“FROZEN 2” — 21⁄2 stars — Voices of Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad; PG (action/peril and some thematic elements); in general release; running time: 103 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Disney couldn’t let “Frozen” go, and six years later, the franchise’s ice princess is back. This time, Elsa is on a quest to confront a magical threat to her home kingdom.
“Frozen 2” opens with a flashback, as an adolescent Anna and Elsa learn of an enchanted forest far to the north of their coastal village kingdom of Arendelle. The forest was overseen by magical spirits representing earth, wind, fire and water, and long before the princesses were born, it became shrouded in a protective mist after a fateful showdown between the people of Arendelle and a rival people called the Northuldra.
In the present day, Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel) is getting used to her new role as queen of Arendelle. Her magic powers over water and ice are stable, and she’s enjoying a close kinship with her energetic younger sister Anna (Kristen Bell). Other beloved characters are also back, including the good-natured snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) and the woodsman Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), who has been trying to find the right moment to propose to Anna.
It’s a period of transition, noted both by the falling leaves around Arendelle and the film’s songs, which underscore “Frozen 2’s” theme of change. Unbeknownst to Anna, though, Elsa has been hearing the call of a mysterious voice to the north, and she wrestles with an inner desire to venture out and understand the source of her unique powers.
When Arendelle is suddenly beset by the elements, it becomes clear Elsa’s extracurricular activities have awakened the four spirits. With their home in danger, Elsa and the other three heroes set off on a quest to the north to save the kingdom.
Fans of the first film — young and old — will be happy to see (and hear) a lot of the same things that made “Frozen” such a phenomenon six years ago. The beloved characters return, each with at least one new song in tow, and their different personalities — especially Olaf — mostly carry the movie. The production quality and animation are up to Disney’s usual standard, and there are some genuinely fun moments, such as a sequence when Olaf re-enacts the events of the first film in a comic montage.
Other elements keep Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee’s effort in firm “sequel” territory, though. The new story, which tries to build on Elsa’s mythos, is convoluted and feels more invented than organic, leaving “Frozen 2” feeling like more of an obligation than an equal to the original film. Among the new songs, Elsa’s “Into the Unknown” is an obvious attempt to match the soaring grandiosity of “Let it Go” — which won an Oscar for best original song — but it falls a little short.
“Frozen” is a tough act to follow — the film also won an Oscar for best animated feature — and “Frozen 2” won’t be a phenomenon in its own right. There are enough positives for kids and older Disney fans to enjoy in the moment, but it’s hard to imagine audiences getting quite as carried away this time. The “Frozen” franchise isn’t on thin ice, but when compared to the first film, “Frozen 2” will likely fall through the cracks.
Rating explained: “Frozen 2” is rated PG for some intense themes and sequences of peril.