The Princess and the Frog

The Princess and the Frog
December 11, 2009
Disney
Children's, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Historical
DVD
B-

Partially based on E.D. Baker's The Frog Princess, which I can't remember if I've read, this is a Disney Princess movie with a difference, well, many differences.  It has a relatively modern and real setting, New Orleans in the 1920s.  (The prologue is set the day Wilson is elected President, but I'm guessing this is 1912 rather than '16.)  The "princess" is an African-American waitress who dreams of opening her own restaurant.  She does get her prince, but he's not her main goal.  And, yes, both of them are turned into frogs, because of voodoo.

Co-writers/directors Ron Clements and John Musker also did Aladdin and, while this isn't as dazzling, it is a worthy successor as a "not a typical Disney Princess movie."  There's no razzle-dazzle performance on the level of Robin Williams's genie, although the voicework and acting are generally solid.  The two biggest standouts are Keith David as villain Dr. Facilier and Jenifer Lewis as wise-woman Mama Odie, who, in their songs especially, show the dark and light sides of voodoo, and of changing your life.  The use of light and color is sometimes impressive.  And a couple of the characters, particularly Charlotte and Ray, end up having more substance than expected.  I would say the biggest flaw in the movie is pacing, too many stops and starts.  Otherwise, I would probably go with a B, as with Aladdin.

Phil Proctor did additional voices in Aladdin well.  (And, yes, this is the Firesign Theatre Phil Proctor, who co-wrote Americathon.)

Since I've gotten more 21st-century films in recent months, and since there are more films from 2000 to '09 than there were in, for instance, the 1970s, I've decided to split off the 2010s, unlike with my book blog.