This thoughtful, joyous production has brought class back to Disney feature animation whether it's hand-drawn or CG. Directors Ron Clements and John Musker (THE LITTLE MERMAID) have gone back and captured the essence of the studio's past and made a new film that moves them into the future as well.
Tiana (Anika Noni Rose, DREAMGIRLS) has dreamed of owning her own restaurant her whole life. However, as a poor girl from New Orleans, she has to work multiple jobs to save up the money. She is the polar opposite of her friend Charlotte (Jennifer Cody), a pampered "Southern princess" who just wishes on a star for her prince to come. Then one day her prince does arrive. Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos, TV's NIP/TUCK) is a charming jazz lover who has been cut off by his parents. In comes Dr. Facilier (Keith David, PLATOON), the voodoo doctor. He sees Naveen and his disgruntled manservant Lawrence (Peter Bartlett, TV's ONE LIFE TO LIVE) as the perfect opportunity to steal Charlotte's money and take over New Orleans.
Dr. Facilier's plot transforms Naveen into a frog. Naveen sees Tiana in a ball gown and mistakes her for a princess, so when they kiss she is in turn transformed into a frog instead. So Tiana and Naveen head out to meet Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis, CARS), a 100+ year old voodoo priestess, who might have the answers to changes them back. Along the way they get some help from the jazz trumpet playing Louis the alligator (Michael-Leon Wooley, DREAMGIRLS) and the lovesick Cajun firefly Raymond (Jim Cummings, the voice of Winnie the Pooh).
The story puts twists on many of Disney's past conventions. Tiana is like BEAUTY AND THE BEAST's Belle in that she is smart and independent, but she is also a hard worker who embodies the notion that wishing on stars isn't enough. That's a strong counter to the Disney masterpiece PINOCCHIO. In many Disney princess features, the prince is the dashing young man who comes to the rescue, but here Prince Naveen is a pampered pretty boy who must learn to stand on his own. Likewise Charlotte is a wonderful critique of the whole pampered princess lifestyle that Disney's own princess line of marketing has embodied at times. The film reboots the princess concept for a modern, more reality based fantasy.
In many ways, the film pays homage to all the Disney 2D animated features that came before it. A kiss must happen before midnight. Fun-loving animals help the main characters. Even a dead parent makes an appearance. Ray is like a cousin of THE RESCUERS' dragonfly Evinrude. He's however a lot more talkative and a lot more memorable. He serves not only as comic relief, but also a truly dedicated friend who embodies the idea that no dream is too lofty as long as you believe in yourself. Mama Odie is a blind fairy godmother if I've ever seen one. Lawrence is like THE ARISTOCATS' conniving British butler, but with more depth. The Disney artists take all these elements and stir them up like gumbo. They taste liked they were meant to be together.
As for the Tiana being the first African-American princess, the issue of race is not given the short shrift. The 1920s setting makes it hard for Tiana to be taken seriously as a business owner. Her being judged by her appearance is mirrored in the story of Louis who desperately wants to play jazz, but is never given a chance because he's a gator. Additionally, the music pays tribute to the black pioneering jazz musicians of the era.
Speaking of the music, Randy Newman delvers some wonderful jazz tunes. I especially enjoyed the various twists on the "Almost There" song and felt Mama Odie's "Dig a Little Deeper" was electric and captured the tone and theme of the film very well.
While I won't call it a masterpiece, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG stands as one of the best princess movies Disney has ever made. The sometimes obvious themes and cultural clichés keep it from having the subtlety of some of the best of Pixar and Disney, but it never gets preachy. It has changed what a Disney princess is in a good way. Tiana is a princess any parent would want their kid to emulate. She is determined and intelligent and she learns that one has to balance drive with living life at the same time. While the film might be set in the 20th century, she is certainly the princess of the 21st.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
