The "Cult of Frozen"

[ckelly14]

Anyone read the most recent Time magazine article entitled the "Cult of Frozen"?
Interesting article. To sum up, the author says it's exceedingly popular but no one knows why!

The cover (can't find the actual article to link):

http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20140224,00.html

Thought I'd share this after reading the number of strategies employed at the Elsa and Anna Meet and Greet...

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

1. It's the first very good Disney animated movie musical in 20 years.
2. It was written by the writer of Avenue Q and Book of Mormon, who came out of the BMI Workshop, who knows how to write a musical.
3. No damsel in distress saved by a guy. The girls are saved by each other.

Not that hard to figure out.

 

[DitkaFan]

1. It's the first very good Disney animated movie musical in 20 years.
2. It was written by the writer of Avenue Q and Book of Mormon, who came out of the BMI Workshop, who knows how to write a musical.
3. No damsel in distress saved by a guy. The girls are saved by each other.

Not that hard to figure out.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

1. It's the first very good Disney animated movie musical in 20 years.
2. It was written by the writer of Avenue Q and Book of Mormon, who came out of the BMI Workshop, who knows how to write a musical.
3. No damsel in distress saved by a guy. The girls are saved by each other.

Not that hard to figure out.

Agree! Not that hard to figure out! Whenever I listen to the soundtrack, it strikes me how much it sounds like a Broadway musical. The quality of the music is outstanding. I liked the music of Tangled and Princess and the Frog, but neither of those movies have that Broadway sound. I've had "In Summer" bouncing around in my head all day.

And DD and I totally dig the fact that the sisters save each other and aren't reliant upon some guy to save them.

 

[Magpie]

I can think of plenty of reasons why.

Good music.

Engaging characters.

Epic animation.

A touch of ever-so-slightly naughty irreverence (ex: "What size are his feet?" "Oh, THAT doesn't matter!"), and the fun way they poke at Disney tropes (ex: I laughed out loud when they disposed of the parents).

No one gets married. Everyone, including the villain, has understandable motivations.

Social messages ("Girls, defend your sisters!" "Careful, your prince might have nefarious motives," and "Don't let anyone repress you... but don't get carried away, either!") that practically anyone can get behind.

Plus, Elsa has phenomenal cosmic powers AND a fabulous living space!

 

[ShannonMB]

^^ Very nice, Magpie!

 

[BrianL]

I dunno...I kinda don't get it either. I mean, I liked Frozen just fine, but felt the music was mediocre (it was no Alan Menkin). As a musical fantasy, I felt Tangled was much better. Visually they are similar, and it is surprising to me that Tangled, while popular, never reached these heights. I mean, I'm glad for it. It's nice to see Disney back on top of the animation game where they belong. Still, for me, Frozen isn't quite that perfect.

 

[surferdave]

I haven't read the article, but the premise is more creditable than you guys are admitting. I don't think anybody predicted the movie would be the juggernaut it turned out to be.

Now, if anybody out there predicted The Lego Movie would be a runaway hit, I'll be impressed.

 

[bumbershoot]

Bummer I can't read the story. But I assume that it's NOT related to the blogs out there who are saying Frozen has hidden themes and is evil?

2. It was written by the writer of Avenue Q and Book of Mormon, who came out of the BMI Workshop, who knows how to write a musical.

Ah, which is interesting given the nature of the main "the movie is evil" blog I read, or tried to read, about it....

 

[BrianL]

I haven't read the article, but the premise is more creditable than you guys are admitting. I don't think anybody predicted the movie would be the juggernaut it turned out to be.

Now, if anybody out there predicted The Lego Movie would be a runaway hit, I'll be impressed.

Yeah, Lego movie was pretty great, better than I thought it would be. I was astounded when I saw the box office take for it! I'm sure they expected a tidy little return, but it has performed beyond expectations (as has Frozen). Again, I'm happy for it, but still kinda surprised. Both Disney and WB must be super happy!

 

[JRawkSteady]

1. It's the first very good Disney animated movie musical in 20 years.
2. It was written by the writer of Avenue Q and Book of Mormon, who came out of the BMI Workshop, who knows how to write a musical.
3. No damsel in distress saved by a guy. The girls are saved by each other.

Not that hard to figure out.

Yup. This indeed!

 

[JoshuaShaw]

I dunno...I kinda don't get it either. I mean, I liked Frozen just fine, but felt the music was mediocre (it was no Alan Menkin). As a musical fantasy, I felt Tangled was much better. Visually they are similar, and it is surprising to me that Tangled, while popular, never reached these heights. I mean, I'm glad for it. It's nice to see Disney back on top of the animation game where they belong. Still, for me, Frozen isn't quite that perfect.

I haven't read the article, but the premise is more creditable than you guys are admitting. I don't think anybody predicted the movie would be the juggernaut it turned out to be.

Now, if anybody out there predicted The Lego Movie would be a runaway hit, I'll be impressed.

Agreed. Frozen is a good movie, no doubt, and no one is questioning its success. However, nearly $1 billion worldwide and still playing in theaters three months after it was released? No one saw that happening, not even Disney and there's no way to know exactly why that is. Some of you cite its quality, which is of course part of it, but lots of great movies don't make tons of money and lots of bad ones do, so there are definitely intangible qualities to movies that make predicting their success hard to do. I think Frozen has these intangible qualities. It's a good movie, but what is it about it that has made it a phenomenon?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Agreed. Frozen is a good movie, no doubt, and no one is questioning its success. However, nearly $1 billion worldwide and still playing in theaters three months after it was released? No one saw that happening, not even Disney and there's no way to know exactly why that is. Some of you cite its quality, which is of course part of it, but lots of great movies don't make tons of money and lots of bad ones do, so there are definitely intangible qualities to movies that make predicting their success hard to do. I think Frozen has these intangible qualities. It's a good movie, but what is it about it that has made it a phenomenon?

The other thing I can think of is release date. Late December during one of the coldest winters in history in much of the US: parents flocking to the movies with their children who are on vacation. Over and over and over.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

The other thing I can think of is release date. Late December during one of the coldest winters in history in much of the US: parents flocking to the movies with their children who are on vacation. Over and over and over.

I think timing is a bigger factor than people often consider. In the family entertainment category, Frozen didn't have a whole lot of competition for long stretches of the season. Positive word of mouth + few other options = $$$

 

[ckelly14]

I do think the "experts" always underestimate quality movies that can be shared with the whole family...

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think that the song "Let It Go" played a big role in the movie's success. It's so darn catchy, you probably heard it before you saw the movie.

 

[mom2rtk]

I do think the "experts" always underestimate quality movies that can be shared with the whole family...

Sort of like TSMM?

I think that the song "Let It Go" played a big role in the movie's success. It's so darn catchy, you probably heard it before you saw the movie.

For me, the Disney movies always come back to the music. I had the soundtrack on in the car this morning and now can't quit humming that song.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I do think the "experts" always underestimate quality movies that can be shared with the whole family...

I was shocked that my dad went to see it with my DD. I have no idea what the last animated movie was my dad watched (prior to Frozen) on video let alone in the theater. My DD and I had plans to go see it over Thanksgiving weekend. DD was at home with my parents the day before Thanksgiving and when I got home from work, the first words out of her mouth were "guess what I got to go see today?" Not only did my dad go with my mom and DD to see it, he really LIKED the movie. Total shocker for me.

 

[btk2333]

For me, the Disney movies always come back to the music. I had the soundtrack on in the car this morning and now can't quit humming that song.

Yeah the music is a big part of it- I'm a 26 year old man and I listen to the soundtrack straight through at least once a week on drives to work/ workout runs.

 

[mcd2745]

I'll tell you what....there has to be a bunch of high-level Disney execs fuming over all the lost revenue they are missing out on because of the lack of available Frozen merchandise (where Disney makes the real money). If there were Frozen t-shirts and other available merchandise for my DD, we would have spent a lot money. Every Disney store out there, Disneystore.com, all the shops at WDW & DLR...none of them have any of the merchandise people are dying to give Disney thier money for.