The Princess and the Frog Movie Review

Disney has already done Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Snow White. Yet in late 2009 they came back to tackle a new simple children’s folk tale and exploit it into a complicated plot adored by children and adults alike. This VFTT staff writer must admit; he fell for the exploitation. When I went to see the movie I thought it best to see it with an adult so I could test the theory of whether the cute animation and complex plot really did hook children as well as adults. My mother, after more than a decade of Disney films, music, and shows blatantly refused so the only person I could get to go was my grandmother.

From our perspective in the second row we still enjoyed the movie. The Princess and the Frog features a strong, hard working main character, Tiana, raised by her impoverished seamstress mother and double shift working father. She grows up dreaming of one day owning the restaurant her father wanted so badly. Yet her father teaches her that “wishing on stars” will get her nowhere and gives her a persistent work ethic. Working two jobs of her own as a waitress, she is “almost there” as she sings later in the movie. Disney doesn’t lie when they say they returned to their classic routes by returning to using song to tell a story, yet the music of The Princess and the Frog is actually enjoyable. Instead of bubblegum pop featured in most Disney movies, The Princess and the Frog actually ties into the roots of New Orleans taking from its fast paced jazz with amazing vocals, to slow paced instrumentals. It combines the best of the new and old New Orleans making for nice flavorful combination.

Tiana’s frog, so to say, is the lazy, carefree, and easy going Prince Naveen. The Prince is nearly destined to be married to Tiana’s friend, Charlotte, whose father is the richest man in town. However, he runs into some bad company and is magically turned into a frog by the voodoo-crazy Shadow Man. Here comes the Disney twist in the story – instead of Naveen turning back into a handsome prince once more, Tiana is turned into a mucus covered frog when she kisses him. Their adventure through the bayou begins, and they meet the trumpet blowing Louis the alligator, Cajun firefly Ray, and the wacky Mama Odie.

The movie focuses on inspiring and pushing people towards their dreams. As Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Tiana, said, “Whatever makes your pulse race, go for it”, and that is what I think we all see Disney movies for. Underneath the silly jokes, exploitation, and super sweetness of Disney’s movies is a resounding theme that we all want in our lives. That theme is definitely present in The Princess and the Frog. Overall, I would rate the movie five out of five stars. But to caution you movie goers who bring young children: there are a few parts that might be a little scary; yet other than that, my companion and I found the movie perfectly enchanting.