With Frozen 2 now in theatres and thriving, the sequel is supposedly better than the first, that is according to, Queen Elsa’s Idina Menzel. Six years after the roaring success of Disney’s Frozen, directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee returned to continue the tale of sisters Elsa (Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell). Both Elsa and Anna look to save Arendelle from a threat that appears to be connected to a long-forgotten (and distant) enchanted forest. In addition to this, the question of why Elsa was born with magical powers is calling her, and all of this ties into the brand new adventure in this Disney animated sequel.
Critics have had their say on the sequel, and the general consensus is that the sequel is “messy and overambitious, but admirable and gorgeous.” Certain reviews have highlighted the film’s desire to incorporate more bold choices, and enhance its theme of going against the traditional “happily ever after” trope as unique, but also coming in the way of character arcs and the story, as they try to incorporate too much. Despite reviews being a little less favorable this time around, according to Rotten Tomatoes, Frozen 2 has been an even bigger hit with audiences as it currently sits with a 92% audience score, 7 percent higher than the original. Also, as well as audiences, the sequel seems to be favored by one of the stars of the film, too.
During an appearance on Billboard’s Pop Shop Podcast, singer and voice of Queen Elsa, Menzel, made a bold statement when comparing Frozen 2 to the original by saying: “I would just go on the record saying I think that this film is better than the first. I do, I love it, you know? … I just, I love it.” She goes on to highlight how special the song ‘Let It go’ was to her, as it allowed her to connect “with audiences all over the world.” But Frozen 2’s ‘Into the Unknown’ makes her want to “cry” and gives her “goosebumps.”
Although, she does not specify too much about why she thinks Frozen 2 eclipses Frozen beyond expressing how much she loves the sequel, and comparing the two songs. The box office success of Disney’s sequel is surely supporting Menzel’s statement. Frozen 2 became the third animated Disney film to cross the $1 billion mark, and while it took the original 15 weeks to cross that prestigious benchmark, it has only taken the sequel four.
Regardless of the franchise, people will always debate whether a sequel is better than the first installment, and vice versa. Frozen 2 has most certainly found a formula that satisfies audiences, and whether ‘Into the Unknown’ has the same type of longevity as ‘Let It Go’ doesn’t seem to matter judging by the film’s success. Despite the success and Menzel’s love for this latest installment, a third film doesn’t seem to be in the pipeline anytime soon, but those plans can always change with a successful franchise such as this one.
