The Princess and The Frog

5 stars

The Princess And The Frog keeps “happily ever after” timeless.

Rating: G
Stars: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David

What’s the story?
All that Tiana (Rose), a young girl in New Orleans, wants is to fulfil her and her late father’s dreams of opening a restaurant. While she is working three jobs to support her mother and herself, the spirited Prince Naveen (Campos) from Maldonia is landing in New Orleans. Little does Naveen know he is a part of an evil plot by the voodoo doctor Dr.Facieler (David). Naveen is tricked into becoming a frog while his assistant assumes his body. Mistaking Tiana for a princess, Naveen convinces her to kiss him in hopes of reversing the spell – but instead of turning him human, she is turned into a frog. Tiana and Naveen escape a close encounter with a dog and are carried off to a bayou. They learn of a good voodoo witch who might be able to help turn them both human. Enlisting a musical alligator and a lovesick firefly to help them find her, Tiana and Naveen set forth on a daring adventure and in true Disney fashion, find much more than they bargained for.

Why see it?
Disney is able to strike the balance between breaking down barriers with the first African American princess and keeping all the ingredients that make up the classic princess movies. The best part of this movie is that the characters have some depth. Unlike past Disney movies, the prince comes across as more than just a pretty face and Tiana is not just a damsel in distress. The movie keeps up a theme of “things aren’t always what they seem” and has a healthy dose of catchy songs.

Problems?
The Princess and The Frog is clearly a movie free from gore or crude humour and is definitely aimed towards children. It’s not a great movie for anyone looking for an intense drama or a violent slasher flick. Also, for people who are used to computer animation, this movie might seem a bit dated. For people not used to this style of animation, it can be hard to appreciate.

All in all:
The Princess And The Frog is a new twist on an old story that is sure to make you believe in fairytales once again.