Cats

This review may contain spoilers!

I cannot erase this film from my mind; I wish I could. I would give Cats a 1/10.

Cats is a musical film about the Jellicle cats, a tribe of cats who decide yearly one of their member to ascend to the Heaviside Layer in order to live a new and better life. In general Cats as a film serves itself best with its music. The soundtrack for the film is a wild and bizarre assortment of genres, styles and chorus pieces that show off a variety of talent and can proudly boast that no two musical performances are ever truly alike.

Taylor Swift, who played Bombalurina, is an incredibly thrilling antagonist who lures her audience into a false sense of security before springing her trap; Swift puts it all into her performance which makes her this iconic and intimidating threatening presence for her scene. Robbie Fairchild, who played Munkustrap, is a really intriguing guide for the film and one of the only performers who actually helps make sense of this mess; Fairchild's role deals with a lot of exposition and character introductions which he actually manages in a very engaging way. Judi Dench, who played Old Deuteronomy, is a very regal figure in this film; I felt Dench really embodied that sophisticated leadership role amongst the cats. Naoimh Morgan and Danny Collins, who played Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie, have a great mischievous chemistry together; this pair are incredibly playful and devious in their performance which embodies the spirit of their roles well. Jason Derulo, who played Rum Tum Tugger, gives one of the most high energy winning performances of the film; Derulo proves that he is an entertainer with lots to give in a musical number. Steven McRae, who played Skimbleshanks, is another performer who sets a really fun tone in his character song; McRae plays to an uplifting melody that manages to pep a bit of energy back into the film. 

However, the best performance came from Jennifer Hudson, who played Grizabella. A lot of the performances that stood out in this film came from musical performers because they embraced the performance aspect of what they were doing, constantly playing things up to 110 percent. What set Hudson above the rest of these was the fact she actually allowed an aspect of her ability as an actress to shine through. Grizabella felt like a role with a story when I watched her, she was lonely and vulnerable. Hudson made you see the despair and pain her character experienced, she did a very good job of crafting empathy. If nothing else sold me on what she was doing then it would be criminal for me not to say that 'Memory' was by far the best musical performance of the film.

When I was very young one of the first performances my Mum took me to see live was Cats. It was a brilliant experience because I had never seen a stage operate with such technical craft and the musical performances were unlike anything I had ever heard. I didn't always understand what was going on but it wasn't about that, Cats was this exceptional on-stage experience that you lived in while the cast performed it. This film in a lot of ways was also an experience, a very very horrible experience. This film doesn't do a very good job at framing its narrative or characters at all, everything just turns into a bumbling blend between musical numbers with little time taken to actually allow the audience connect with the story or characters. The film really felt like this empty void of a piece to watch, with very little to say and a dismal effort at joining things together in a coherent manner. The cinematography used throughout lacks direction and uses a disappointing array of stationary shots, the editing alone sets a slow pace that lingers far too long on boring visuals. The special effects are the films significant flaw, the designs for the various animal people is absurdly bad, the animal characteristics are poorly applied and even sporadically missing at times. The production design for this film has a number of set pieces that look plain awful and remind you that this is all designed on a sound stage. Cats also boasts some of the worst wire work I've seen in a professional film in a very long time. This is nothing short of a lazy, mish-mash venture that disappoints at nearly every turn.

Francesca Hayward, who played Victoria, has to be one of the most boring leads I've ever seen in a musical film; Hayward never makes you care about or be interested in her character which is a pity as she is clearly supposed to be the vehicle through which the audience sees the world of Cats. Laurie Davidson, who played Mr Mistoffelees, is a dull attempt at a romantic interest who sits squarely in the background more than he ought; Davidson's big musical number is a big eye-roller of a piece and he never quite lives up to his leading role. Idris Elba, who played Macavity, is meant to be the big bad of the film but falls flat consistently; the film sparsely uses Elba and you get a sense that he doesn't always know the best direction to take the small appearances he's given. James Corden, who played Bustopher Jones, doesn't do anything outside of his usual persona; Corden is most comfortable when he's breaking the tone of a scene and hamming it up. Rebel Wilson, who played Jennyanydots, has an awkward sense of humour that feels off colour with the greater film; Wilson just feels out of touch with the rest of the film and never finds even footing in a scene. Ian McKellen, who played Gus The Theatre Cat, comes across as confused and utterly lost in this film; McKellen's performance doesn't show much effort and he seems like he's goofing around or lost in the middle of a scene most of the time. Ray Winstone, who played Growltiger, is the dull lackey to Elba's dull antagonist; the pair often ham things up and play quite over the top in their scenes.

Jumanji: The Next Level

This review may contain spoilers!

If you want a fun way to round out 2019, this action-comedy is just the thing. I would give Jumanji: The Next Level a 7.5/10.

Jumanji: The Next Level sees Bethany, Martha and Fridge return to the world of Jumanji in order to save a missing Spencer. The catch? Spencer's grandfather and his elderly friend are in tow, taking up two of the more useful avatars in the game. This film has a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality that really does work surprisingly well. The world of Jumanji feels so much more expansive, with incredible new locations, perils, villains and character avatars. You're excited to get lost with the main cast and see what dangers or mysteries they can get entangled in, which is everything a film like Jumanji should be doing. I could feel myself being drawn in because I started counting out how many lives characters had before they gave us the visual cue, or I was getting frustrated at characters who weren't using their character to the full potential and in those high adrenaline action pieces my energy levels were right up. This Jumanji film pushes itself as nothing other than an experience, and one well worth going through. I really enjoyed seeing how character dynamics played out; a lot of the roles were presented very differently by the cast as they were inhabited by different 'players. Sometimes when a film goes the body swap route it's not for the better but this film found a nice safe zone where this aspect enhanced the narrative. The cinematography is really impressive, setting up nice wides to show off amazing set pieces and effects but also swinging into motion for those more turbulent fast-paced moments. The special effects are fantastic and really come as a stroke above the first film, a lot of the CGI creatures like the hyenas or mandrills are terrifying.

Karen Gillan, who played Ruby Roundhouse, is really interesting as more of the lead this time around; Gillan is tasked with guiding and controlling how scenes play out a lot and she constantly shows just how up to the task she is. Madison Iseman, Morgan Turner, Alex Wolff and Ser'Darius Blain, who played Bethany Walker, Martha Kaply, Spencer Gilpin and Anthony 'Fridge' Johnson respectively, are a diverse friendship group that function really well in terms of their chemistry together; Iseman in particular stands out for her no holds barred approach to the adventure in how she finds her own way into the game. Dwayne Johnson, who played Dr Smolder Bravestone, looks like he's found a comedic outlet he is really enjoying in this film; Johnson's take on Devito's role is really fun because he comes across as this really entertaining, witless loose cannon. Jack Black, who played Professor Sheldon 'Shelly' Oberon, has to handle a number of characters in this film and finds the fun in each of them; yet the film is not complete until Black and the role of Bethany get to reunite and steal the show in the last act. Danny Devito, who played Edward 'Eddie' Gilpin, is this smart-mouthed bitter grandparent who comes across as an interesting new addition to the film; Devito goes through a big change in this film and develops his role's outlook on the world nicely. Kevin Hart, who played Franklin 'Mouse' Finbar, does a very good take on Glover's insightful yet slow-talking role; Hart has a few more emotional scenes than he got in the first film which really hold your attention. Dania Ramirez, who played Flame, has some hilarious scenes as this lovestruck NPC, Ramirez really leans into the melodramatic passionate love which make for some fun scenes between her and Johnson. Rhys Darby, who played Nigel Billingsley, is one of the best people this film has at dealing heavy amounts of exposition; Darby really sets the scene well and invites you into the world of Jumanji. Nick Jonas, who played Jefferson 'Seaplane' McDonough, is a very charismatic audience favourite the moment he appears back onscreen; Jonas' appearance as a father in this sequel means you really feel the gravity of the dangerous situations he puts himself into. Danny Glover, who played Milo Walker, is a very kindly, compassionate role that plays well against Devito; the two have an interesting friendship that has some very heated moments in their scenes together.

However, the best performance came from Awkwafina, who played Ming Fleetfoot. As a newcomer to a big blockbuster action-comedy series it's not always the easiest to make your mark, but to outshine some of the seasoned performers in this was no small feat. Awkwafina is responsible for playing two player roles in the film: Spencer and Eddie. As Spencer you got a lot of that more reserved, unsure of self persona that makes this role a bit of an outsider. Awkwafina did a good job of showing how outside of the group Spencer was feeling, how lost in himself he was. Yet when the roles changed around and Eddie was who Awkwafina was playing you really got to see her acting chops. She had all of Devito's physical mannerisms down to perfection and did an incredible job with his accent. Her role had a level of comedy that was extremely natural and didn't push the envelope too much. Awkwafina is a really versatile actress with a lot of excellent projects worth looking forward to on the horizon.

Jumanji: The Next Level is a fun filled ride that doesn't drive itself to do much different from the first film. The entire Jumanji adventure is split up into a structure that feels almost identical to the first film in execution. There is enough new content to satisfy but the bare bones of the piece is extremely repetitive to watch. There is also an aspect to the film that relies heavily on an animal character playing a main role and the film banked too much on it. A main character loses their voice as a result and as a result their last scene of the film isn't one that has the impact it should. I think more than anything the film loses itself on it's driving motivation, Spencer's feelings of disconnect and inferiority. By the end of the film Spencer's issues are wrapped up extremely easily and you don't really believe he learned his lesson even though the film is telling you he has. The score for the film doesn't do a lot that feels different from the last film and even the soundtrack doesn't really take any new risks.

Rory McCann, who played Jurgen The Brutal, suffers from what both Jumanji films have suffered from: an inability to construct an interesting video game antagonist; the blank indifference of these villainous roles grates against the significance of them squaring off against the heroes.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

This review may contain spoilers!

Far from the satisfying conclusion to the trilogy audiences had been hoping for, this still manages to be an entertaining time. I would give Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker a 6.5/10.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker is the concluding chapter in this latest trilogy of Star Wars film, in which Rey and the heroes of the Resistance must find a way to stop Kylo Ren, the First Order and their new mysterious ally. I really enjoyed how this film took the time to actually explore and introduce Star Wars to us again; new ships, weapons, species and planets all made for interesting touchstones that enhanced the atmosphere of this feature. I was really into the journey the film took the audience on, seeing a small group of main characters all working together to find hidden artefacts that would help them succeed in their struggle against the First Order created a much needed 'back to basics' narrative. As a character Rey's arc felt really well explored here; her incredible connection to the force, her lineage and also her strength of character in the face of overwhelming odds. It was also really heartening to see Star Wars bring back a classic antagonist so that the franchise actually had an intimidating villain at the helm once again, Kylo's character has suffered a lot over the course of these films and the reintroduction of the Emperor was a much needed plot device. The cinematography does wonders for the piece, as always capturing those epic landscapes and effects heavy battles. The special effects in turn are consistent throughout, right from force powers and lightsabers to a variety of aliens, droids and star ships. The score for this film is nothing short of powerful and classic perfection, John Williams work on these films have created some immortal pieces of music that will never be forgotten.

Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, does a really good job of falling back into that grizzled stoic Jedi Master role; Hamill's ability to be a reassuring reluctant guide has served this trilogy well and it was the most satisfying scene in the world watching him lift that X-Wing. Daisy Ridley, who played Rey, has really served this trilogy well as a protagonist and brings her role to a nice well-rounded conclusion; Ridley has this optimism and determination in her role that sees her overcome any obstacle in her way. Oscar Isaac, who played Poe Dameron, is this high adrenaline, cocky risk-taker that feels like the next Han Solo in the making; Isaac gets to explore his character's self-doubt about being a leader in this film which was the strength of his arc. Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO, finally gets to function as a role in this film as opposed to a background droid which is a real treat to watch; seeing Daniels trade morose barbs and make self-sacrificing actions in service of others was a great reminder why I love this droid character so much. Richard E. Grant, who played General Pryde, was a nice minor antagonist that allowed a genuine menacing presence the General Hux character never accomplished; Grant's merciless cold-hearted commander feels like a nice throwback to Peter Cushing's Tarkin. Keri Russell, who played Zorii Bliss, is quietly one of my favourite new aspects introduced in this film; Russell manages to create one of those notorious underworld criminals with a heart of gold that do so well in the Star Wars series. Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian, steps back into this role like he was playing it yesterday; Williams has that quiet self-assured confidence that set him apart with a more seasoned degree of wisdom that makes him more intriguing than ever. Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo, manages to perform so well in his one scene cameo that he might just have one of the best scenes of the film; Ford has this nice genuine moment of compassion with his onscreen son that shows a deep connection this franchise has been waiting to fulfil. 

However, the best performance came from Ian McDiarmid, who played Emperor Palpatine. McDiarmid's return to the Star Wars universe is a powerful reminder that great, classic roles have come from this franchise from the sheer talent of those playing them. The Emperor we see in this film is different in a manner of ways; he feels like a shade of a being, a shadow of darkness waiting to be reanimated. I personally loved this return to a more ritualistic and plotting Emperor, one who has fallen upon the ancient ways of the Sith and uses them to live on. McDiarmid thrives in this role because he is so good at portraying the scenes in which he attempts to exploit and manipulate the weaknesses of those he seeks to control. The Emperor is one of the most powerful antagonists to emerge from this franchise and we have McDiarmid to thank for that.

The Rise Of Skywalker is near perfect when you look at the technical components but the plot may as well be swiss cheese with that many holes. Throughout the feature there seems to be a real sense of trying to find a loose connection between all three films in the trilogy, you really get a sense that there wasn't a shared vision for what these films were supposed to be and it showed. Right from the opening crawl we have the Emperor very abruptly introduced, a good move for the film but one that comes out of nowhere that is supported by a lack of foreshadowing and a need to up the ante for this last instalment. Characters have very confusing arcs considering where they were at in previous films; suddenly whether or not Finn is force sensitive bears an importance to the plot again, Kylo Ren goes through a very quick unconvincing change of heart and Poe suddenly has a history of spice smuggling. These messy attempts to make the characters more dynamic feels very too little too late and only makes the roles themselves less interesting. The film tries so hard to be a legacy film and pay tribute to what has come before while passing the torch off to the new cast of characters that you wind up with some very corny scenes, even right up to the last line of the film. Rise Of Skywalker also suffers from the same problem Last Jedi faced in that it introduces new characters without pausing to consider if the new characters enhance the story, more often than not these new roles or droids take up unwanted screen time and feel like a burden to the plot.

Carrie Fisher, who played Leia Organa, has never quite managed to make a convincing comeback in the same way the rest of her former co-stars did; This film didn't really need Fisher to succeed and by including her through archive footage only punctuated her lack of presence. Adam Driver, who played Kylo Ren, started this trilogy extremely well and somewhere along the way lost this role completely; Driver lacks the ability to convincingly show the inner struggle his character journeys through and his ultimate return to the light side comes off as pretty heavy handed because of this. John Boyega, who played Finn, is another character who was great in the Force Awakens but has struggled to find his feet since; Boyega's Finn has been shoved into so many different functions and missions at this point that when you hear him start to harp on about how he follows his 'feelings' you realise they really didn't have a clue what his role was. Naomi Ackie, who played Jannah, is this odd deserter character who makes a very sudden introduction in the back half of the film; a new character introduction that late in the film is a tall order and Ackie fails to impress herself upon the audience for that final act. Domhnall Gleeson, who played General Hux, is a pale shadow of an antagonist now with his inner turmoil with Kylo Ren dialled back to a petty rivalry; Gleeson is shoved into one of the more forgettable subplots and written out of the film quicker than he deserved. Lupita Nyong'o, who played Maz Kanata, is another role that had a lot of potential who got shoved into the background come the third film; Nyong'o never gets to try her quirky persona or wise remarks anymore and is shoved in more as a creature feature than anything else. Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico, seems to be a character this film wants to forget about; formerly part of the main cast Tran's role is now no more significant than some of the speaking X-wing pilots and Reistance leaders you often see in the background.

Knives Out

This review may contain spoilers!

Up until now I've never seriously been grabbed by a Rian Johnson film but what I witnessed with this is nothing short of one of the greatest 'whodunnit?' thrillers of the decade. I would give Knives Out a 9.5/10.

Knives Out is the investigation into the death of renowned author, Harlan Thrombey, and the chaotic effect his demise has on his eccentric, turbulent family. This film wastes no time is delving deep into the investigation, introducing us to the colourful cast of characters, the lies they spin and their motivations for wanting Harlan dead. Yet the film makes it very clear in no small amount of time that the identity of the murderer is not to be the final act twist, in fact a significant aspect of this film is toying with audience expectation. What would normally come to light by the end of the film appears early in and the intricate family politics that is at the heart of the films conflict takes centre stage. A fine thing too because these are some of the most interesting characters I've seen onscreen this year. Knives Out had me tense, on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing, in fits of laughter and, by the end, immensely satisfied. The cinematography is this exceptionally unique visual style, there isn't a shot in this that doesn't feel bold and impactful. The editing sets a smooth pace throughout and has some really fun transitions that speak to the films style. The score hearkens back to old sleuth films, there is a lot of inspiration and homage here that only heightens the intrigue you feel throughout.

Chris Evans, who played Ransom Drysdale, was this entitled stuck up trust fund kid who you loved to hate; Evans does a good job at playing with audience expectations in regards to whose side his role is on. Ana De Armas, who played Marta Cabrera, is one of my favourite upcoming actresses and the perfect pick for this films protagonist; de Armas finds the nervous hesitant qualities about her role and shapes them into something strengthened by the struggles she faces over the course of the story. Jamie Lee Curtis, who played Linda Drysdale, is an imposing matriarch in this intimidating family; her fondness for her late father and tendency to reflect upon what made them close marks one of the best subplots and reveals in the film. Michael Shannon, who played Walt Thrombey, is a more slippery and weak-willed character; Shannon is desperate to retain his rank in the family and eternally scared at the prospect of losing his standing. Don Johnson, who played Richard Drysdale, is a boisterous character who tends to speak before he acts; Johnson plays well to his role's desire for power but understanding/jealousy that he will never hold the power his onscreen wife does. Toni Collette, who played Joni Thrombey, is a real wild card and one of the funnier satirical characters; Collette's portrayal of a new wave 'health guru' driven by greed is a nice parody of real life women, such as Gwyneth Paltrow and her Goop range. LaKeith Stanfield and Noah Segan, who played Lieutenant Elliot and Trooper Wagner respectively, are really strong foils to the intensive investigator Craig portrays; Segan in particular in hilarious as the fanboy policeman enamoured by the entire case. Christopher Plummer, who played Harlan Thrombey, is a very eloquent and commanding figure at the head of this chaotic family; Plummer and de Armas have a really lovely onscreen friendship that feels warm and compassionate. Katherine Langford, who played Meg Thrombey, feels like a very charismatic and likeable persona when first she arrives onscreen; I was really impressed with the dark turn Langford took as her onscreen family's greed consumed her role too.

However, the best performance came from Daniel Craig, who played Benoit Blanc. This role pulls you in slowly at first, coming across as casual and mildly eccentric before unveiling his Sherlock Holmes-esque genius. There is a lot of inspiration taken from famous fictional detectives in Blanc, from his unique vocabulary to the way he builds up to a revelation or a direct line of questioning. I felt Craig entered scenes and was really capable of setting his cast mates on edge, even inciting fear in a convincing manner. Craig was wholly motivated by the truth and entirely moral, even if the film turned you against him from time to time. An instant classic of a super sleuth, right up there with Holmes and Poirot.

The transition from the second to third act of Knives Out is probably the only weak link, admittedly the action picks up and it turns to a bit of a fugitive piece for a moment which didn't blend in as well with the whole. Yet it is undoubtedly a minor crinkle in an otherwise perfect whole.

Jaeden Martell, who played Jacob Thrombey, is a bit of a background ornament for most of the film; Martell's soft demeanour often means he gets lost in the key scenes he is in. Edi Patterson, who played Fran, is a very oddball role compared to the rest of the cast; Patterson pushes the envelope a lot and crafts a role that feels very comical and at odds with what the film is trying to achieve.

The Good Liar

This review may contain spoilers!

This is one of those classic con artist films that is only enhanced by the stellar character driven performances from its two veteran lead performers. I would give The Good Liar an 8/10.

The Good Liar follows career conman, Roy Courtnay, as he attempts to swindle his latest mark, widow Betty McLeish, out of her millions. Yet Roy must work with all his tricks to pull off such a caper and soon learns that some secrets are better left in the past. This film is one of those exquisite examples of character driven narratives, these are two very complex individuals who complement one another nicely. Roy is a serpent, throws around lies convincingly and manages to appear charming on the surface. He's a strong contrast to Betty who comes across as a naive older widow, somewhat alone in the world and desperately seeking company. I was really drawn to the way the film slowly peels back the layers on this pair and allows you to examine them further. Roy grows more and more vile while also appearing vulnerable; while Betty has a cunning streak to her that plays nicely into the back half of the film. The cinematography is spectacular, very intimate and captures every minute detail of these powerful character performances. The score for the film crafts a brilliant web of intrigue, it is deeply reminiscent of the melancholy film noirs of old.

Ian McKellen, who played Roy Courtnay, was a slippery and vile character throughout the feature; just the lengths this role goes to for his own personal gain makes this perhaps one of the most interesting and vile roles McKellen has played in years. Russell Tovey, who played Stephen, is a very principled role who cares greatly for Mirren's Betty; Tovey's approach to unmasking Roy is brash and without forethought at times making him an easy rival for the central antagonist. Jim Carter, who played Vincent, has a really solid onscreen chemistry with McKellen and the two run a convincing con partnership; Carter has this great moment in the film where he meets a crossroads and has to act out the struggle he's facing. Laurie Davidson and Phil Dunster, who played Hans Taub and Roy Courtnay respectively, work in tandem well to show a pair of young men hardened by the war; Davidson in particular does a good at showing a man deeply jaded and disenchanted with his own country's identity, as well as his own. Spike White and Nell Williams, who played younger Hans Taub and Lili respectively, do a great job as young performers at portraying one of the most horrifying and vulnerable scenes of the film; White's portrayal of this twisted, malevolent young boy makes everything about Taub/Courtnay come together.

However, the best performance came from Helen Mirren, who played Betty McLeish. Betty comes across as a little naive and unsure at first, cautious when it comes to the dating game but hoping desperately to find companionship. Mirren does a very good job at showing an open sense of both vulnerability and compassion when it comes to this role, you understand her entirely and tend to care a lot about her. Yet as more of Roy's past emerges and his con begins to look more and more likely to succeed the character of Betty develops too. A distance suddenly appears between Roy and Betty and history between the two becomes very apparent. One of the final monologues Mirren gives reveals everything about the pair and is one of the most satisfying character performances I have seen this year.

The Good Liar hinges a lot on two plot point: the big reveal and these flashbacks to the 1940s. The big reveal for the film is incredibly satisfying to see play out but the film doesn't do a great job of concealing what is coming, and the ultimate way things play out fails to surprise in a big way. Furthermore, the film journeys back to the 1940s twice in the film but it takes over half the film to start doing this, making these very important scenes feel quite jarring to watch. The editing for the film sets a slow pace, which certainly made sense for the tone of the piece but there were some inevitable moments where things dragged.

Mark Lewis Jones and Lucian Msamati, who played Bryn and Beni respectively, are these stoic background roles who are only present as a visual con to showcase the criminal element of this film; Msamati in particular never displays a great range of emotion or style in his role.

Frozen 2

This review may contain spoilers!

While at times confusing for younger audience members there is no denying this is a brilliant sequel to Frozen. I would give Frozen 2 an 8.5/10.

Frozen 2 is the sequel to 2013's Frozen and reunites us with sisters, Elsa and Anna, as they confront another threat stemming from Elsa's magical abilities. In this film the whole gang must venture to a hidden enchanted wood in search of a means to save Arendelle and discover the mysterious voice calling to Elsa. I was really transported by the narrative for this film, there is something really significant in how the story is presented; almost like watching a myth unfold before you. The struggle between the people of Arendelle and the native people of the enchanted wood is a great conflict for the film to be built around and the responsibility to resolve this interesting motivation for our two protagonists. I really enjoyed watching Elsa master the four spirits of the elements as she embraced her powers in her quest for the truth. A nice parallel to this was having Anna learn to let go of Elsa and be less protective of her, the trust these sisters place in one another is the only bond that ultimately frees everyone from the curse that has afflicted the land. The comedy scattered throughout is side-splittingly good too, I feel that they really found ways to make every quirky character really shine and have their moment in the spotlight. They manage to up the ante with the animation as well, mainly through the imagery of the setting and the elements. Frozen 2 crafts a landscape that feels immersive and real, the water, fire and wind sequences in particular have a stunning depth of detail to them. The music for this film highlights the strength of the Frozen films; I really liked the balance of the comedic genius in 'Lost in the Woods' alongside internal character pieces like 'Into the Unknown'.

Kristen Bell, who voiced Anna, is the proverbial heart of this onscreen family; Bell really delivers on that zany fun humour while also playing to the deeply concerned and protective sister figure. Idina Menzel, who voiced Elsa, has to shoulder a lot more stoic seriousness than the rest of the cast which is no mean thing; Menzel's singing is exceptional and her character driven journey is nothing short of an emotional ride. Josh Gad, who voiced Olaf, feels like he's been given a lot more free rein to sculpt this role; Gad makes Olaf consistently funny and entertaining in every scene he's in. Sterling K. Brown, who voiced Mattias, is one of the few new roles who really leaves a noteworthy impression; his immediate loyalty and fond reminiscing about his home makes him a role to love.

However, the best performance came from Jonathan Groff, who voiced Kristoff. I was genuinely surprised at how much this film turned me around on Kristoff as a character, in the last film he wasn't given the opportunity to shine in the same manner as the rest of the cast. This movie does a complete 180 on that and allows us to see all the potential Groff can bring to a role. You still have the awkward, bumbling aspect that makes Kristoff a good foil for Anna, but there's so much more. I was really entertained by the opportunity Kristoff was given to prove he could be one of the funniest in the cast with his line delivery and Sven imitations. The fact that Kristoff has one of the stand out musical performances in the film comes as a real surprise and a treat after the poor pickings he got in the first film.

This film at times errs in how it treats the diverse plots going on here; Elsa's storyline is this very serious investigative journey into her powers and the history of this ancient curse while most of the other characters wind up down much funnier subplots. This often makes it feel like there's a bit of a disconnect between the characters and the stories the film is trying to convey, particularly notable between Elsa and Anna at times. A lot of the subplots often feel like they're there to fill time or aren't considered important in the grand scheme of the narrative as well. Kristoff trying to propose to Anna is one of the funniest elements of the film but it rarely feels like it matters, the exact same thing can be said for Olaf 'growing up' or the introduction of the new characters to the series. It is also worth noting that some of the younger viewers I took with me found the film confusing at times leaving me to wonder if Disney might have missed their target audience a bit with this latest instalment. 

Evan Rachel Wood and Alfred Molina, who voiced Iduna and Agnarr respectively, don't lend any special noteworthy characteristics to these two parental roles; as in the first film the most noteworthy thing about Iduna and Agnarr is their absence. Martha Plimpton, who voiced Yelena, doesn't manage to embody a strong and memorable leader; Plimpton's dry delivery leaves her entirely eclipsed by Brown's introduction. Jason Ritter and Rachel Matthews, who voiced Ryder and Honeymaren respectively, are some of the most forgettable new roles in this film; these characters feel tacked on to stretch the runtime out a bit and fill the cast but ultimately the hold no sway on the narrative at all. Ciaran Hinds, who voiced Pabbie, doesn't ever really justify bringing the trolls back into this film; the vague warnings of this figure just come across as empty foreshadowing and you don't get anything new or exciting about his portrayal.