By: Keaton Marcus

One thing sequels have proved to me was: a second movie can rarely live up to its predecessor's cards but can play the hell out of the ones it possesses. That's what "Frozen II" takes advantage of, sure, it isn't as deftly good as the original, but it is undeniably a solid, above-average movie. Not just the comedic aspects, but the animation is thrillingly breathtaking, and depicts Disney, once again, as the first choice for most magnificent visual effects whether it’s "Avengers: Endgame" or "Moana". The laughs are clever, and it's frequently entertaining, though like every film, it does have its issues. Occasionally, the plotting doesn't click, the ending disappoints, and the entire set-up plays like a Christmas ad. Yes, it's obligatory to dock off points for the minute bits and pieces that don't quite work, but overall, "Frozen II" makes for a competent, enjoyable sequel.

I know you may not believe it, but now six years in the future, we are back in Arendelle. As the eventful town is settling in for Autumn, Elsa (Idina Menzel with birds for a voice) begins to hear peculiar voices in a sing-song. These sounds lead her into an enchanted forest (is there a magical forest in every kid's movie?) where she unexpectedly wakens beings dubbed "The Elemental Spirits". These spirits, Fire, Water, Earth and Air reign chaos on Arendelle, utterly destroying the seaside town. This forces the rest of the gang, Anna (Kristen Bell delivering quirkiness, and laughs), Olaf (a truly hilarious performance by Josh Gad) and Kristoff (Jonathon Groff feeling dreamy) to evacuate along with the people to find a solution.

I do give directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee notable credit for differing the storytelling from its predecessor, but it ends a little uneven. What I was anticipating the most about a "Frozen" sequel was the feeling of how it would honor the vastness that the first film covered. And it did, in a way; but not quite in the depiction audiences we were hoping for. Usually, movie-goers should be content with Olaf retelling the whole first film comically (it's a brilliant scene), and beautiful visuals, but it can't help but be a tad underwhelming. Come on, elemental spirits, that's all Mr. Buck and Ms. Lee could think of? After the breathtaking, adorable take on sisterhood its former was, all "Frozen II" could put its back upon was diverging from the path? That's when the soundtrack saves the movie.

Composer Christophe Beck added a few more songs in the mix, and one of them does make the shortlist of some of the best music in animation ever. I was mildly entertained by Kristoff's stand-alone love tune "Lost in the Woods" (compliments to the reindeer), or Olaf's take on maturity dubbed "When I am Older", but the real shining star was Queen Elsa's magnificent ballad. Heading to you"re local multiplex to see "Frozen II", you were wondering about what song could match its predecessor's Oscar-winning "Let it Go". That piece is most definitely Idina Menzel's breathtaking "Into the Unknown", portraying Elsa's journey outside of Arendelle. Combine haunting sirens with Menzel's excellent voice, and you have Disney's new big hit. The cinema now has visuals, a stunning soundtrack, and some brilliant voice-actors. Ya, there's the flaw of the deftly makeshift storyline, but that's the main factor that must be excused for enjoyment.

The final opinion is: Despite the notable shortcomings compared to its predecessor, "Frozen II" is an entertaining-enough journey into the unknown with laughs, a sweeping soundtrack and intense visual effects...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus