Set in the Scandinavian town, Arendell, “Frozen” tells the story of two sisters trying to discover their place in the world, despite the hardships they face, such as isolation, separation, and a powerful ice curse. After Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) sends the kingdom into an eternal winter, her younger sister, Anna (Kristen Bell), goes on a daring mission, with the help of a few new-found friends, to break the spell.

As a dedicated Disney devotee, I looked forward to viewing its latest film and came to the theater with high expectations. I expected to find epic graphics, strong storytelling, and, of course, wonderful music. Directors Jennifer Lee (“Wreck It Ralph”) and Chris Buck (“Tarzan”) brought their A-game to the screen and did not disappoint. The Disney team created a realistic sister relationship that didn’t follow the classic “everyone gets along” stereotype that is often placed with the company. Instead, Disney isn’t afraid to focus on the darker side of the classical “Snow Queen” fairy tale, on which the movie was based. In his book, Hans Christian Andersen explores the theme of good verses evil through the eyes of two children. “Frozen” also focuses on this struggle by pitting sisters Anna and  Elsa against each other, an unexpected complexity the family-friendly company incorporated.

The story also featured strong secondary characters such as Anna’s “true love” Hans (Santino Fontana), helpful ice-picker Kristoff ( Jonathan Groff), and silly snowman Olaf ( Josh Gad). These characters gave viewers a nice dose of the lovable classic Disney characteristics that they are used to. They also brought a comedic relief to the weighty story line with their funny antics and songs.

The choices for Elsa and Anna’s voices were also perfectly picked. Bell provided the voice for Anna. I wasn’t sure what to expect from her, as she doesn’t have a large musical background, but I was blown away by her singing voice. It was a perfect match for the sweet and optimistic personality of the character. Menzel, most well-known for her role as Elphaba in the original cast of “Wicked”, was a perfect match for voicing Elsa, as she needed to have a strong and powerful voice.

The film features some songs with a Scandinavian feel, such as “Vuelie” performed by men’s vocal ensemble, Cantus. Being a Disney film, there were also some fun, sing-along songs like “In Summer,” a musical number sung by Olaf, the talking snowman who longs to feel the warmth of the sun. These song made me smile and gave a lighthearted feel which balanced out the heavier scenes of the movie. My favorite songs, however, moved the story line along like “Do You Want to Built a Snowman?” a heartfelt plea by Anna for her older sister to interact with her and “Let it Go,” Elsa’s song of independence. The setting of “Frozen” adds to the majestic feel of the story, with its royal kingdom, rocky mountain passages, and snowy landscapes. The Disney Animation team did a great job of creating a gleaming world of ice and snow with shades of blue and white, as well as intense detail to the snowflakes. Overall, “Frozen” was a fun film with captivating characters, amazing animation and a sweet story line that is perfect for the holidays. I look forward to making a second trip to the theatres to view it again and will be purchasing this movie as soon as it comes out on DVD sometime in the spring of 2014.