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.

Aladdin

Aladdin
November 25, 1992
Disney
Children's, Comedy, Romance, Musical
VHS
B

I had fallen off the Disney bandwagon by the time their late '80s/ early '90s comeback came along.  Seeing most of these movies years later, I was not overly impressed.  But this one stood out.  It's funny, sweet, action-packed, and has strong voice performances, with Robin Williams's genie of course the stand-out, although I'm fond of Gilbert Gottfried as the evil parrot Iago.  The movie is also borderline racist and there are parts where things start to drag out.  The main characters aren't terribly sympathetic, although they do have much more personality than your average Disney "prince" and princess.  But for the most part it's a fun ride.

When Williams killed himself, this was one of the movies people thought of most.  Although we don't see him, we hear him, that very versatile voice playing so many roles within one.  His two show-stopping numbers remain amazing (and more worthy of an Oscar than "I Can Show You the World"), but it's not all laughs.  There's pathos, too, which was always there inside Williams, although we tried not to see it.  But, yes, it's still possible to watch this as a kids' movie that adults will delight in, too.  And, yes, the anachronisms and Disney references are very '90s.

Linda Larkin (Joanne in Zapped Again!) voices Princess Jasmine.  Hal Smith does the voice of Jafar's Horse.  Frank Welker, who specializes in animal voices, here does Abu (the monkey) Rajah (the tiger), and the cat-like Cave of Wonders.  Ron Clements and John Musker would also collaborate on The Princess and the Frog.