursue their dreams, and to always set goals for themselves. Disney often finds ways to entertain parents and older audiences with subtle adult humor and themes that transcend generations of people and not just the younger generation that these films are often geared toward. Audiences often see a woman leaning on a prince (or other powerful man) in order to achieve her goals--and sometimes even in order to survive. In 2013 Disney took a step in a very progressive direction and introduced the world to Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell), in their world-wide hit, Frozen. The two young princesses are independent, and they exude strength that had not before been seen in a Disney animated film. Growing up, Elsa and Anna were incredibly close, but after a nearly fatal accident, the two are separated and Elsa begins keeping secrets from her beloved sister. The older they get, the more difficult it becomes for Elsa to keep her secret hidden. As things begin to get out of hand in regard to her powers, the two sisters are drawn further apart than ever before. They, and some of their new friends, will do their best to rekindle what they once had.
Disney is always trying to find new ways to move forward with their stories and to come as close to perfection as possible. Their films are often highly regarded, and audiences from around the world find ways to relate to the films’ content. Disney princesses, including Jasmine, Aurora and Snow White, have played a major role in the success of Disney studios since the 1930’s, but have always relied, to some degree, on the men in their lives. In Frozen it is made clear that women have just as much tenacity and strength as the men that are typically shown in these films. The two leads help to develop a story of love and loss, but more so of perseverance. It is easy to appreciate what Disney, directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and the slew of writers are trying to accomplish here, and it is clear why Frozen did so well in the box office. Lee and Buck further flip the script when Anna’s new friend, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), is depicted as a man who needs a woman to, in many ways, survive. Their attempts to change what has been known for years in the realm of princesses opens the film up to an entirely new generation of audiences, while still appealing to those that are part of the old school generation of Disney fans (those very much in love with the idea of princesses).
Disney’s films also often incorporate strong musical numbers that envelop audiences and keep them engaged throughout. Songs like “A Whole New World” and “Be Our Guest” have stood the test of time and have entertained audiences for years. With new viewers, and an ever changing narrative of what a princess is, Frozen introduces a soundtrack filled with numerous songs that have ramped up those audiences and continued to antagonize parents for nearly a decade. “Let It Go,” “Love is an Open Door,” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” are some of the most overplayed songs in the history of Disney’s animated films. Disney often appeals to parents and guardians of their young viewers, but with these, incredibly overrated songs, parents have found distress in watching Frozen with their children.
Frozen, truly is not a bad film. It has its moments of success, and audiences find solace in a progressive approach to the classic princess. What sets the film back tremendously is the fact that audiences were so overjoyed by the film after its initial release that expectations were set entirely too high for a film that, realistically, lands middle of the road among Disney’s animated features. Furthermore, the overplayed songs feel like nails on a chalkboard, and, have become a huge turnoff to many viewers around the world. While Frozen has found seemingly limitless success since its release in 2013, the film, as a whole, does not live up to the standards of the typical Disney film, making it a disappointment.
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