It’s official: Disney has managed to recreate the magic. Anna and Elsa are back with the whole gang, and Frozen fever is back in full force.  

The royal sisters don’t feel quite the same as they did six years ago; though it’s subtle, they have both grown as people. This time around, Anna develops into a protagonist that young girls around the world have always wanted to see on screen. She’s funny, strong, emotional and expertly voiced by Kristen Bell. 

Elsa transforms into a cold self-sacrificial hero, as one does when they feel that they’re to blame for every bad thing that happens to an entire country, but she thaws slowly throughout the movie. Kristoff is back too, but the filmmakers make the wise decision to send him on a separate path than Anna so that she tackles the climax’s challenges on her own. All the characters are given the space they deserve, with clever writing weaving together the stories of many interconnected characters. 

The plot of this movie makes little sense, but at least it’s simple. The sisters are trying to clear the impenetrable mist around an enchanted forest inhabited by magical peoples. There’s also something involving earth, water, wind and fire, a conflict which causes the novelty of the plot to take a sharp nosedive. There are a couple of scenes that stretch a little past the realm of possibility, but the story flows well overall. The tone never dips into anything too serious and there are jokes peppered throughout the movie that help break the tension. The progression of the story is absolutely phenomenal, especially the attention to detail. Every scene felt carefully and meaningfully crafted.

The topic of songs is unavoidable when “Frozen” comes up. The music of “Frozen 2” is good, but it’s not quite on the same level as the first soundtrack. “Frozen 2” features “Into the Unknown,” a bona fide anthem with a relatively fresh sound, and a few other hilarious tunes that are unfortunately not catchy enough to be memorable. However, at the risk of giving too much away, “Lost in the Woods” is hands down the best part of the entire movie.    

Where “Frozen” goes, drama follows, and it’s been near impossible to miss those who are touting the franchise as a feminist milestone from a major production company. While it is hardly a revolution — Anna jumps over an entire canyon in heels and doesn’t twist an ankle — it does represent a pushing of the envelope. This movie doesn’t have anything as dramatic as the Hans plot twist or the true love exposé of the original, but it features well-rounded female characters who are the heroes in their own stories. By toning down the drama, Disney manages to make the movie more realistic and less alienating to older viewers. 

“Frozen” was an absolute pop culture phenomenon when it came out, and this is a worthy sequel. While the soundtrack doesn’t quite live up to expectations, the beauty of returning to Arrendale and reuniting with Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven for another adventure makes “Frozen 2” worth the watch.