In between work, class, and all my other crazy life things, I was able to take off a day and spend it with my boyfriend for my birthday which was also Valentine's day but not really. Let me explain:
My birthday is the 13th, the day before, and since that puts a lot of pressure on a significant other to do nice things double time, we sort of combine them. But since it was the 15th it wasn't technically either. so I got nice presents including a massive box of chocolates that he tried to trick me into thinking was a gun (the chocolates are delicious, but I would have preferred a gun. Maybe one that shoots chocolate?). But he was also nice enough to come see Frozen with me, which I was more excited about than him. But he seemed to like it besides there being too much singing. I'll be honest, there were a few songs I didn't like that were kind of dumb, but sometimes that happens in a Disney movie.
The point of this post is, everyone is wrong about Frozen. There's a lot of feminist articles and posts about how it's all about the girls saving everyone instead of the big strong men, but really, that's not what it's about at all.
(By the way, I'm going to use some inside jokes from the movie and maybe a few minor spoilers, but for the most part I try my best not to ruin it for those who haven't seen it. Really, you shouldjust go see the movie because it's amazing.)
A lot of the focus is on Elsa. She has this power that everyone in her life tries to control and hide, and it's handled in a totally wrong way, and she finally breaks free and goes off on her own. It's a very "I don't care what they think" moment which seems to be what the world is all about these days. Let's not care what everyone thinks, as long as we're true to ourselves.
NO. No, no, no, a thousand no's.
frozen is about relationships. Selfless love. I'm going to do everything for you to make you happy, even if it means: I'll end up melting, I'll end up having to leave you, or I'll end up turning to ice.
Olaf is a snowman that comes to life. He might be a classic comic relief, but he's also the classic best friend. And isn't that the ultimate role of comic relief? They get blown up, gross things on them, knocked around, impaled (he he he... olaf got impaled.), and yet they stick around because they're the supporting character. the wing man. And at some point, they have that moment of truth where they say something totally deep and philosophical like "some people are worth melting for". and then everyone is sitting there in their super comfy theater seats thinking, "whoa. I want to be the comic relief character. He's the one who has life figured out! Let's all be like the snowman who wants summer. He just wants everyone to be happy. And he's super chill about it (pun completely intended)."
Cristoph is the real guy. He's a hard working, don't give up, climb the mountain, sell the ice, talks to a reindeer, man. He's such a man. I like men that work hard. I think someone has figured that out... But Cristoph isn't the hero. He isn't the sidekick. He's... get ready for your mind to be blown...
The teammate. What?? Do you see how he and Anna work together? forget finishing each others sandwiches, because princes are lame. Anna realizes she's not going to make it alone, so she buys Cristoph's ice climbing supplies, then acts all tough and authoritative to get him to help her. Cristoph is all cool and thinks he's special, but really he can't just leave a princess to freeze in the snow. So they take off together. they trust that the one will at least not kill the other, so that's cute. but they end up watching each other's backs, which leads to complete trust and companionship. and isn't that what real relationships are about? Forget the hot guy, forget the money, the flowers, the dates, the... uhhh.... you know... that stuff doesn't matter. Cristoph and anna have it all figured out right here. Just take care of each other. Anna isn't the hero, Cristoph isn't the hero, they both are. Because they work together.
Anna is the one who doesn't have anything figured out. for the most sure character in the movie, she's the most confused, most lost of them all. Like Cher from the 90s movie Clueless. I have a strange obsession with that movie...
But Anna wants to play in the castle. She wants to meet the prince and get married. She's going to save her sister. But really, she has no clue what she's doing. The prince (SPOILERS) is wrong for her. she almost freezes to death (the large man in lederhosen doesn't nearly get enough credit in this movie), she nearly dies trying to save her sister, and she comes to realize she can't make it on her own. She needs the people around her. She needs Cristoph to save her from her misadventures. She needs her sister to love her as a sister. And she needs Olaf to make her laugh once in a while and not feel quite as helpless and alone. Plus who doesn't need Olaf?
But at the end, she realizes that all that matters is her sister. That everyone around her is there for her. she finally stops to look around and realize that everyone loves her unconditionally. And it happens at a oment that's almost too late, but not quite.
But I guess you'll have to watch the movie to find out.
