Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff, Sterling K. Brown, Evan Rachel Wood, Alfred Molina, Martha Plimton, Jason Ritter, Rachel Matthews, Jeremy Sito, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Tudyk, Hadley Gannaway, Mattea Conforti, Aurora Aksnes, Paul Briggs.
The phenomenon will always be with us, the occurrence of the cinematic event that manages to infiltrate almost every aspect of life and society is one that either is embraced or shunned with seemingly equal proportions. Whilst the Marvel Studio may have held the position of top dog in the last decade, the undisputed King of the block, it is to the characters of Elsa and Anna that the Queens of the Frozen franchise have infiltrated their way into theatre productions, the songs, the costumes, the public, arguably cannot get enough of the sisters, their snowman and the magic of their lives.
One magical adventure turned into a sensation does not always foretell future success, but it certainly helps create expectation and hope in the minds of those it is aimed at, and with Frozen, despite the youthful appeal that it has in mind, it is truly a film in which the old phrase of family friendly can be applied, but also one that will thrill the heart of even the most stone-faced individual.
Frozen II continues that sense of love, drama, and poise in which the original film commanded with elegant persuasion. The beauty of the songs is a moment to hold dear, but it is far from all that entails the endearing story, within its sphere of influence there is the range of colour, of lasting memory, and the fun that a family can enjoy, but there is also dedication, mischief and pain-staking animation which captures the heart in a way that it could be compared to the original Toy Story and even in the Disney classic Pinocchio.
Whilst voice talent often gets relegated to lower billing in the world of animation, and arguably understandably so when the soul of the character is drawn, it is to the likes of Josh Gad as Olaf, Kristen Bell as the voice of Anna, and Sterling K. Brown as the lost commander Mattias, that the sense of legendary enchantment is given its overwhelming magnificence.
Phenomena rarely shine forever and yet for the creative team behind Frozen, this second outing suggests otherwise.
Ian D. Hall