The Princess and the Frog
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Hand drawn animation, family fun and the music of Randy Newman prove to be a winning combination yet again in Disney's 2009 hit, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG.
Like the Pixar/Disney hit "Up" released the same year, the film opens with a solid bit of storytelling, introducing us to a poor family with a rich history in New Orleans.
Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) is a struggling waitress with dreams of her own jazz filled restaurant on the bayou.
It's a dream shared by her late father, who we meet in warm flashbacks infused with Creole spirit thanks to Newman's music (Toy Story, Cars, The Natural). Just as he did in "Ragtime", Newman's songs and score evoke the place and era with such power that you can almost smell the beignets!
In classic Disney form, we meet the handsome, vain Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) who's turned into a frog thanks to a voodoo curse from local villain Dr. Facilier. Perfectly voiced by Keith David (The Thing), Facilier "The Shadow Man" conjures up some evil spirits, colorfully rendered by the Disney animators.
Michael Leon-Wooley provides the voice of Louis, a croc with some serious trumpet playing skills and Jim Cummings is hilarious as Ray, a Cajun lightning bug with some serious match making skills that take him over the moon.
The story is pure Disney, as Tiana finds herself turned into a frog just like Prince Naveen. Their adventures are hilarious and provide a nice blend of gentle scares for the kids and laughter for adults.
The entire film MOVES, propelled by Randy Newman's songs, some of the best in the Disney canon. "Down in New Orleans" and "Almost There" are terrific, "Friends on the Other Side" offers up Burton/Elfman like chills as Facilier creates his spell and "Gonna Take You There" is a romp in the style of "Bare Necessities" from "The Jungle Book".
Just when you think you've heard them all, "Dig a Little Deeper" serves up another round of foot tapping laughs.
This is the first Disney film since "Beauty and the Beast" in which all the voice actors also performed their songs, they are seamless.
Directors Ron Clements and John Musker) (Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Hercules, Moana) have driven many of the greatest animated films of the last 50 years, and this is no exception, serving up family entertainment of the highest quality.
Released the same weekend as "Avatar", the film grossed nearly $300 million at the box office, but was considered a slight disappointment. Appreciation for the film has grown in the decade plus since its release, and Splash Mountain was redone at the Disney Parks as Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
A deft blend or a body-swap comedy, full blown musical, feel-good romance and fairy tale, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG is, for me, one of Disney's hand drawn animated best, earning an A.
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