(Author’s Note: Because of my thesis, graduation, and job hunting, I didn’t have the spare time to write a review on The Princess and the Frog. To make up for that, please see below.)
Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Frog has a rich palette of color, vibrance, and pizazz. The movie is so visually stunning, I was instantly captivated. The storyline was
sweet–nothing too complex, as I was already familiar with E. D. Baker’s The Frog Princess and that little plot twist. The soundtrack wasn’t quite as powerful as the veteran team, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, but it fit the story with the jazzy feel and each song left audiences tapping their toes .
Tiana and Prince Naveen were both were fantastic leads. Despite his arrogance, Naveen (the charming Bruce Campos) is quickly working his way up my “Favorite Prince” list, and his playful banter with Tiana is delightful. It was wonderful watching two lead characters connecting like that, as many Disney romances are instantaneous. Naveen’s charm connected to Tiana’s playful, clever side and that translated very well on screen. Anika Nani Rose did a fantastic job of bringing Tiana to life, especially with her stunning voice, instantly shaping Tiana into a Disney leading ladies. Smaller characters like Charlotte and Big Daddy were both great supporting roles, and while Charlotte is a spoiled little brat, she obviously cares about Tiana. The more I watch the movie, the more endearing she becomes, despite her flakiness.
Last, but not least, I’d like to credit Disney’s veteran voice actors, Jim Cummings and Keith David. Jim Cummings (Darkwing Duck, Don Karnage, Tigger) has always, always done a stellar job for Disney and I was thrilled
to see he finally got a big silver screen role instead of bit parts and fillers. His portrayal of Ray was adorable and the end of the movie had me chocking back tears. Likewise, Keith David (Goliath, Hercules’ Apollo) did a phenomenal job as the sinister Dr. Facilier. I loved his song, “Friends on the other Side,” despite how short it was. I also thought the bitterness and desperation came across perfectly. He actually had to answer for his misdeeds, although I know many parents with young children felt the scenes with his “friends” were a bit too scary for young children.
The Princess and the Frog was not just a dazzling animated film, but it also carried some important messages. Tiana’s father advised her to wish on the star, but also to remember that hard work will get you where you
want to go. A nice combination of destiny and logic, I thought. Tiana does take the advice a bit too far, but her heart is in the right place. She and Naveen even each other out to a happy medium with the help of
their ice-breaking friends, Louie and Ray. Another fantastic feature about this movie is that magic is not what solves every problem. Mama Odie’s advice to “dig a little deeper” is valid and essential. While magic does
play a role, Mama Odie doesn’t have to use any for the characters to get a happy ending. Instead, it is their own revelations that help them find their way.


