Movie Review: The Princess and the Frog (2009)
It's classic animation from Disney, but it just feels flat
Photo: Walt Disney Pictures
With The Princess and the Frog Disney returns to 2-D hand-drawn animation and before I even saw a frame of this film the fact we are heading back to what I believe to be the truest form of animation was enough to get me in a seat. Unfortunately this latest installment in the Disney Princess franchise isn't the absolute knockout I wanted it to be, but I would still recommend everyone go see it and judge for themselves, if only to make sure Disney continues with 2-D animation as a regular alternative to the onslaught of CGI.
The voice cast includes Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard, John Goodman, Jim Cummings and Jenifer Lewis. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"The Princess and the Frog" is a Walt Disney Pictures release, directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and is rated G The running time is 1 hour 35 minutes.
Anyway, to accomplish his goals his attention is turned toward a penniless prince, whom he turns into a frog and uses a stand-in prince to worm his way into the heart of Charlotte, the daughter of the deepest pockets of the city, 'Big Daddy' La Bouff voiced by John Goodman. Things take a turn when the star of the story, Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose), stumbles upon Facilier's plot and falls in love with the unlikeliest of "creatures".
As beautifully animated as Princess and the Frog is, it can't match its beauty with its storytelling. The laughs are limited, the characters aren't that interesting and the story feels so forced you never really feel its heart beating. Despite a lack of enthusiasm for Facilier, I enjoyed Keith David's voice work as the film's villain. I also really liked Terrence Howard as Tiana's father in the film's earlier moments. However, outside of a couple of wayward jokes by Ray, the Cajun firefly, it seemed I was forcing myself to be entertained rather than actually being entertained.
I'm mostly curious to learn how audiences react to the music of this film. Making use of several Randy Newman tunes, the stunning voice of Noni Rose and perhaps the catchiest of the bunch, "When We're Human" the soundtrack is upbeat and straight out of the Bayou, but will it resonate with audiences?
Being a little down on this film, my biggest concern is Disney is going to use Princess and the Frog as a measuring stick to determine how many more 2-D films they are going to make or if they are going to stick with CG-animation. They pumped a lot of dough into this feature and it definitely looks like it, but the story can't match the visuals. I'm dying for the heyday of The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin to return once again. Pixar is great, but there is something special about 2-D animation, it's what I grew up on and it has that added touch computer generated animation just can't duplicate.
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I would still like to see this, although your review pointed out flaws that I had hoped the film wouldn't have (the lack of a decent story, mostly).
I'll still go watch it (as long as a lady friend will come with- not sure if a 20 year old dude watching "The Princess and the Frog" by himself is really all that great an idea) just because this film is an event. It's a love letter to those films from 15+ years ago, when 2D animation dazzled.
Also, Keith David should be utilized for voice work more often. He's awesome.
I personally thought that this was a wonderful movie. I only had two problems with it.
1. The music, It was good, but a traditionally animated disney movie should have music composed by Alan Menken. Randy Newman should stick to composing for Pixar.
2. I felt like they were cramming the theme down my throat. Tiana said it twice in her monologue alone!