'The Princess and the Frog' (2009)

Title: The Princess and the Frog

Rating: U

Released: 2009

Director: Ron Clements, John Musker

Starring: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley, Jim Cummings, Jenifer Lewis, John Goodman, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Cody, Peter Bartlett, Terrence Howard.

Our Verdict: *** 3 Stars

In a line: Disney go back to 2D animation in this toe-tapping fairytale that's as much for adults as children.

Background: 'The Princess and the Frog' is the 49th animated feature film from the Walt Disney Animation studios; the first being 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' which was released way back in 1937. It's the first Disney film to be animated in the traditional 2D 'hand-drawn' style since their 2004 release, 'Home on the Range'. There are two further Disney 2D animated features due for release in the next two years. 'The Princess and the Frog' is described as loosely based on the E.D Barker novel 'The Frog Princess' (2002), which in turn is inspired by the traditional Grimm Brother's 'The Frog Prince'. The film features songs and a score composed by Disney-favourite, Randy Newman, and has been nominated for three Academy Awards including two for best original song and a third for best animated feature. Aside from the Academy Award nominations, the film has also received a Golden Globe nomination, 4 Critics Choice Awards nominations and 5 Annie Awards nominations. The film is notable for featuring the first Disney African-American princess.

Synopsis: The film has been described as a 'Broadway-style' musical and is set in New Orleans during the 1910s (the beginning of the film shows a man reading a newspaper with the headline 'Wilson comes to power', placing the film in 1913). The Prince of Maldonia visits New Orleans' French Quarter to sample the jazz-based lifestyle, but misguided dealings with the voodoo magician Dr. Facilier leads him to being turned into a frog. The Prince (as a frog) persuades a New Orleans native, Tiana, to kiss him in order to break the spell, but things go awry when the spell is not broken and Tiana is turned into a frog herself. Together they journey through the Bayou in search of Mama Odie (a practitioner of good voodoo) to find a way of breaking the spell and returning to human form, meeting along the way a trumpet-playing alligator and an eccentric but romantic Cajun firefly.

Review: It only takes two minutes of the film for you to know 100% that you're sitting down to watch a new Disney classic; references to making a wish and magic are literally in the opening sentences. The whimsical feeling of magic and wonder is established immediately and maintained throughout. For me, the film conjured a strong sense of nostalgia, it was just like being 7-years-old again and watching the original Disney animated feature films.

But in truth, this film is very far removed from the previous Disney productions. It is by far the most visually complex 2D film from their studios, with the most incredibly lavish use of colours to capture the vibrance of the buzzing French Quarter of New Orleans. The animation benefits from decades of previous experience at the studios and it really is perfectly slick and faultless. Scenes have more movement than previous 2D Disney productions, which could be described as relatively static. The film is somewhat of a visual chocolate box; full of goodies and some pleasant surprises.

Whilst in recent years we have come to see other animation studios producing family/children's films that are aimed at adults too, with jokes that would go over the heads of children, Disney classics have always been aimed more at the younger generation. 'The Princess and the Frog' is an exception to this, with many witty one-liners and jokes aimed purely at the adult contingency of the audience. Owing to the sniggers and grunts of laughter coming from the rows behind me, I can safely say the adults present were suitably amused with the film.

The film has a strong sense of spirituality, with a segment of the plot revolving around voodoo superstitions and practices. This coupled with the use of sinister shadows (or 'friends from the Other Side') gave the film a dark edge that I felt was surprising given the U rating.

The obligatory Disney-awww-factor was ever present, particularly thanks to the Cajun firefly. Naturally, the protagonist (Tiana) sees her dreams come true and bags her handsome prince, but the ending - although predictable - is one that brings a smile to your face. That's really what the whole film does. Yes, it's a Disney and therefore that means a feature that's more sickly sweet than a bag of candy floss but that doesn't detract from how enjoyable the film is. I found it impossible to sit there without a huge smile on my face.

Although it isn't as adult-aimed as some recent animations (namely 'Shrek' and 'Cars') and may appeal to children slightly more, it's still a very good way of spending 97 minutes. The vibrant, lavish and colourful scenes were a delight to watch, and the plotline was excellent. The score and original songs were a perfect fit; Newman has really excelled himself this time. For a cheese-fest with romantic undertones and some cracking one-liners, you can't beat a good bit of Disney, and this is certainly a good bit of Disney; probably the best (2D) animated feature to come out their studios in two decades or more.