The Princess and the Frog (2009) User Reviews

It relaunched my interest in Disney.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 30 July 2022]

A Waitress has ambitions of owning her own restaurant, but a chance meeting with a Prince details her plans.

I will start by saying I'm something of a traditionalist when it comes to Disney, I love the classics, I found some of the later offerings very disappointing, it was suggested I may like this one, I'm glad I listened, I really enjoyed it.

It's as if Disney took some of the greatest elements from its illustrious history, forged them together, and put a unique twist on them.

The visuals are great I thought, it's a skilled animation, it's bright, it's detailed, it flowed so well. Great music also.

The characters are a hoot, I love that Tiana is a smart cookie, she has the backstory, she's sassy, but she's smart, she's a somewhat different Disney Princess.

It's heaps of fun, I really liked the humour, it's funny, I also loved the villain, Doctor Facilier was a menacing figure, I loved the way his shadow operated independently.

8/10.

The Princess and the Frog is a fine Disney-animated feature that bathes in the charms of New Orleans, Louisiana

[tavm · 8/10 · 14 December 2009]

I glanced at the many comments of this Walt Disney 2-D, mostly hand drawn, animated feature to see if any one of them came from where this movie is set-New Orleans, Louisiana. Since many of them were identified as from the United States, I have no idea. Look at my username being used under the movie title and know that the capital city I live in is just a two hour drive to and from the Crescent City. As a result, when watching this feature with my movie theatre working friend, we were wonderfully surprised to see and hear many items unique to the Pelican State: the city newspaper "The Times-Picayune", familiar sights like the French Quarter, and mentions of delicacies like gumbo, beignets, and jambalaya! Add to that a Cajun firefly, a Creole voodoo villain, and an alligator named Louis who plays the trumpet (no doubt a tribute to N.O. native Louis Armstrong-the great Satchmo) and you've got such a stirring melting pot of entertaining supporting characters. But the real treat is the leading characters of Prince Naveen as voiced by Bruno Campos and, especially, that of working girl (in the best sense of the word) Tiana as voiced and sung by Anika Noni Rose who I remembered liking in her last role in Dreamgirls. They're both a little stubborn but when it all comes down to it, they have their own set of charms as well. Two more characters I liked were the rich, white, spoiled girlfriend of Tiana named Charlotte, who really cares for her friend's happiness in spite of her occasional self-centeredness and her father, "Big Daddy" La Bouff, who I immediately recognized as the voice of New Orleans resident John Goodman. Great verbal and visual humor abounds and the songs of Randy Newman seem entertainingly authentic to both the period and setting. So on that note, I highly recommend The Princess and the Frog.

One of Disney's Best Films in a Long Time

[TheEverydayGeek · 8/10 · 12 December 2009]

Disney was at its best in the 90s. They came out with such great movies as Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. And then, they made bad movies like Home on the Range. Disney can make good movies, and they usually do. The Princess and the Frog is one of Disney's best movies. It has a great twist on a classic story, characters that made me care, and music that had me tapping my foot and wishing I was in New Orleans. The animation is so beautiful that I literally almost cried at the beginning of the film. Dr. Faciler is probably one of Disney's best villains. Keith David's voice is so creepy and fits perfect into the character. His song "Friends on the Other Side" is great and shows just how scary he can be. In most Disney movies, there are usually two or three songs that really stick with you. Every song in this movie was great. I still find myself humming "Down in New Orleans" everywhere I go. The bottom line is that Princess and the Frog is one of Disney's best and one of the best films of the year. The only question I can't answer is if it is better than Up. But if I have to answer, I'd say it's equal to it.

nice - charming

[Vincentiu · 29 April 2013]

it is an interesting exercise to remake the old flavor of Disney movies. and the result is really good.ordinary ingredients and portrait of a place. a special princess and new direction of story. music like in good musicals. and nothing else. magic, love, nice characters and a lot of references. and the South spirit in a manner who seduce at all. it is a pleasure to see it. for memories, for charming pieces, for few amazing scenes and, sure, for the fairy story. maybe it is not the best but it is so nice than nothing can be a great error. like a party, it has its mark. its air. and, sure, its circle of sin virtues. only a sweet adventure out of reality but with same nostalgic feeling.

Cute Disney movie

[Calicodreamin · 7/10 · 16 April 2020]

Perfectly cliche, the princess and the frog is a truly heartwarming Disney movie. The characters are fun and well developed, the storyline flows well, and the animation is good. The songs didn't flow as seamlessly as I would have liked, the movie almost didn't need them. The characters made this movie, loved ray the lightning bug.

And with the brilliant light of Cajun Fireflies, there is a ray of hope in the world ...

[Excalibur12ny · 10/10 · 12 December 2009]

As a young female twenty-something, my 90's childhood was shaped by the Golden Age of Disney. Every year, there would be a new masterpiece for my mom to take me to; Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin ... And when Disney failed so terribly in the early millennium and closed down shop, my heart was broken. There was a part of our culture and my life that my little girl I someday hope to have was never going to be able to experience, and I was never going to get back.

So as soon as I heard that Disney was coming out with their triumphant return to 2-D, I felt like the world was FINALLY getting its act together.

While CGI has produced some good hits, it isn't the same as 2-D. There was no one who could do cartoons like Disney, and I think they began to realize that.

I can honestly say that this movie is brilliant. I saw it last night, and it's still haunting me twenty-four hours later like I'd just walked out of the theater. If this movie had been A.) racist or B.) a let down, I would have been very angry and wouldn't take the time to write out this review. But my God, it was right up there alongside "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King." Tiana, the long-awaited princess of the film, is a (gasp) real person! Her whole life does not revolve around getting married to the prince, nor does it involve some odd and harried "I'm totally a hardkore awesome person" plot. She has her faults. She's brash, a workaholic, and kind of a judgmental jerk. However, she is also headstrong, loving, and ridiculously intuitive. This is the sort of woman we need in a Disney cartoon for our kids to look up to, especially when the best role model they've had in the past few years is Bella Swann.

The prince, Naveen, is also an actual human being. He's cocky, spoiled, and hilarious. However, as the movie goes on, it is made quite clear (in a song by Randy Newman) that Naveen isn't happy at all. His and Tiana's relationship is based on self-discovery and mutual respect, rather than some of the other Disney movies where it is completely based on the need for a romantic plot. I see Belle and the Beast and Shang and Mulan (pre Mulan II, we can pretend that sequel doesn't exist), rather than Cinderella and Prince Charming. It seems like "Enchanted" really did bring a lot of new ideas to the Disney creed, and it completely shows in the way they tackle their archetypes in this refreshing rendition.

I was skeptical when I heard Randy Newman had composed the music. And yes, folks, it is in fact musical style. The characters sing, not Randy. And while you can still tell it's Randy, it's also Disney. The jazzy complexity of the songs drive the story forward and just wrap you up into the buzzing momentum of the film. I will definitely grab this soundtrack and play it religiously on my ipod, I promise you that.

As for the racism: It's Disney and regardless of what Disney does, someone is going to find something to point out as racist. However, let me just say that this movie is completely respectful and absolutely nothing in it is racist, to the point where it is obvious that Disney is trying their hardest NOT to be racist and cuts corners on the storytelling and historical racism that WOULD have been in New Orleans in 1920 (and to an extent, yes, still is). And as for turning Tiana into a frog ... she's a human for a good half the movie before she even thinks about kissing Naveen. She's a black princess, she's not a frog princess.

I also saw a comment about how someone didn't like it because of the non-Christian message thanks to the use of voodoo? They were so busy looking at the BAD GUY use voodoo that they didn't realize that Terrence Howard's character was pretty much a walking sermon! "You can wish on a star, but that can only take you halfway?" Where does this sound familiar? "Never lose sight of what's most important ... love." My God, the complete non-Christian message is abhorrent! The star is used as an allegory for God, and they wish on it with their hands folded ... practically one could say praying? And let's not even go into the full moral of the story: "You know what you want, but dig a little deeper and find what you need." How about that whole thanking God for unanswered prayers sort of ideal? These are good and wholesome lessons that are going to really strengthen the next generation of both boys and girls, and I'm happy that it's going to be an influence on the younger generation.

And the writing is amazing. As someone who writes for a living, I was completely floored at the structure of this film. You cover so much ground in 90 minutes, and you are never bored nor know what's going to happen next! Disney knows what they're doing (finally) on this film. It's amazingly put together, and all the trademarks you expect to see (animal sidekicks, creepy awesome villain, amazing soundtrack, knockout visuals, strong heroine) are there in full. Go see this movie, and remember how it was to be a kid again. This is an experience you absolutely need to have.

"Princess and the Frog" is here to stay.

Neat but hollow

[Vartiainen · 7/10 · 27 June 2016]

Disney returns to hand-drawn princess fairy tale animation after a stint of Pixar-esque computer animated films. This time the inspiration being the classic tale of The Frog Prince by Brothers Grimm. But, being Disney, they throw their own spin on it. The story takes place in 1920s New Orleans and features Disney's first African-American princess in Tiana.

I really like the setting a lot. New Orleans is a fantastic setup for this particular story, with its African-American culture, voodoo, bayou environment and all the music it inspires. Tiana and Dr. Facilier, the villain, are both fantastic characters and fully fleshed-out by the film. Dr. Facilier especially is very memorable and has one of the better villain songs in the entire canon. Charlotte, Tiana's childhood rich kid friend, is also absolutely hilarious.

Unfortunately, the story isn't quite that good. It feels more like Disney going through motions than it feels a proper fairy tale. We have the setup, the twist, the journey, the final battle, but you can practically see the story boards being switched behind the scenes. You don't buy the illusion. Plus, the songs are not that hot. The villain song is very good, and Almost There is not half bad either, but the rest are garbage. Especially Dig a Little Deeper, which is so painfully Oscar-crappy that you can't help but cringe.

All in all The Princess and the Frog is a mixed package. Its heart is in the right place and I love that we had this one final traditionally animated princess film, but it could have been a lot better, if we're being completely honest. Objectively a fine film, but not up to Disney's usual standards.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Disney Renaissance has returned.

[diac228 · 9/10 · 11 December 2009]

Michael Eisner will forever be known as the man that attempted to totally kill Disney animation. After the disastrous efforts of Home on the Range, what was once a staple of the Walt Disney Company was becoming a thing of the past. Traditional animation was dead in Disney, and this was definitely one of the major contributors towards the shift in upper-upper management and his departure. Now with Pixar and John Lasseter on board, Disney pulls absolutely no punches in their return to tradition. There's a new princess, she happens to be black, and they happen to twist a classic story so much that you have literally no clue in which direction the writers were going. The major question is: can Disney revive its Renaissance quality that it experienced in the 90s? Can they ever duplicate such magic again? The answer is a resounding yes.

Princess and the Frog is the best traditionally animated flick (from ANY company) since The Emperor's New Groove. Princess Tiana is the most sophisticated and most mature Disney princess since Belle. The villain here is the best since Hades from Hercules. Prince Naveen is the best prince since Prince Eric (and even then, Naveen is one of the better princes out there). The music here is actually some of the best music from any Disney movie past and present. The animation here is the best since The Lion King. Basically, to sum things up, Princess and the Frog is an excellent effort from Disney and a superb return to Renaissance quality that the company sorely missed and needed.

The movie focuses on a hard-working waitress (Anika Nosi Rose) that is saving money to open up her own restaurant, which was a dream her father had always been chasing. Her father also taught her that it's not enough to just wish for something, you have to also work to accomplish what you want in life. Tiana lives her life on this lesson, much to the disdain of others. After a few twists and turns (I don't want to spoil the plot too much), she becomes a frog thanks to Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), whom is a prince that is very different from the norm in terms of personality and even royalty status. Along the way they will meet a wide assortment of characters, ranging from a charismatic magician (Keith David, in an amazing role), a friendly firefly (Jim Cummings), a music-loving alligator (Michael-Leon Wooley), and many others. The movie clocks in at less than 100 minutes, but moves at such a fast pace, you'll get a lot more material than your average hour-and-a-half movie.

Let's just put this out there: Disney treated Tiana and her surroundings perfectly and without overdoing any boundaries whatsoever. New Orleans has an incredibly energetic look, and just enhances the themes and plot of the movie. Accompanying the Louisiana flavor is the incredible score of Randy Newman, which uses a wide variety of sounds and genres from the Deep South (and also is mixed in with a little Newman touch).

Can we praise the animation one more time? Sure, why not. The movie looks absolutely beautiful, and doesn't rely on just a simple palette of colors. Thanks to technology and an obvious overload of effort, this is one of the most (if not the most) colorful and vibrant-looking Disney animated movies of all-time. Some of the added computer effects only enhance the sophistication of the animation (I rhymed). One final note, the visual humor in Princess and the Frog is very fast-paced, to the style of the severely underrated Emperor's New Groove. You need a watchful eye on certain scenes to catch all the jokes.

If there was anyone that was going to save Disney's traditional animation, it would be Ron Clements and John Musker. These two were the most responsible for the Disney Renaissance, directing Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Hercules. They once again provide a beautiful story, and direct the movie with plenty of flair and energy. The musical sequences fit the pacing of the flick, and while there wasn't an outstanding track like "Be Our Guest," "Friend Like Me," or "Under the Sea," the repertoire of musical numbers overall was quite impressive. A key part to a great animated movie is having a villain just as complex and/or engaging as the heroes; and the "Shadow Man" not only has the best musical number, but also has the most flair of any of the supporting characters. Now we can forgive them for directing Treasure Planet.

The biggest reason for the successful quality in Princess and the Frog comes from the Pixar touch. Pixar obviously lent a hand here, as this movie contains some of the most sentimental and touching animated footage since the epic heartbreak moment in Lion King when Simba sees Mufasa motionless. While the movie never nails the emotional torture that Up succeeded (then again…few films ever will), Princess and the Frog will make you cry just as easily as it can make you laugh. Don't let that bring you down though, because this movie carries an upbeat tempo throughout the entire run.

Bottom Line: If you enjoyed the Disney Renaissance (From Little Mermaid to Tarzan, before the downfall spiral started), then it is up to you to watch this movie. This movie has all the energy, quality, sentimentality, and superb animation of the 90s Disney flicks, and is inches away from Pixar status. Pixar has saved Disney altogether, and Princess and the Frog is hopefully going to save Disney traditional animation, granted it gets the praise and success it truly deserves. Unlike what we have been seeing in the past, Disney did not half-arse this time. Blending the old-school qualities with a new-school outlook on where the status of animation and storytelling is headed, Princess and the Frog is a fun, entertaining, and fulfilling ride from start to finish.

Too much filler

[mtl429 · 6/10 · 25 April 2018]

I liked the scenery through most of the movie. It was nice to see the classic hand drawn Disney movie vs the computer drawn we rely on now. Main problem was the story was a bit too much, and you couldn't really relate to the characters. Another thing I noticed was how forgettable the villain was in this movie. Hell, I just watched it and feel I need to google the villain's name again. I rate it a 6 because it's worth watching again in a few years, but no major Wow factor.

By Jove...it's actually GOOD!

[newkidontheblock · 9/10 · 3 January 2010]

I've said my share of disparaging words against the Walt Disney Company, and let's face it; they've put out more than their share of garbage over the years. It seems as if Pixar has been pulling their dead weight for the past decade as they've put out offensively bad DTV releases and pumping their money and resources into their sub par T.V. station and musical acts (though I will say that Lilo and Stitch, as well as The Emperor's New Groove, which I consider to be one of Disney's funniest releases). Yes, it seemed that all hope was lost for the Mouse and that anything original and thought provoking associated with the Disney name would have that cute little bouncing lamp right along side.

Imagine my surprise when I saw The Princess and the Frog yesterday. Surprise nothing! I nearly went into a shock induced coma. This was a brilliant film, something truly worthy of Uncle Walt's iconic signature. This film had all the makings of a Disney classic: great story, great characters, great music, and of course, great art.

One thing I always give the Walt Disney Co. credit for is their masterful art work in their features, even the less than stellar ones. This has, especially, been the case the past 20-25 years. Some of the same artists that worked on the more recent classics like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast worked on Princess and the Frog. I was told after the film that the same man that drew Belle (Randy Cartwright) drew for Tiana, and you can tell. The art in general in this movie is extremely impressive. Not only are all the characters well drawn, but the backgrounds are breath taking, very reminiscent of Hunchback of Notre Dame. They seem to take you into a painting of the location without losing it's touch with reality. Also, the use of different art styles stood out, especially the "Almost There" number, which was drawn mostly in the Art Deco style.

Randy Newman's score left the biggest impression on my after the film was over, though. I think this is the first time a Disney feature used, primarily, North American music styles like jazz, ragtime, southern gospel, and even zydeco. Of course, like any great Disney feature; Princess and the Frog had it's signature musical number: the previously named "Almost There". With a great tune, appropriate lyrics, and of course, the voice of Anika Noni Rose; I'm sure (and I hope) this will become another Disney standard. Unlike some Disney films, there wasn't that dreadful "Oh dear merciful God, when is this going to end" number. Every song was thought out, appropriate for it's setting, and just...good. Kudos to Randy Newman, who will hopefully get an Oscar nomination (at least) for this film.

Then, of course, there's the high water mark for not only Disney movies, but for movies in general, especially animation films: characters and story. Movies can have an amazing score and even good animation, but if the story flops and if the characters are insufferable, then it's going nowhere. This movie, thankfully, had neither problem. There was no character that you wish would just go get himself or herself bent. Everyone served his or her purpose in the movie.

Like many of the newer Disney movies, The Princess and the Frog had a, well...Princess character that was blue collar and hard working.Tiana is young woman from the slums of New Orleans, whose sole purpose in life is to open up a successful restaurant serving authentic Louisiana cuisine. Of course, the man puts her down and she finds herself sunk. I will say that I'm VERY proud of Disney for not shoving the race issue down our throats and, at the same time, for not avoiding it all together. This was seen in the scene where the land lords of the building she's looking to purchase.

At the same time, a lazy hedonistic prince comes to New Orleans looking for a (Rich) bride since his monetary supply has been cut off by his parents. He sets his sights on a bona fide southern belle named Charlotte, Tiana's foil and best friend. The Prince and his reluctant English servant (what prince would be complete without one) get sidetracked by a voodoo man/street performer named Dr. Facilier aka "The Shadow Man", a slick deceitful crook with his own silhouette as a side kick (and yes, they are able to make it work). Dr. Facilier says both Prince Naveeh and Lawerence will get what they both desire most (money and a life without servitude, respectively). Louis is turned into the Prince (or at least, given his body) while Naveeh turns into...a smiley frog; which as we learn throughout the film is mucus.

Naveeh meets Tiana after she changes clothes (and after her dreams of owning her own restaurant). Tiana, who is less than fond of frog, tries to kill our hero; but later finds out that this is a frog with a difference...he can talk. After Naveeh sees a copy of a print version of, appropriately enough, the Princess and the Frog, he asks Tiana (Who is wearing a tiara at the time) to kiss him, believing that she is, indeed, royalty herself; though he later finds out that she is a waitress. He promises that after she kisses him, something she is far from enthusiastic about, he will make her dream of owning her own restaurant a reality. Well, she does kiss him, but there's a bit of a SNAFU: she turns into a frog herself. The two of them must find a way to become human again. Along the way, they meet a cavalcade of characters including a trumpet playing alligator (and yes, they are able to make it work somehow) and a Cajun firefly named Ray.

The Princess and the Frog, a movie (I hope) that is destined for greatness.

Mixed Feelings

[emilferz · 6/10 · 29 September 2021]

The Princess and the Frog is a real mixed bag for me it has some solid storytelling and creates well fleshed out characters particularly in the first 30 mins and then really looses steam as it progresses. When I say that I mean the moment the main characters turn into frogs.

The first 30 minutes really creates a fleshed out personality in Tiana who is struggling to earn enough money to buy a property so she accomplish her and her fathers dream of owning a restaurant. You are seeing how hard she is working and are really rooting for her to do this. I find that this is really relatable to a lot of everyday people who may have similar goals or struggles.

Prince Naveen is quite the entertaining character and displays his explosive personality making for some enjoyable sequences. The villain Doctor Facilier is an enjoyable presence on screen providing what I think is the best song of the film Friends On The Other Side. Keith David also really nails the character you can tell he is really enjoying himself.

Then they turn into frogs and the film turns into your stereotypical adventure of we need to do this before we run out of time situation. Tiana and Prince Naveen turning into frogs really killed any of the connection the two had for me and really made their characters less relatable.

The humor in this film is very unoriginal and just relies on generic slapstick and childish jokes. The side characters introduced are not that great expect for Mama Odie who I very much enjoyed watching, unfortunately they tended to just be quite irritating especially Ray.

Overall this film had great potential to be a Disney classic with its unique setting in the lovely city of New Orleans and a great foundation for these characters to be incredible. It unfortunately completely crumbles into a generic kids cartoon for most of the film.

Fan-frigging-tastic

[LigiaMontoya · 10/10 · 12 December 2009]

Just astounding. The story was genuinely touching, the intense scenes jumped out at you, the humor was funny, the acting was excellent, and the music was the best soundtrack of any Disney movie since The Little Mermaid (A standing ovation for Randy Newman). There is also something about the 2D animation - it just has more personality and emotion than CGI. I just saw it tonight, and I am honestly floored.

Disney, for the last few years, has suffered from a lack of creativity. The movies have all been interchangeable with the same plot recycled. This one is different, new and really just the best animated picture I've seen in a long, long time. The applause in the theatre was very much earned.

So-so

[briancham1994 · 6/10 · 4 June 2020]

I didn't like this film as much as other people. The setting, animation and style were all good. However, out of the characters, only the villain was interesting and the songs were definitely forgettable. Not bad, but could have been better.

Back to it's Roots? Disney should Keep Moving Forward

[thesplash · 5/10 · 16 January 2010]

I was very excited to see this movie with my mom. I am 22 and have always seen the Disney summer blockbusters with her, so when this came out we could not wait.

Overall, the animation was nice (bright colors, very New Orleans) but the story line and the music did not compare to Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast or even Hercules. Leaving the theater I was not humming a tune or looking to go get the soundtrack. I actually could not remember many of the songs and the only ones I could were very repetitive and not good. I was very surprised when I saw Toy Story composer Randy Newman also did this movie.

Princess Tiana was adorable but you do not see much of her. I remember reading an article when the movie was first released that some people of color were upset that Disney made a black princess but she's a frog the entire movie. They were absolutely right. Princess Tiana was a frog for at least 90% of this movie and honestly, watching a frog for almost an hour and a half was slow and not visually appealing. I would rather have seen her change back sooner because it was drawn out quite a bit.

Most of the characters were likable. Tiana's friend Charolette was cute and the villain was very very intriguing. He was probably my favorite character. However, while listening to Prince Naveen speak, I could only think of Kevin Klein's accent in the movie French Kiss (you get the picture). Charolette's father, voiced by John Goodman was a surprise and made me think of Sully; warm and caring. Their swamp friends had some potential as well; the alligator and the firefly captured New Orleans very well.

Overall if you go in to this movie with low expectations you will probably find it enjoyable. For Disney though, how can you go in thinking it would be bad? If Disney plans on going back to it's 2D animation roots, they should go back to their amazing story lines and memorable music as well. Otherwise, keep moving forward.

Entertaining--but so much talent wasted on a flimsy storyline...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 17 December 2009]

I think Disney is back in good form with THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, but what it seems to lack is a a more frightening villain and a better quality of songs. The songs are catchy enough but quite forgettable without a single standout to match the musical numbers in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST or THE LITTLE MERMAID.

The backgrounds are superior with a good suggestion of New Orleans and the bayou. The fireflies are effectively used and all of the background art is exceptionally well done. But what the story lacks are characters to really care about and a stronger overall story.

Disney fans should enjoy it and I'm sure most of us prefer the hand-drawn aspect of Disney's best films rather than all this computer technology animation so lacking in visual values and imagination.

As usual, the voice work is excellent and there are some gags that really make you appreciate the humor injected into many scenes. Still, the lingering feeling is that a better script would have made the brilliant art work more worthwhile.

Such a well-written and realistic character as Tiana deserved better than being a frog for 70% of the runtime...

[ElMaruecan82 · 6/10 · 25 April 2021]

It is fully justified to consider "The Princess and the Frog" a milestone as the first Disney film to feature an African-American heroine: Tiana (Anika Noni Rose). Thinking about it, it took sixty years to get to the first non-White Disney Princess with Jasmin and the first Native heroine three years later (not counting Tiger Lily who had a rather small role in "Peter Pan") and she'd be followed by Esmeralda in "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame", now all these female characters had darker skins but there weren't of African background.

Interestingly, the term "African-American" is totally appropriate as the cultural heritage of Tiana -as well as her ethnicity- bring (no pun intended) its color to the story which resets the famous Grimms' tale in New Orleans. And we sure get all archetypes (except for the Gospel): jazz, bayou, swamps, French-sounding names, Cajun accents, gumbo, the texture is so authentic that the prospect of Disney modernizing a classic fairy tale is as exciting as its revolutionary "casting". Two birds with the same stone... now, they could have used a traditional African tale as well, but the voodoo (over?)played in the film does borrow elements from the African heritage.

And the film starts well: Tiana's mother Eudora (Oprah Winfrey) tells the original tale to Tiana and her friend Charlotte. Charlotte is dressed as a girl who's been brainwashed by Disney movies and the constant glee of a spoiled Daddy's girl who's got the latest Barbie. Tiana finds the frog story nauseating and has the most realistic reaction: "Yukk". And that's what I liked about Tiana: she felt real, writers made an effort to develop her as a person. Tiana is a waitress and a gifted cook whose dream is to open a restaurant, her Dad (Terrence Howard) tells her about the little star in the sky that fulfills your wishes but that doesn't diminish the value of hard work. Before "Frozen", Tiana was a right role-model and didn't need an on-the-nose dialogue to tell viewers what to do but the best thing to do.

Tiana is a character who grows up in a sane family environment, Charlotte might be her best friend but growing up calling your father 'Big Daddy' has awkward resonances although he's indeed a big bear-like man voiced by John Goodman. Of course, Tiana's got to go through the usual patterns: her father dies during the Great War and in her environment, she's a misfit. Her background is regarded as a handicap to start a business on her own and she's surrounded by nay-sayers (including friends and her mother), she's an underdog and gives us a lot to root for. The film is set during the preparations of Mardi gras and the little town is ready to welcome the arrival of Prince of Moldania Naveem (Bruno Campos), it seems like a South-East Asian country and so in a way the prince is also a fine new step, though his resemblance to Prince Eric is startling.

All goes well until the first little faux pas with the joyful introduction song. I guess it doesn't exactly sound like a compliment if you say it feels like a Randy Newman song, which means an umpteenth variation on "You got a friend in me". The townspeople obligatory song serves to introduces Doctor Facilier (Keith David) who looks like a cool animated version of Samuel L. Jackson with top hat and spats. Facilier makes a pact with Naveen and his servant Lawrence (Peter Bartlet); in the end, Naveen becomes a frog, it's a little complicated plot involving some pre-established deals with ghouls and whose only outcome is that Tiana mistakes him for a legitimate prince and then instead of getting him back to his normality, becomes a frog as well.

Now, two things: Tiana as a person with human preoccupations was such an endearing character that the whole magical spell felt like a cheat. A second was: for once that you have a dark-skinned princess (and prince too) they spend most the time as frogs, which -let's face it- don't make for the best-looking creature despite the animators' effort to make them cute and appealing, and slightly less cartoonish than the singing frog in "One Froggy Evening". I understand that there had to be a frog, but the title is misleading "The Princess and the Frog" suggests that there's only one frog. So we got through a long middle-section set in the animal-world, one that lingers on extremely lengthy big musical lectures that don't offer many catchy themes to hum afterwards.

Don't get me wrong: the visuals are stunning and the hand-drawn animation is a fine return to the roots but the swamps/night setting aren't the landscapes we expected no matter how hard they make the characters colorful: from Louis, the giant alligator (Michael-Leon Wooley) to Ray, the Cajun firefly (Jim Cummings) or the little witch Mama Odie (Jennifer Lewis), a blind woman and an extra-milestone for disabled characters. In the best case, the film looks like "The Rescuers" and doesn't live up to the potential showed during the first act.

Maybe worse: even within the frog part, the chemistry between Tiana and Naveen seems too forced to be believable, one scene they berate each other and the next one, they fall in love for no particular reason. In fact, the whole frog / human magic is extremely confusing for we never know what powers have Facilier, even the whole "kiss a princess" premise has sets of rules that differ according to circumstances and when you have so many possibilities left, anything can happen anyway. When they become humans again, there was no way the Tiana we left would abandon herself to a Prince just like that. Now I understand why they made Anna the feminist heroine... but Tiana deserved a little more.

2D Animation is Back! Blue Skies and Sunshine Guaranteed!

[PirateWolfy · 9/10 · 8 December 2009]

The Princess and the Frog is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. It marks Walt Disney Animation Studio's return to 2D animation, to recapture the era of amazing movies like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast – timeless tales that have reached audiences across the world. However, unlike these previous movies, The Princess and the Frog does something new. It's an updated take on the classic fairy tale, set in Jazzy New Orleans filled with witch doctors, Maldonian princes, southern lovesick daughters, Jazz playing alligators and even Cajun fireflies! In the midst of all this jazz is Disney's first black princess, Tiana, and her story.

Tiana is a young girl who wants to follow her father's dream and open up her very own restaurant. She works hard, never taking a chance on Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet - she is a realist Disney 'princess' - and that makes her stand apart from the rest. And speaking of breaking from tradition, Prince Naveen is another fresh take on the classic Disney prince. He gets a fair amount of screen time and shows us that princes are more than just stuffy suits. The pair has great chemistry as frogs and their intertwining journey is full of laughs and heart tingling moments sprinkled with some good old Disney magic. Disney Animation Studios has pulled it off again; they have conjured up something fresh and new and have made it entertaining. Perhaps we can expect greater things for the future because this is a pretty good start.

One of the strongest aspects of this musical is, of course, the music! Randy Newman has provided an array of songs, from bouncy piano songs to gospel to Broadway. There is no one single style of music and Newman serves up a diverse platter accompanied by stunning animation. There are several songs in the movie, perhaps more than needed, but all catchy while bringing a yet another flavor to New Orleans. The downside to these songs is that they are many, short and have the task of pushing story. Their presence feels like designated intervals, sometimes jarring up moments which could have been executed wonderfully without any song.

Pacing and story are the main challenges The Princess and the Frog faces. Too much happens and it happens too fast. There is an engaging plot, obstacles are overcome through action and songs also push the story forward. This leaves us very little time for dwelling in scene. I personally think this is why the movie doesn't feel quite up to par with The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty or The Lion King – there are very few moments which rely on deeper truths or engage with characters' inner struggles and relationships. I wish the directors would have slowed down and let us have a bit more interaction rather than relying on action and songs to advance plot. Also, some crucial events relied on coincidence when they could've been worked into the plot more skillfully. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Princess and the Frog still delivers an entertaining story.

Personally, I think the darker a Disney film is, the more interesting it will be. It lends a sense of reality and tells me that despite its catchy songs and humor, the movie takes itself seriously. Princess and the Frog definitely takes itself seriously. One of the main reasons I wanted to see this film was because of Dr. Facilier. He makes the film tastefully dark and shows us that even a Disney story can chill audiences. The voodoo world is intoxicating, full of intrigue and Facilier's theme song tells us he is a villain with style rivaling the likes of Jafar or Scar. However, unlike the previous villains, Facillier doesn't constantly trump the heroes after his first appearance. Villains kind of get a backseat in the movie - some people might not like this so beware!

Despite its darker side, the movie is surprisingly funny and downright hilarious. Like the old classics, the movie is timeless in a way. It doesn't reference any modern pop culture. There are lots of things that made audiences laugh, some more than others. There is no one type of humor strung throughout the whole film. Without giving anything away, I would also like to say the humor gets pretty risqué at times but it's welcoming because it tells us Disney is not excluding anyone from the audience.

There are some very spectacular moments of animation in this film. The characters are drawn in the 90's classic Disney style and don't have extremely stylized or exaggerated features that we've seen in later works like Emperor's New groove or Home on the Range. This blast from the past is a breath of fresh air. 2D animation is here to stay.

A bit of a disappointment

[Sherrill777 · 6/10 · 26 November 2017]

The Bad:

The prince is fairly revolting, in my opinion. He starts out feeling like a lazy, womanizing, cheat who is looking for a ticket to an easy life. He does acquire a few redeeming qualities as the film progresses, but I ended up feeling like our lovely heroine falls in love with a loser. This movie loses a whole star just for him. My second issue with this movie is the voodoo. Some parents might not have an issue with this – and I don't have a problem with most magic depicted in kid's movies, so I'm not sure why this bothers me so much. Maybe because some people actually practice this as a real art rather than a fantasy type of magic? Maybe because it felt like a nightmare-inducing pact with evil? In any case, it came across as far too creepy & dark for my tastes.

The Good:

The visuals are genuinely lovely. It's a very pretty movie. And it's fantastic to have an African American heroine princess. Yay diversity! I felt that this movie was respectful of a minority group. Our heroine is full of excellent character traits – she's resourceful, hard-working, a good friend, optimistic, and more. The music is a bit jazzy, a bit southern gospel, and not bad at all (although not some of Disney's best).

The Mom view:

Not one of my favorite Disney films, which was so disappointing since I was excited to see Disney return to traditional fairy-tales – and with a non-white princess, no less! But, between the less than stellar prince, the creepy voodoo, and the forgettable story-line, this isn't going to be one I purchase for my kids. I'll have my kids watch this at some point (probably late elementary age), but only as a rental. Overall, this gets a grade of 'not horrible, but not great'.

Reiterates that Walt Disney Animation is back and here to stay

[Apemangalore · 9/10 · 11 December 2009]

With such disappointments as Home on the Range and Chicken Little, Walt Disney Animation Studios – on the whole – has had a pretty rough decade. Last November, however, the Mouse House released Chris Williams and Byron Howards' Bolt, which is not only generally accepted as a return to form for the studio, but over the course of this past year, has usurped Pulp Fiction as my personal favorite movie of all time. With that said, I went into The Princess and the Frog with relatively high expectations; having walked out of the theatre just a couple of hours ago, I have to say that John Musker and Ron Clements' latest - while not overthrowing it - certainly continues the magic of the studio's previous film.

Visually, The Princess and the Frog is absolutely mesmerizing. Seriously, 2D animation has never looked better than it does in this film. As executive producer/Pixar founder John Lasseter said, it's very much like stepping into a pair of old, comfortable shoes. Familiar, yet seemingly brand new. The energetic look of New Orleans is perfectly captured on screen, enhancing the story all the more.

Speaking of which, the story of this film is just like the animation in that, while being traditional Disney fare, it's executed in such a way that it feels completely different from anything you've ever experienced. As many times as this movie will make you laugh, it'll make you cry, which – for me – has always been the sign of a classic Disney Animation film. The movie also succeeds in making you feel invested in each and every one of these characters, major and minor ones alike, which is definitely one of the most difficult tasks that any film could hope to achieve.

Unlike most Disney princesses, Tiana is strong, independent, and isn't looking for her Prince Charming. In fact, it's these differentiating traits of hers that make Tiana my favorite Disney princess to date. It also helps that Anika Noni Rose delivers a stunning performance as her voice, making Tiana all the more captivating every moment that she's on screen. Bruno Campos also does a terrific job as Naveen, whose character is also a departure from the traditional Disney prince. He's a fellow who, while being stuck-up and lazy, somehow manages to come across as extremely likable. Both of these characters make for what is easily the most convincing Disney couple to date.

The real stand-out performance, however, is that of Keith David as Dr. Facilier. Since his performance as the Arbiter from the Halo video game series, I've been a huge fan of this guy's work, and couldn't have been more excited when I heard that he'd be doing the voice of the villain in this movie. With his low, creepy voice, David captures the essence of this character perfectly, and by the end, you're genuinely scared of this guy. Because of this, Facilier is definitely one of – if not my absolute favorite – Disney villain, challenged only by Gaston and Frollo. With his performance as the Cat from Coraline, and now Facilier, Keith David continues to prove that he is the man.

As with every other aspect of the film, the musical numbers in The Princess and the Frog are extremely memorable, most notably Dr. Facilier's "Friends On the Other Side", a deliciously creepy piece that ranks right up there with "Hellfire" from Hunchback of Notre Dame as one of the best Disney villain songs. You'll definitely find yourself humming several of these tunes on your way back home from the theatre.

The Princess and the Frog is an excellent return to 2D animation. The animation is more beautiful than ever, the characters are some of the most memorable ones I've ever seen on film, and the musical numbers are infectiously catchy. The Princess and the Frog clearly reiterates the statement already made by last year's aforementioned Bolt: Walt Disney Animation is back and here to stay.

From a kiss to a frog

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 30 January 2018]

Disney's return to long form 2D animation was short lived in this updating of The Frog Princess. The story is set in 1920s New Orleans as a visiting prince is turned into a frog by voodoo, who ends up in adventures with waitress Tiana (also turned into a frog) who always dreamed of opening her own restaurant.

The 2D style of animation actually takes some getting used to, there are some nice visualized sequences, it is an easy going story. Some of the characters reminded me of characters from other Disney cartoons however the songs and music were a bit bland.

The Magic is back!

[wises3 · 10/10 · 11 December 2009]

I felt like a little kid again seeing The Princess and the Frog; apparently so did most of the theater, as the crowd seemed to be generally from 8-30 years old. From the second I walked in, I realized this was a movie that was going to span groups(and it did, in the end). The other adults in line with me split almost evenly with tickets for this versus Invictus.

The animation is gorgeous, the characters are absolutely unique and took me by surprise, and even the parts in trailers that I thought were going to be awful turned out to be brilliant when put into the context of the rest of the film. I haven't enjoyed Disney this much since Mulan(and vaguely, Brother Bear). The music also seems to permeate the movie; many people that review and find something wrong, find so much song and dance to be odd- but what they don't realize is that the movie itself was always intending to play off of the Jazz era it is set in. If you love music, however, you'll love this even more. The music is what gives all the more charm to it, and it pays off.

The only reason that I am giving this a nine of ten is because I try to never give movies a ten unless it literally changed my life somehow. This came close, though- I was having so many flashbacks to my childhood during the Disney Renaissance. It was nostalgic for me, above all, and classic Disney animation that I will probably end up spending more money on when such moments roll around. I am most certainly going to find the soundtrack, because the music just made it so alive.

Don't be misled by the word cartoon- this is a movie for everyone.

It's Almost There

[JayWolfgramm · 6/10 · 31 July 2023]

Hollywood is always learning the wrong lessons. Case in point, "The Princess and the Frog" underperformed at the box-office. The lesson that Disney took from this was: "Well, I guess people don't want to see 2D animated films anymore." I actually got the opportunity to ask the president of Disney Animation if he foresaw any 2D animated films in the company's future. He responded that, despite being a fan of that style, the company has no plans of going forward with that. That was back in 2012, and true to his word they have not made another traditionally animated feature. That is the wrong lesson to learn, because the animation for this film is beautiful.

Some unfortunate timing and marketing helped spell this film's low return. In this same year we had "Secret of Kells", "Coraline", Fantastic Mr. Fox" and "Up", all some of the greatest animated films in their own right, tough competition to say the least.

OK, enough of setting the context of the situation, how is the film. It's good. The animation, the music and voice acting are all really good. The characters of Dr. Faciler, (voiced excellently by Keith David) and Tiana are some of the all-time Disney greats. Tiana is a great example for young viewers. She has a strong work ethic and a positive attitude. Despite these strengths, she still goes on a character arc, leans a lesson and progresses through the adventure. And it could be that Dr. Faciler is the last great Disney villain for the last 15 years.

The story is just uninspired. The setting of the swamp gets old pretty fast. The premise of our characters getting turned into animals, is one that I, and other audience members, have seen a dozen times too many. And the way circumstances play out is both overly convoluted and cliched.

It is a step in the right direction for Disney animation, it is just a shame that it slips up a little on the way.

Started off well...

[H3ddd · 6/10 · 11 January 2010]

This movie was "cute" but I would definitely not put it into the same category as "The Lion King" or "Beauty and the Beast." My kids really got into the movie at the beginning (their ages are 11, 9 and 6) but started to lose interest about 30 minutes in. The 11 year old didn't really enjoy the movie at all. I would really recommend this movie for younger children (my 3 year old cousin LOVED it!) My mom thought the movie started out well but she lost interest also. She said the storyline of the movie sort of "wandered off."

However, the jazz music was wonderful! The "New Orleans" feel and atmosphere were done exceptionally well, but I don't know how well this would impress a young child.

H

Disney returns to its roots, with a vengeance

[DonFishies · 8/10 · 13 December 2009]

When Toy Story was first unleashed on the scene back in 1995 to resounding success, it was the beginning of the end for traditionally hand drawn animated films. They were a dying breed, and as Pixar picked up steam (and inspired countless rivals), Disney began focusing more on the wave of the future and not of the past. But nostalgia is a funny thing, and can help lead to some of the best ideas. And that is where The Princess and the Frog fits in.

Instead of using the now traditional method of computer animation, The Princess and the Frog is like a trip right back into the early 1990s. Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) is a hardworking woman living in Jazz-era New Orleans with dreams of owning her own restaurant. She is an inspiring individual, but she lacks the wealth needed to buy and restore any buildings. But a chance encounter with a frog, who claims he is actually visiting Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), leads to a kiss that makes Tiana a whole lot more amphibian.

Although it pales in comparison to the simply magnificent Up, The Princess and the Frog is like a dream come true for anyone who has ever enjoyed Disney films. All the adventure, music and wonder that made classics out of Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King is back and in full form. The trailers predicted the return of a Disney dynasty long thought extinct, and thankfully they were right on the money.

While I had some hesitation towards how gimmicky it sounded for the film to finally make a princess out of an African-American, it actually works in the film's favour. Right from the start, we know we have seen predictable animated and live action films that play out exactly the same as this film does. But throwing in this new invention of a different breed of spunky and independent princess, one so closely timed to the election of President Obama, makes the film more original than any of its contemporaries. While Tiana's attitude is a little bothersome at first, it blossoms into something beautifully inspiring for young girls primarily, but for just about anyone who has ever had a dream before. She is every bit as developed as Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Belle or any of the other countless "princesses" Disney has thrown into the mix since 1937.

But while there is a lot of predictability in the script, (even with the clever additions of the likes of a trumpet-playing crocodile aptly named Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley) and a backwoods-speaking firefly named Ray (Jim Cummings)), the film's success rests solely on the visuals on display. Right from the start, we are thrust into this classical looking New Orleans, where even the darkest depths of the bayou seem all the more brightly lit when drawn by Disney animators. There is just such reverence and bravura shown throughout the film that one wonders why hand drawn animation was ditched in the first place. This film only proves how vibrant and imaginative the format can be, and how much easier it lends itself to varying styles. The "Almost There" musical sequence near the beginning of the film is done in a style totally unlike anything else in the film, and is so incredibly well done that you may not even notice. But something like this could never be manipulated or maintained anywhere near as wonderfully in a fully computer generated movie. This speaks volumes for how affective this film is, and that is only in one sequence.

The voice cast is not filled to the brim with well known stars, but each actor voices their part with so much enthusiasm that you may think they all are. Rose, known likely best for her role in the amazingly well choreographed but fatally flawed Dreamgirls, is a clear standout as Tiana. She breathes life into this amazingly well rounded individual unlike anything I ever imagined. She made the audience smile, laugh and weep with her all at once, and never broke a beat when she did it. Much the same goes for Campos, who gives a fun and energetic voice to the off-the-wall prince. Wooley and Cummings are simply excellent in their roles, instantly bringing back memories of treasured Disney characters. Small roles by John Goodman, Terrence Howard and even Oprah Winfrey are all well done.

But this wondrous return to hand drawn animation is not without its problems. The film spends a bit too much time in the middle focusing on Tiana and Naveen, and almost throws away any potential built up for the evil voodoo witch doctor, Dr. Facilier (Keith David). He is a commonly used archetype, but David is just so brilliantly sinister in the role that he practically begs to be shown more than he actually is. His development is stilted, and what easily could have amounted for more pathos and motivation is simply squandered away for more of a love story. It is understandable why it is done, but it is nonetheless disappointing and acts as a bit of a black hole in the story.

Another issue of course, is the underlying stereotypical content in the film. It is not horrendously racist and offensive like I originally assumed, but the conventions are still at play here, and are not entirely glossed over in all instances. Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis) comes off as being played a bit too close to racist conventions, as do many jive-talking individuals who give the twins in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen a run for their money.

But in the end, The Princess and the Frog is a triumph of animation and imagination. It is an enjoyable ride from start to finish, and just may be the start of something beautiful for Disney. Let's just hope that they see the potential in it too.

8/10.

The Frogs are Adorable!

[peachoxide · 6/10 · 23 June 2010]

The Princess and the Frog is actually a really enjoyable family cartoon. It's not the typical Disney cartoon where the princess is born into wealth, falls in love and lives happily ever after. I liked how the message this movie gives kids is totally different, showing that a person can love, be happy, and work to get what they want. Unlike the other Disney cartoons, the main focus of the girl was not a guy but to accomplish her goal, and then she fell in love in the process. All the characters are very lovable (I'm not very fond of the villain, though, in comparison to Ursula, Scar, etc.), the comedy is in the right amount and the story is sweet. It is very different from the older Disney cartoons, and the songs in this one are not as good, but still its a good watch.