Frozen

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, Frozen follows Kristen Bell’s Anna as she teams up with a kind stranger (Jonathan Groff’s Kristoff) and a goofy snowman (Josh Gad’s Olaf) to track down (and save) her misunderstood sister (Idina Menzel’s Elsa). It’s precisely the sort of irresistible, family-friendly premise that Disney has long-since perfected, which, of course, ensures that Frozen is generally as entertaining and engrossing as one might’ve anticipated. Filmmakers Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee effectively capture the viewer’s interest right from the get-go, with the inherently-captivating narrative heightened by eye-popping animation and an assortment of memorable musical numbers. It’s just as clear, however, that Frozen does stumble to a slight degree in its midsection, as the emphasis on the central trio’s ramshackle trek puts a strain on the movie’s momentum – with the wealth of compelling characters, for the most part, compensating for the less-than-engrossing narrative. (Gad’s scene-stealing turn as Olaf is, for example, a consistent highlight within the proceedings.) Once it passes a certain point, though, Frozen assumes a palpably propulsive feel that carries it right through to its effective (and affecting) conclusion – which ultimately does cement the movie’s place as a typically above-average effort from Disney.

***1/2 out of ****