Susan Granger’s review of “The Princess and the Frog” (Disney)
Not since “The Little Mermaid” have Disney animators delivered such a delightful fairy tale musical with a decidedly fanciful twist. In the Brothers Grimm fable, the princess kisses a frog that turns into a handsome prince. But this isn’t that classic story.
In 1920s New Orleans, vain, obnoxious Prince Naveen of Maldonia (voiced by Bruce Campos) is turned into a frog by an evil witch doctor, Dr. Facilier (voiced by Keith David), he’s not the only one. And when spunky Tiana, a hard-working waitress who dreams of having her own restaurant, agrees to kiss him so that he can become human again, she’s transformed into a frog too!
“There’s no way I’m kissing a frog and eating a bug in the same day,” Tiana croaks indignantly. Determined to reverse the curse, the amphibians hop off to find Mama Odie (voiced by Jennifer Lewis), an ancient voodoo priestess. Along the way, they befriend jazz-obsessed Louis (voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley), a hefty alligator who’d love to be human and play trumpet on a riverboat, and romantic Ray (voiced by Jim Cummings), a love-struck Cajun firefly with a heart as big as the bayou.
Complications occur with Tiana’s friend (voice by Jennifer Cody), daughter of the wealthy Mardi Gras king (voiced by John Goodman). Plus there’s a backstory with Tiana’s parents (voiced by Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard), who taught her that – while it’s fine to wish upon a star – hard work is what makes dreams come true.
Anika Noni Rose (“Dreamgirls”) is Disney’s first African-American princess, following in the footsteps of Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas and Mulan. Directors John Musker and Ron Clements, who wrote the clever script with Rob Edwards, adroitly deliver the message that you should always pursue your heart’s desire and “Only thing important is what’s under the skin,” a concept that’s gloriously illustrated with traditional 2-D hand-drawn animation and amplified by Randy Newman’s catchy songs.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Princess and the Frog” is a spicy, heart-warming 9, sprinkled with Creole zing and with dashes of Dixieland, gospel and zydeco.
