Review: The Princess and the Frog (2009)

[Homer Yen]

"The Princess and the Frog" --  You'll Love It, Warts and All
by Homer Yen
(c) 2009

It's so nice to see Disney going back to its roots.  Sure, we've grown
accustomed to the more-life-like animation in films like "Toy Story"
and "Shrek."  And, we are even growing accustomed to the
motion-capture animation techniques seen in "Beowulf" and "A Christmas
Carol".  It certainly seemed like eons ago when we saw a 2D animated
film like "The Little Mermaid" or "Beauty and the Beast."

We all know from our childhood years how this story is supposed to go.
 An evil villain curses a handsome Prince by turning him into a frog.
The frog needs to find a Princess who will kiss him to break the
spell.  And all seems to be working out for the better when the frog
(voiced by Bruno Campos) kisses the fair Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni
Rose).  But, what if she's not actually a Princess?

Set during the heyday of New Orleans, this sets off a wonderfully cute
adventure between these two as they must find a way to undo what has
been done.  This will not be an easy task.  This Disney film offers up
one of the most delicious villains seen in some time.  It's the
macabre Dr. Facilier who dabbles in voodoo, embraces the dead, and has
a heart as black as that mean one, Mr. Grinch.

The music and the magic and the imagination are all on display here.
This was the era when the streets oozed with song and dance. The jazzy
music that defined this time and place add lots of cheer to the film's
tone.  During their adventure together, they run into a jazz-loving,
trumpet-playing alligator, a blind woman with some serious powers of
her own in addition to singing abilities, and even an endearing
firefly with serious dental hygiene issues but shows through his love
song that even people with serious dental hygiene issues can find
love.  As far as Tiana's voice is concerned, this girl can sing with
the best of them.  Anika Noni Rose, if you don't know her name, is a
Tony-award winning actress and starred alongside Beyonce and Jennifer
Hudson as the third member of "Dreamgirls."

The imagination and the fun are also present.  And, two standout
pieces include some frog hunters who can't outwit their prey in a
scene that evokes the Three Stooges.  Also, the fireflies that band
together create a kind of beauty in the Bayou that you would naturally
associate with a classic Disney film.  It's quite beautiful stuff.

Thankfully, the creative minds at Disney have not forgotten how to
appeal to the little kid in us.  They have not forgotten how to tell a
good ol'-fashioned story. And they have not forgotten how to compose
some catchy tunes.  "The Frog and the Princess" is a throwback to a
more innocent time when the images were lovingly hand-drawn and the
storyline was as easy-to-digest as a good song.  Yes, even one of the
plot points reminds us that when you wish upon a star, you're dreams
come true.  Nostalgia never felt so good.

Grade:	A

S:	1 out of 3
L:	0 out of 3
V:	1 out of 3