Frozen *½ (PG) Disney’s animated musical adventures can be spectacular, but nothing lasts forever, which may include the allegedly cryogenically-preserved founder of the empire. Walt’s legacy dwindles with disappointing features like this. The musical numbers are pleasant, if overly derivative of others. The artwork is splendid, whether viewed in 3-D or not. But the screenplay is a tedious mess, leading to ill-defined characters in more of a patchwork quilt than a heartfelt tale. That’s the missing touch of yesteryear.
A princess is cursed with a Midas-like touch that turns everything, living and otherwise, into ice. Her parents decide to lock her in a tower, without any explanation to her loving younger sister. When the older one comes of age after the parents have passed on to their own celluloid heaven, it’s time to open the castle for her coronation. Disaster follows. Not only for the kingdom and its subjects, but the audience. As the young ladies and their cartoon cohorts plod through an insipid script, stopping occasionally for a burst into song, or attempt at comic relief, one wonders what happened to the writers who once delivered charming tales and colorful characters to Disney’s legions of gifted animators and tunesmiths, resulting in movies worthy of multiple viewings. Better to rent DVDs of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast than to endure this one. Unless it’s bedtime, when such snoozefests might prove useful to beleaguered parents. (11/27/13)