A Warm Review of ‘Frozen II’
With much anticipation, Disney released Frozen II on November 22, 2019. Just like its predecessor, Frozen II immediately amassed worldwide popularity and, soon after its release, Frozen II became the highest grossing animated film of all time. However, despite its massive box office success, reviews of Frozen II tend to be much more critical. Forbes Magazine’s Erik Kaine calls Frozen II a disappointing sequel, and argues that, “It is just not a very good movie, at least when compared to the original Frozen.” The Washington Post’s Kristen Page-Kirby agrees, and adds, “[Frozen II] is also a lackluster disappointment on its own — a pale shadow of what it could have been.” It seems that although Frozen II was waited upon with much anticipation, it was received quite coldly for many fans and viewers.
I, however, disagree entirely. Although Frozen II is certainly not immaculate, it is a great film. From its stunning animation which leaves you breathless with every new scene, to its very mature and unforgettable soundtrack, Frozen II is worth watching. Although there is a nearly inexhaustible list of reasons for why Frozen II is worth the watch, here, I argue that Frozen II is a great film for its great use of humor and its surprisingly Christian theme.
An important aspect of a good film is that it contains good humor. Humor within a film can either enhance a film’s already solid plot and characters, or it can compromise it and turn it very bitter. Frozen II, like its predecessor, is filled with much humor. Olaf, the very lovable snowman whom Elsa created in the first film is an especially humorous character, and he offers wonderful jokes, facial expressions, and comments, which make Frozen II all the more enjoyable.
An especially memorable scene is when Olaf reenacts the entire plot of the first Frozen movie. Not only does this offer a very useful synopsis of the events which occurred prior to Frozen II, but it is simply hilarious. It is nearly impossible to watch the scene without laughing. Olaf’s comedy provides a wonderful lightness to the film, but he is also a very lovable, simple character who is very fun to watch. Although there are many other reasons besides Olaf to watch Frozen II, it would certainly be worth watching for Olaf’s sake alone.
Frozen II, although not explicitly, includes a very Christian theme at the center of its plot. St. Pope John Paul II writes in his Encyclical Letter, Redemptoris Missio, that missionary outreach, “is the primary service which the Church can render to every individual and to all humanity in the modern world.” John Paul II indicates that missionary outreach is central to the mission of the Church and Her members, and he himself lived this call very clearly throughout his life. St. Pope John Paul II also writes, “It is the Spirit who impels us to proclaim the great works of God.” As John Paul II expresses so clearly in his encyclical letter, Holy mother Church urges each one of Her children to imitate Christ by going out to foreign peoples and proclaiming the saving news of the Gospel. Missionary outreach is central to the Churches mission on Earth. It is by following the motherly voice of the Holy Spirit that we follow God’s will for us to help others encounter the Redeeming person of Christ.
Frozen II expresses a similar theme. At the outset of the film, Elsa hears a mysterious voice calling her ‘into the unknown’ which pressures her to leave the comfort of Arendelle. This voice leads her to a foreign people trapped by the darkness of past injustices. By following this mysterious voice, which she later finds out to be the voice of her mother, she is able to free these trapped people from the dark mist that surrounds them. Elsa, represents the Christian vocation of answering the call of the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel. Although Elsa does not deliver the literal Gospel to the people she helps, she does deliver a message of hope and salvation. Elsa herself saves the people she helps by answering her mother’s call. It seems very symbolic that, just as Mother Church tenderly calls each Christian to missionary outreach, so does Elsa’s mother call her to help a foreign people very dear to her mother’s heart. Also, it is in Elsa’s encounter with her mother that she claims that ‘she is found,’ just as Christians find their true identity not in themselves, but in the merciful gaze of Christ.
Although some critics were disappointed in Frozen II, I was pleasantly surprised. Olaf’s humor and Elsa’s missionary call combine to form a wonderful film. However, when compared with the original, the question still remains: Is Frozen II better than the first?
