In this review, I am going to talk about the movie Frozen 2. Disney released the first film back in 2013 and it was a huge success, still standing at number 1 in "All Time Worldwide Box Office for Digital Animation Movies." This is why Frozen should certainly ring at least 1 bell in your brain! But let's jump to the real question here: is Frozen 2 as iconic as its 2013 predecessor?
Evidently, the answer to this question is subjective and as a result, may not align with everyone's expectations. It is for this reason that I will look at several aspects such as the plot, music, characters, and animation, to offer a thorough and balanced review.
Although Disney could work on the music timing, the plot itself doesn't feel too drawn-out and boring. The sequence of events is clear. There is always dynamic movement and development. When Frozen 2 does have breaks, they are usually filled by either music, Olaf's humor— which was surprisingly good—or Elsa and Anna breaking through the ice and actually beginning to communicate with one another. If I were to compare Frozen 1 and 2 in terms of plot, I would have to say that there is no real winner here. They are both vastly different, each with their own pros and cons.
The music is good on its own but it cannot be compared to the original Frozen soundtrack. While it may be enjoyable in the moment—and it can be understood why people started humming along in the cinema—I still feel like Disney tried and failed to recreate the crazy hype that surrounded songs like "Let It Go" from the previous movie. This was a poor choice on Disney's part; they could have done way better had they chosen to charm the audience in a new way.
The characters, especially Olaf, weren't flat in any way. While Kristoff did feel a bit extra at times—especially when he tried to propose to Anna (ugh, the cringe is very real)—the other characters seemed to have learned from past mistakes, allowing them to grow and mature. Olaf, as crazy as it sounds, kind of adopted the "I am 14 and this is deep" behavior, all while bursting with tons of trivia knowledge. In 2013, I found his character to be annoying and repetitive. In 2019, he gets so much better that you unironically want him on the screen at all times!
The animation was top-notch! There is nothing else to say. It is understandable why Disney would spend so much money on their animations (the first movie was a hit, people would show up for the second one). Even the tiniest details seem to have been drawn by hand. Goosebumps ran all over me during the time Elsa was performing her wintry magic. Magnificent!
Speaking from experience, I know that sequels are almost never as successful as the original. Frozen 2 isn't an exception but if we were to compare the film to other sequels, then we would get a very competent "player on the field".