Frozen (2013)

And who says adults can’t enjoy animation?? That’s the question I found myself asking as the end credits rolled and this delightful Disney movie came to its conclusion. I’d been looking forward to this since its trailer was released, especially since one of the lead characters was voiced by the wonderful and hilarious Kristen Bell. Unfortunately responsibilities come before indulging in my inner child but, alas, I watched; I loved – and now I review.

My initial love of the film is its leading ladies and the dynamic and love between the two that becomes the films driving force. Instead of some fabled love-at-first-sight mumbo-jumbo to take us to the films problem and eventual solution, we have a complex story of sisterhood and what the strength of this bond will force one to do. Herein lies the two leading ladies – Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell). The film begins by establishing the strong bond of love between the two borne from their adventures and fun due to the ice-cold powers emanating from the hands of Elsa, who can turn the ballroom of their giant castle into an ice-rink. Their fun quickly takes a turn for the worse though when Elsa accidently sends a bolt of ice to her beloved sister Anna, knocking her unconscious and eventually leading to any-and-all memories of Elsa’s magic being taken from Anna – to ensure her safety (I won’t go into details, because I don’t want to spoil it). After this Elsa becomes ruled by fear, and begins to ignore her endearing and fun-loving sister Anna to keep her safe. At the films conclusion it turns out this fear-driven method of avoidance and control may not have been the best course of action because, it being a Disney movie and all, love is of course the answer and solution to pretty much everything. Oh how I wish my life was a Disney movie…

The film doesn’t just find its strength in its outside-the-box true-loves-kiss-maybe-aint-the-answer-this-time approach however. It’s also made extremely endearing because of its lead, the princess that saves the day – Anna. I’d read a few interviews before seeing the movie where Kristen Bell explained that she didn’t want Anna to be some run-of-the-mill princess who relied on men to solve the problems and couldn’t pull a few punches herself. She’d explained that in helping create Anna she hoped to bring to life a character she’d always craved for as a kid – a strong, determined, and very awkward princess. A princess girls could actually relate to. Well Kristen Bell – BRAVO. Her wishes have been fulfilled in this character because, unlike many of the Disney princesses preceding her, I felt more endeared and in-tune with Anna than I have for a Disney character before. Her strength often surpasses that of the lead male – Kristoff - whom she saves on more than one occasion. In addition to this strength comes her no-holds-barred argumentativeness, which leads to some downright hilarious disagreements between the hapless Kristoff whose found himself helping the princess without much choice in the matter. The slight awkwardness and naivety which also makes up Anna adds a truth to the character that young girls could do with these days. Furthermore (and I hope I don’t sound obnoxious when I say this because, really, I’m only nineteen and have no right to a level of superiority that only parents can adequately pull off), kids could do with being reminded that they are indeed kids once in a while, and Frozen, with its messages of friendship and female empowerment, is an excellent method of doing so.

Of course I couldn’t write this review without giving mention to the non-human sidekicks that have come as a highly expected, and wonderfully anticipated, aspect of any contemporary Disney film. (We need only look at Tangled and Shrek as points of reference). Frozen has even surpassed these animated-capers though with Olaf the talking snowman and Sven the goofy and adorable reindeer. I won’t lie, Olaf might just be better than Donkey from Shrek, and believe me, I realise the magnitude of this statement. His enthusiasm and loyalty make him extremely likeable, yet the real clincher is his craving for summer and warmth and his ignorance at what this means for him. The scene in which he sings his enthusiasm for this season is perfect and makes you want to rewind and watch all over again. The fact that he has no subtely whatsoever also puts him up there with the best of the Disney-sidekicks. Also it can’t go without saying that the voice for Olaf – Josh Gad (whom some may recognise from Love & Other Drugs, New Girl and The Internship) – is absolutely perfect. Gad’s comedic timing is essential in bringing Olaf to life and his enthusiasm and nuance make him perfect for voiceover, especially animated voiceover.

To bring the review to a close I’d like to reiterate some points. First and foremost – who said adults couldn’t enjoy an animation?! If you are an adult and were wondering whether to catch this when it comes out on DVD then I would give you a big resounding YES. It’s hilarious, endearing, and doesn’t follow the usual Disney recipe (200g of true-love, 100g of evil-hoping-to-destroy-love, 50g of song-and-dance, 1tsp of talking-animals and just a pinch of magic). The film is refreshingly original while still maintaining the elements that we love. Also, this film has some damn catchy songs – type into YouTube “Let it Go” and “In Summer” to see what I mean.

To cut a long story short…

Would I recommend this? Even if you don’t usually go for an animation I would encourage, maybe even insist, that you see this. It’s too funny, sweet and original not to. 
A film rambler's star rating?

The Croods (2013)

When I heard about this film I won’t lie, I wasn't that enthusiastic. My reasoning for this is mainly that I thought it would be a rehash of other pre-historic animations we've been barraged with in recent years. Now I’m not pointing any fingers *cough* Ice Age *cough* too-many-sequels *cough*…okay, so I am. But anyway I figured that there was only so many ways you can tell that “its-the-end-of-the-world” story to a target audience of mainly kids without killing (pardon the pun) the subject. After watching The Croods however, I quickly changed my mind, because the film doesn't just tackle this subject but a whole lot more.

The film tells the story of The Crood family (duh-doy!) who are living a simple and desperately frustrating life in a cave where there day-to-day routine consists of hunting and sitting in the dark listening to the same stories from family patriarch and all-round fuss-pot father Grub (Nicholas Cage). All of this changes however when an earthquake destroys there cave and they must travel across the new and fantastic planes of a land they have never explored. Along the way the Crood family pick up Ryan Reynolds’ character Guy who shows them that there is more to their caveman lifestyle than simply surviving and forms a romance with the adventurer of the family Eep (voiced by Emma Stone). This romance instigates the anger of a figure we all recognise and have faced at one point in our life – the over-protective father. The scenes in which we bear witness to Grub’s attempts to keep these budding young-romantics apart are hilarious and endear us to the characters’ situations – making them more real and giving the older members of the audience something to chuckle at (either from fond recollection or Fatherly understanding). Aside from the conflict that naturally arises from Grub’s determination to keep Guy and Eep away from each other there is also conflict caused by Grub’s prehistoric and ultimately futile lifestyle and the rules he ‘implements’ to ensure this lifestyle does not change. For example anything new is viewed as dangerous and must therefore be destroyed, darkness equals danger and my personal favourite - curiosity killed the cat (he doesn't say it like that, but you get my point). When Guy shows up though he interrupts the status quo and shows the rest of the Crood family that things can be different, that new ideas and using your brain over your brawn are good and that living that caveman lifestyle is no longer necessary. Not when you've got a genius inventor/entrepreneur such as Guy in the family anyway.

Guy's sudden and commanding entrance into the Crood family sets in motion a host of themes within the film which in turn allow the characters to develop and understand a new world they have never been exposed to. While they learn these lessons however the earth that they have had so little interaction with (prior to the events of the film) is crumbling and moving beneath their feet, even as they seek homage elsewhere. We in the audience of course know that the reason for this crumbling earth is the creation of the many countries that make up Earth today, but the Croods and their tag-along idea man Guy think that the world is ending and that there only chance for survival is to seek the Sun. In their journey to find the sun and a new home the Crood family are brought together through the many struggles that they face which highlights the films main message – the importance of family.

The trivial frustrations and family-dynamics that we're all so familiar with in our day-to-day lives has been captured rather convincingly in this film. I mean, just look at their faces - awkwardness and good-natured ribbing is plain to see (especially in that sneaky old grandma!).

The characters that make up this family are surreal in their realism…if that makes sense?! We've got the pre-requisite rebellious teen Eep, the understanding Mother (Catherine Keener) trying to keep the family together, the loud and opinionated mother-in-law that you love to hate (Cloris Leachman), the oft-humiliated middle child (ain't that always the way?), the kid sister and the over-protective father. The actors portraying this everyday family bring an hilarity and sincerity to their roles and really play up to the stereotypes attached to each archetype (Yikes...lotta "types" in that sentence!), to the point where you’re watching and thinking “oh-my-god. It’s like my family. In fact it’s so much like my family that it’s kinda scary”. The fact that these animated characters seem like real people is important in emphasising that heart-warming message of love and family that we are left with at the end, and also makes those funny family frustrations that much more hilarious. Not to mention how freaky it is that the animators and the cast behind the characters are able to dupe you (or me, at least) into thinking of the Croods as real people.

All-in-all this film is a fun family affair which will be sure to keep both the kids and the adults of the audience very happy. The lessons of love and family make it a heart-warming addition to the animation box-set, with the added bonus that the film does a good job at providing a fun history and science lesson. The films encouragement of innovation and teaching of the inevitability of evolution make it seem slightly smarter than your average animation movie. But, then again, each animation has an important message to offer. That is, after all, why we all love Disney and Pixar even as adults – they never fail to teach us something very important. And on that note, I’ll stop because I can feel myself getting cheesy, and nobody wants that.

To cut a long story short…
Would I recommend this film? Yes. Its kinda like The Flintstones for the kids of the 21st century and who would we be to deprive them of that awesomeness?! 

A film ramblers star rating?

That's it for now folks...