THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

RYAN: I finally, finally, finally saw “The Princess and the Frog” and OMG it’s perfect. You don’t realize how much you miss classic Disney animation storytelling until you see this. It’s so fabulous.

CAROLINE: Take a breath and tell me all about it.

RYAN: It’s just so good at every level – 2D animation is more gorgeous than ever. The details are outstanding. The casting, story, music – it’s all as close to perfect as movies get, you know?

CAROLINE: Well if anyone can make a classic family film, it is Disney. How was Tony winner Anika Noni Rose as the princess?

RYAN: She’s terrific. There’s been much hullabaloo made about the fact she’s the first black Disney princess and it’s all worthy because it’s true and it’s all good. Oprah voices her mom and doesn’t have to sing, TG.

CAROLINE: [laughs’ She is not a singer. Are there any major Under the Sea moments?

RYAN: Not really, and my friend Chuck and I were talking about that afterward. Elton made so many huge moments in “The Lion King” with The Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, etc… Even “The Little Mermaid” had Part of Your World, Kiss the Girl, etc…

CAROLINE: So the songs didn’t really rock?

RYAN: Well, they’re all written by Randy Newman, who hit hard on the “Toy Story” soundtrack. He’s great here and totally appropriate to the New Orleans vibe, where the story takes place, and the animation amps it all up – but I still would have preferred songs by Alan Menken or Stephen Schwartz.

CAROLINE: I guess I’d have to see it to form an opinion or agree, but I see what you’re saying.

RYAN: The secondary characters and critters are all that is so classic Disney and clever, funny, cute and everything.

CAROLINE: What about the villain?

RYAN: So great and creepy and hits up there with the best of them. And oh, the prince!

CAROLINE: You mean the frog?

RYAN: [laughs’ Yes. He’s dashing. But I also loved the message and I have to admit by the time the credits hit, I had the chills, just like I get watching a live Broadway musical.

CAROLINE: I really did wanna see this one, as far as animated movies go. I’m glad it lived up to your high expectations.

— BOTTOM LINE —

RYAN: Disney at its finest, once more. The fabulous message in the film, alongside its large helping of romance and dreams coming true make a well-balanced mix. It’s so worth seeing in the theater. Who knows if it’ll be the last of its kind? If anything, I just hope they keep making these classics.

— RATING —