'Frozen 2': Film Review (SPOILER FREE)

A lot can change in six years; we all mature, develop and grow as people. It’s a long period of time but it was the most perfect amount of time that Disney needed to produce a sequel to ‘Frozen’ that left audiences in stitches of laughter, floods of tears and rushing home to download the soundtrack immediately.

It’s safe to say a lot of us went through a lot of change in the six year wait between the first movie and its sequel and as we all developed – I feel like the ‘Frozen’ franchise and its characters did the same.

One of the main themes of this dazzling sequel was Autumn – which is also often regarded as the season of change, and this is something that was heavily emphasised throughout the film. We saw a lot of change occurring throughout the film – reflected through the individual journey each character went through but also the growth and maturity of their relationships and dynamics within their close-knit family.

A song that features in the film, ‘Some Things Never Change’ portrays how even though the world around us is ever changing – there are some things that are ‘certain certainties’ and these are things we can rely on. To me this was an important take away from the film – that even though change can be scary – we still have things we can count on remaining the same; like our love for those closest to us.

For me, I always say that sequels can either be a massive hit or a complete miss. They tend to divide audiences a lot with some people either loving them and others hating them. However, I think ‘Frozen 2’ has earned a rightful spot as a complete hit of a sequel amongst the vast majority of audiences that have seen this spectacle. As I said, the film heavily focuses on growth and changing and for me, this is really reflected in how the franchise itself has matured alongside its audience whilst still maintaining that Disney magic that we all love.

The soundtrack was completely different from the first film, but I absolutely adore it. Each song (and can we take a moment to appreciate that Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf each have their own number??) is powerful for different reasons – they each evoke different emotions and hold different meanings but they’re all messages we can relate to. Whether it’s about feeling naïve and growing up, love, taking chances and going on a journey to find yourself or the feeling of struggling. They’re all completely honest and raw and that’s what I love about them. Obviously, this is still a Disney film, so the songs all have catchy music and lyrics, but whether you’re an adult or a child – they’re songs relatable for everyone.

Another reason why I think ‘Frozen 2’ was a complete success of a sequel is because of the barriers it broke down. Mental health and the discussing of emotions are still things that are quite tabooed especially in something that is ultimately considered a “children’s film”. However, there are various points in ‘Frozen 2’ where the emphasis is placed on expressing your emotions and knowing that there’s nothing wrong with that. As well as this, having a male character singing a power ballad about love in a “kids’ film” can show young boys that there’s nothing wrong with being expressive and showing “feminine” emotions. The message of “yes sometimes you want to give up in life, but you carry on fighting whilst also remembering to deal with your emotions” is also portrayed through ‘The Next Right Thing’.

Part of me was quite adamant in the lead up to the release of ‘Frozen 2’ as I worried whether or not it could do justice to such a popular and well-loved first film, but as the trailers and promotional photos and ‘Into The Unknown’ were all released, my excitement grew and it’s safe to say that this five star film took my breath away and exceeded my expectations.

Have you seen it or are you planning on seeing it soon? Let me know and tell me what you thought of it!