Parents' Guide to

Frozen 2

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Slightly darker sequel charms with catchy songs, messages.

Movie PG 2019 103 minutes
Frozen 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 7+

Based on 111 parent reviews

Laleh the Ghost
Laleh the Ghost Adult
April 21, 2020
age 7+

Excellent - but might be too much for younger or sensitive kids

This review contains some SPOILERS. My seven-year-old and I loved the movie. The animation is beautiful, and there are some more good songs (aside from Christoph's dumb "Lost in the Woods" song). Disney also takes a dive into colonization and Indigenous land rights, though of course they can't explore it too deeply in a 2-hour movie for kids. The themes can get a bit dark, but they can also present good teaching opportunities. Elsa and Anna find out that the villain was ... their grandfather, and they have to right the wrong that he did. If your child has had a couple of years of school and has studied history at all, they may be able, with your help, to connect the events of the movie with events from history. Depending on your family's background, your child's ancestors may have been similar to Anna and Elsa's grandfather, or they may have been more like the Northuldra leader he tricked and killed. Again, it's a good teaching opportunity for them. My sensitive first grader has been open to discussing these issues, usually prompted by movies or books. Some parts may be difficult for younger or sensitive kids, although my kid was fine. For several minutes of the movie, two main characters are thought to be dead and we see the intense grief of a remaining character. If this upsets your kids but they still want to watch, you may tell them the ending will be happy. I, the parent, have several unresolved questions about the elemental spirits and Elsa's role with them! (Who was the fifth spirit before her? Assuming she's not immortal, who will be the fifth spirit after her? Are the spirits immortal? How was Elsa's mother connected with Ahtohallan? Why didn't she tell her daughters about her past? How much did their father know? How did she get by as a child in Arendelle, away from her family, or did she have some family who were not locked in the forest? Do some Northuldra live in the village?)
aliyah J.
aliyah J. Parent of 18+-year-old
October 4, 2023
age 3+

aliyah

See all 111 parent reviews

What's the Story?

FROZEN 2 opens with a flashback to the king (voiced by Alfred Molina) and queen (Evan Rachel Wood) of Arendelle telling young Elsa and Anna a bedtime story about a magical enchanted forest and the indigenous people of Northuldra who live there, along with the elemental spirits of air, water, fire, and earth. In the present, Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) starts getting distracted by a siren call that only she can hear. While Anna (Kristen Bell) worries for her sister, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) prepares to propose to Anna, and beloved snowman Olaf (Josh Gad), secure with permafrost, matures enough to have an existential crisis. As the voice's pull gets stronger, Elsa realizes that elemental magic is hurting her kingdom, so she sets out to find the long-hidden forest accompanied by Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf. Once they get there, they encounter a long-missing group of Northuldrans and Arendelle soldiers, who've been trapped for decades. Elsa must figure out how to use her powers to save Arendelle and restore peace with what's left of the Northuldrans. And, of course, Anna refuses to let her do it alone -- even if that means (accidentally) leaving Kristoff behind.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (111 ):
Kids say (228 ):

This charming musical sequel again elevates sisterhood, empowerment, love, and acceptance -- while introducing catchy new songs that are sure to please young Elsa and Anna fans. The storyline in Frozen 2 is less straightforward than in the original: There are multiple character arcs, and the youngest viewers may not understand one of the Northuldra plot points (it's reminiscent of an ugly aspect of U.S. history concerning Native Americans). But there are several musical interludes (it feels like even more than in the first movie) and enough humor to keep viewers happy and satisfied. No longer awestruck by everything around him, Olaf is maturing in a hilariously philosophical way. He wonders about the meaning of the universe and his place in it and at times comes off like a clever, angsty teen (audiences may think of Groot more than once in this film). Of the new characters, Wood is a standout as the girls' mother, as is Sterling K. Brown as a veteran Arendelle soldier.

The music (again co-composed and written by spouses Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez) doesn't include an obvious successor to the once ubiquitous "Let It Go," although "Into the Unknown" features the same emotional crescendo of Menzel's stunning voice. Several of the songs sound similar, but that's to be expected from composers who hit the jackpot with a particular musical style. Groff's Kristoff finally gets his big solo, "Lost in the Woods," which is presented in the style of an '80s power ballad video and should elicit more than a few laughs from Gen X and older parents. Anna's song "The Next Right Thing" is compelling and bittersweet, and Olaf's "When I'm Older" has the comical tone audiences expect from the adorable snowman. The romance here is already established, so that subplot is more about Kristoff wondering whether Anna wants marriage as much as he does, when she's so preoccupied with her sister's well-being. While fans shouldn't expect the exact same kind of magic as in the original, Frozen 2 is a fitting tribute to Elsa and Anna's promise to protect and defend each other -- and their kingdom.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the tone/intensity of Frozen 2 compares with the original. How much violence can younger viewers handle? Are the scenes of characters in danger or getting hurt too upsetting?

  • Who are the movie's role models? What character strengths do they exhibit? Why are courage, teamwork, and perseverance so important?

  • Which songs did you like most in the sequel? Do any of them compare to "Let It Go"? Do you prefer movies with musical numbers or those without?

  • What does it mean to "do the next right thing"? How does that idea help the characters in the story? How do you know what the next right thing is?

  • How do Anna and Elsa compare to other Disney princesses? Are they stronger examples of positive gender representation? Why or why not?

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