It’s hard to live up to such a big success, both commercially and fanatically, like Frozen. Anna and Elsa were everywhere for awhile. Frozen II seems like a different giant. It rose well to the challenge but it felt like such a distinctly different plot that fits beautifully behind the first.
Frozen II dives into discovering why Elsa is hearing a strange song that leads to answering why she has her powers. Truly, all the questions that occurred in and after watching the first Frozen were answered. I really appreciated that they didn’t leave any stone unturned or any character’s narrative behind. The plot focused on the different elements of nature and finding the truth about the unknown fifth element. This was a smart plot line that made sense. It gave me Pocahontas vibes. This made the spectacular animation even more beautiful due to it being scenes such as leaves flying around in the air or running rivers with gorgeous cascades.
The stunning scenes of the picturesque settings were a close tie to my favorite moments. Those would have to be the funny moments. I remember Frozen being cute, but this sequel had many laugh-out-loud moments. One included Elsa rolling her eyes at a memory of her old self singing “Let It Go”. That had the whole theater cracking up. Most of the hilarity, however, came from none other than Olaf! He was the best part of this movie, in my opinion. I was so pleased he had a bigger role this time, with what seemed like funnier, more plentiful lines. Every time he spoke, it was just so comical. The specific moment that comes to mind is the scene where he breaks into song about how everything is safe while continuing to narrowly escape from danger at every turn. He is so jovial yet witty.
One thing the movie could have used more of were catchy songs like that of “Let It Go”. The first Frozen was chocked full of them and they did so well. I did really like the song “Holding On Tight To You” as it felt similar to the singable nature of the hit tunes. However, the first Frozen did seem like it was for a younger audience compared to this sequel. Frozen II felt like it was possibly for a slightly older audience than before, therefore the songs were a bit more mature. They were elegant and majestic, just less infectious. 
The original Frozen was made in 2013, which feels longer ago than I expected, but that could be why Frozen II had a more complex story. Perhaps the writers wanted Frozen II to grow with the original fans. Maybe they wanted a wider range of fans, so they made the story line grander, yet still with similar themes of building trust and pushing past adversity. The lines about who was right and wrong, good and bad were a little more blurry and I think that’s where complexity thrives. The depth of the film seemed like it lost some of the younger kids in the theater, especially towards the end, after the resolution scene. Many of them got very antsy and thought it was over before it was.
Personally, I loved the intricate stories that intertwined, and the messages of unity. Regardless of the more complex experiences and songs that possibly caused some confusion or disinterest among the younger viewers, I think, overall, they enjoyed it also and I know the adults definitely did. It was such a beautiful film that I think everyone should see it in the theater to truly take it all in. I would gladly give this lovely sequel a 9.
