Movie Review: “The Princess and the Frog”
Franck Tabouring
Seen on: December 11, 2009
The players: Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker, Writers: Ron Clements, John Musker, Voice cast: Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Bruno Campos, Jennifer Cody
Facts of interest: Disney's first hand-drawn film in five years.
The plot: Tiana is a charming, young woman from New Orleans who kisses a talking frog and magically transforms into one herself.
Our quick thoughts: Walt Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” is a marvelous return to good old hand-drawn animation, and even though it isn’t exactly as magical as most Disney classics, the film sure is a great addition to the studio’s wonderful collection of energetic, musical adventures boasting plenty of heart and soul.
“Princess” centers on Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), a charming young woman from New Orleans whose life takes an unexpected turn when she kisses a talking frog and ends up being transformed into a frog herself. Determined to be human again, Tiana and her new companion embark on a thrilling adventure full of dangers, magic and love.
Am I glad Disney chose not to kill hand-drawn animation for good, because “The Princess and the Frog” proves the studio still has what it takes to enchant cinemagoers with simple, yet beautiful 2D animation, a handful of adorable characters, and of course, a solid collection of beautifully vibrant songs.
Truth be told, if it weren’t for the wonderful musical segments loaded with funny, truthful lyrics and pleasing visuals, “The Princess and the Frog” clearly wouldn’t be as an enchanting viewing experience. The songs keep the film’s plot advancing at a fast pace, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they inspired young viewers to literally dance in their seats.
That said, there is a reason why this new adventure isn’t as magical as some of its predecessors, and one of them is the lack of spice in the story and characters. The songs are great, the jokes are funny and the good-hearted messages about love, dreams and happiness work as well, but film still misses that extra punch.
I walked into this film expecting big surprises and solid entertainment, and while I sure can’t complain about the entertainment, “The Princess and the Frog” failed to surprise me. I loved the introduction of an African-American protagonist and the theme of voodoo magic, but the movie failed to overwhelm me creatively.
Freaky quote: "You sure this is the right blind voodoo lady who lives in the boat in the tree in the bayou?" - Michael-Leon Wooley
The final word: In the end, this is not a major issue. “Princess” offered me an exciting ride, and I left the theater feeling good. That’s a major accomplishment right there, and it clearly shouldn’t be ignored. There is a lot to discover in this energetic animated tale, and I can only recommend you dress up the kids and take them for a ride to Disney’s Mardi Gras.
Article by Franck Tabouring
Reader Comments (1)
This is a very well written review and I agree completely!