Image copyright Disney.
Disney’s last film of the decade is also one of its best.
By Blake
Originally posted December 18, 2009.
As I settled into my comfortable stadium-style seating at a local theater and Anika Noni Rose’s opening notes of The Princess and the Frog surrounded the audience in an enchanting melody, I really could feel that I was about to experience something special. I was excited for the many landmarks that make the movie a truly historic event, though what I was anticipating most were the hallmarks of what make a Disney masterpiece—enjoyable characters in eye-pleasing environments with show-stopping tunes, all orchestrated with the help of a heartwarming story. Thankfully, my expectations were abundantly fulfilled far beyond what I had imagined (which was pretty huge in the first place) in The Princess and the Frog.
Set in New Orleans, the film weaves the tale of Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose), a headstrong waitress who has dreamed for years of opening her very own restaurant. Soon a foreign prince named Naveen (Bruno Campos) visits the city and finds himself outwitted by a sinister voodoo man named Doctor Faciler (Keith David) and transformed into a frog. Remembering the fairy tale of “The Frog Prince,” Naveen mistakes Tiana for a princess and, in an attempt to turn himself human again, asks her to kiss him. Having complete opposite results than both characters anticipated, the kiss turns Tiana into a frog. The two ultimately decide that the only way to become human again is to set aside their differences and put their dreams on the backburner as they work together.
Naveen and Tiana get themselves into quite a situation. Image copyright Disney.
The duo discovers that in order to return to their human selves, they must visit Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis), who serves as a “fairy godmother” of sorts and whose personality is everything you would expect from a blind, forgetful, off-on-a-tangent senior citizen. Also providing comic relief are Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley), a friendly alligator who dreams of performing jazz in a band, and Ray (Jim Cummings), a Cajun firefly who continuously speaks of his not-so-mild crush on another firefly named Evangeline. Tiana’s best friend Charlotte (Jennifer Cody)—a spoiled-but-kind southern beauty—seems to be a parody of previous Disney princesses, her head in the clouds as she waits for her prince to come. Rounding out the supporting cast are Tiana’s patient parents Eudora and James (Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard, respectively) and Charlotte’s pushover father Big Daddy (John Goodman).
Mama Odie with her snake, Juju. Image copyright Disney.
In comparison to previous Disney princesses, Tiana is more along the lines of Belle or Mulan: Belle in that she knows what her dream is and is confident in pursuing it; Mulan in that she isn’t going to sit around waiting for her aspirations to become reality by themselves. The Princess and the Frog yet again teaches the Disney wish-upon-a-star staple, though takes that message a little bit further to help relate Tiana’s story on a more believable and rational level. The film teaches that although dreams are important, they’re not going to come true without dedication and work. A sappy moral? Not at all.
The film’s message is delivered with poise and heart in a well-crafted opening sequence that traces Tiana’s childhood. By seeing the spark of Tiana’s goal to open a restaurant at such a young age, the audience is able to more tangibly understand her motivation as the film progresses.
Tiana's parents encourage their daughters dreams, but remind her that she has to work hard to make them come true. Image copyright Disney.
Throughout Tiana and Naveen’s journey, it’s difficult to decide which to pay more attention to: the action in the forefront or the eye-pleasing scenery in the background. The art that brings the varied settings of the movie to life is absolutely stunning. Ranging from the hustle and bustle of the streets of New Orleans to the calm serenity of the bayou, I had to remind myself a few times to focus on the characters—I just couldn’t keep my eyes off of the gorgeous backgrounds.
The breathtaking scenery of the bayou nicely compliments the characters onscreen. Image copyright Disney.
That’s not to say that the characters weren’t just as pleasing to view. Spearheaded by an all-star group of Disney pros, the animators for The Princess and the Frog’s characters do an excellent job at giving each role movement and personality. Louis especially comes to mind when thinking of a character from the film whose behavior is largely portrayed visually.
Completing the package of sensory experiences that The Princess and the Frog provides is its phenomenal music composed by Randy Newman. The score is charming, sounding at time a bit like Toy Story and satisfactorily capturing the essence of the film’s many environments. Newman also wrote seven new songs for the movie. Some are adequate, while others (like “Down in New Orleans” and “When We’re Human”) really hit it out of the park in terms of context to the film and its characters.
Curiously missing from the music of The Princess and the Frog, however, is a love ballad between Tiana and Naveen. Yes, there is a romantic song that the couple dances to and yes, there is a pop love song written and performed by Ne-Yo included in the end credits. I suppose I was expecting something along the lines of “A While New World,” which wasn’t present this time around. That’s just me being nitpicky, but still.
Doctor Facilier’s bad-guy number is downright eerie. Definitely one of the scariest Disney baddies in a while, one concept is very clear throughout the course of the film: Doctor Facilier is one creepy villain. His snake-like smile is already foreboding from the get-go, and when added with his troupe of Tim Burton-esque shadow creatures, a few scenes certainly have potential to frighten toddlers.
Although the film altogether paces itself at an appropriate level, the plot abruptly quickens its speed when Doctor Facilier is introduced. His actions seem slightly rushed when his evil plan begins, especially since his excuses for being bad aren’t fully explained until later on in the film. The audience doesn’t yet know why he’s doing what he’s doing, so the fast turn of events caught me off guard for a few minutes.
Thankfully, the plot soon gets back to a clear, steady beat as viewers sit back and appreciate what truly could be a major turning point in Disney animation history. The emotion-driven story with its relatable message, likeable characters, elegant visuals, and pleasant music all encompass the beauty of The Princess and the Frog. Not to mention the many firsts and returns that it brings to the Walt Disney Company.
The Princess and the Frog will undoubtedly be looked back on as an engaging cinematic journey. But perhaps the most impactful gift that the film gives its audience is the core of what Tiana embodies—someone to look to as an example of perseverance shining through to achieve a dream.
Image copyright Disney.
“All your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them.”
- Walt Disney
How do I rank The Princess and the Frog? (Bolded is my choice.)
- Aaah!
- Blech
- Not good
- Good
- Very good
- Brilliant
The Princess and the Frog will most likely please: Disney Fans - Animation Fans - Preschoolers (ages 3-4) - Kids (ages 5-7) - Older Kids (ages 8-10)
By Blake; posted December 18, 2009. All images copyright Disney.
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