Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Kristen Bell | ... | Anna (voice) | |
Idina Menzel | ... | Elsa (voice) | |
Josh Gad | ... | Olaf (voice) | |
Jonathan Groff | ... | Kristoff (voice) | |
Sterling K. Brown | ... | Mattias (voice) | |
Evan Rachel Wood | ... | Iduna (voice) | |
Alfred Molina | ... | Agnarr (voice) | |
Martha Plimpton | ... | Yelena (voice) | |
Jason Ritter | ... | Ryder (voice) | |
Rachel Matthews | ... | Honeymaren (voice) | |
Jeremy Sisto | ... | King Runeard (voice) | |
Ciarán Hinds | ... | Pabbie (voice) | |
Alan Tudyk | ... | Guard / Northuldra Leader / Arendellian Soldier / Duke of Weselton (voice) | |
Hadley Gannaway | ... | Young Anna (voice) | |
Mattea Conforti | ... | Young Elsa (voice) |
Having harnessed her ever-growing power after lifting the dreadful curse of the eternal winter in Frozen (2013), the beautiful conjurer of snow and ice, Queen Elsa, now rules the peaceful kingdom of Arendelle, enjoying a happy life with her sister, Princess Anna. However, a melodious voice that only Elsa can hear keeps her awake, inviting her to the mystical enchanted forest that the sisters' father told them about a long time ago. Now, unable to block the thrilling call of the secret siren, Elsa, along with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven summons up the courage to follow the voice into the unknown, intent on finding answers in the perpetually misty realm in the woods. More and more, an inexplicable imbalance is hurting not only her kingdom but also the neighboring tribe of Northuldra. Can Queen Elsa put her legendary magical skills to good use to restore peace and stability? Written by Nick Riganas
Disney's Frozen was truly a delightful surprise. It was an extravagant celebration of the studios' own legacy and its musical traditions from across the eras but no one expected it to be the phenomenon that it became & it left a cultural impact that was undeniably unforeseen. Six years later, Frozen II surfaces with hopes of repeating the same feat yet nearly everything about it is inferior to the original.
A visually breathtaking yet narratively hollow sequel that lacks the freshness of the first film and is a step down in storytelling quality too, Frozen II does have a few things working in its favour but it is not the follow-up chapter that's able to validate its existence. The film is a passable effort at best that manages to mask its shortcomings with spellbinding animation but the effect doesn't last for long this time around.
Unlike its predecessor, a lot of its musical numbers end up affecting the narrative flow and aren't that catchy either. Anna & Elsa's arc remains captivating, plus the sisterhood bond is strong as ever but the other characters, both new & returning, are a letdown. Even the humour goes downhill, diving into silliness at times, and the only aspect that keeps its afloat is the photorealistic animation that provides the film its mesmerising beauty.
Devoid of the enchanting flavour & invigorating aura that made Frozen a classic for the new generation, Frozen II does steer into darker territory as it should and even had an interesting premise about mending the cracks left by forefathers in addition to Elsa's search for her origins but it fails to balance it all in a fascinating fashion and doesn't dig enough to strike a heartfelt chord. A rather safe attempt if anything, Walt Disney Animation's latest isn't worth the 6-year wait.