Julie Samrick
Kid Focused
Meet the latest Disney princesses: sisters Anna and Elsa of the Nordic-inspired kingdom of Arrendale. When it's discovered Princess Elsa (Idina Menzel) has the powers to freeze everything she touches, her parents, the King and Queen, hide her away much like Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty was sequestered for her own safety. Yet when Princess Elsa is named Queen, her younger sister Anna (Kristen Bell) fights to save the kingdom as well as her sister's good name.
The cinematography is breathtaking in Frozen and the full musical soundtrack make it the newest Disney classic, though only time will tell whether the songs are as catchy as ones in many other Disney movies.
There are several twists in Frozen that keep it fresh and the supporting characters like Sven the reindeer and Olaf the snowman will have audiences, young and old, laughing out loud.
Kid Focused Grades for Frozen:
Compelling story line- A
Themes surrounding family, love and loyalty may be discussed. How long does it take to really get to know someone? How long to fall in love? Why do some people choose to shut the world out? Discuss the different ways the title could be seen as a metaphor throughout the movie. Compare and contrast Frozen to the fairytale it's loosely based on, The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen.
Strong message- A
It's ok to be different. Family and good friends shouldn't be taken for granted.
Leading character is a role model- A
Princesses Elsa and Anna will undoubtedly be the newest Disney princesses. They strike a nice balance of being strong female characters that can also rely on men.
Sexual or adult content - A
Princess Anna falls in love with two different men and shares a kiss at the end with one.
Language and Violence- B-
There is a large snow monster that could be upsetting to children under six. The King and Queen die early on in the film, orphaning the two sisters, though young children may not realize it. Elsa can freeze people and there are scenes of a character nearly freezing to death. There is fighting and the use of crossbows in about ten minutes of the film.
Suited for the whole family- A-
For children six and up.
Overall Kid Focused Grade for Frozen: A-
Rated PG
Running Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
Julie Samrick is a stay-at-home mom of four young kids and the founder of Kid Focused, a site devoted to children and family issues. Subscribe to the free Kid Focused newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox. If you enjoyed this post, "Like" us on Facebook for updates on more posts like it. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com.
