Down in New Orleans

The Walt Disney Company returns to its traditional 2-D animation roots with a modern take on the fairy-tale “The Frog Prince.”

Set in New Orleans in the midst of the Jazz Age, the fairy-tale finds its heroine in Tiana (Anika Noni Rose, Dreamgirls). She works two jobs and has no free time, saving money to buy her own restaurant—her late father’s dream. Tiana certainly has the skills to run one, but the cash just isn’t flowing in. Her best Friend, Charlotte (Jennifer cody), then tells her of the impending visit of Prince Naveen of Maldonia (Bruno Campos). He is a party Boy prince who was cut off from the royal funds for his carefree lifestyle. He needs to marry someone with money, like Charlotte—whose father, Big Daddy (John Goodman) is one of the richest men in New Orleans—but he just wants to play Jazz music. He and his butler Lawrence get mixed up with Voodoo magician Dr. Faciler (Keith David), who transforms the prince into a frog and Lawrence into the prince!

Tiana is one step closer to reaching her dream when it is yanked out from under her at Charlotte’s party. Ruining her costume, Charlotte sends her friend up to borrow a clean dress while the Southern Belle dances with “Prince Naveen.” Tiana runs into Naveen the Frog in Charlott’es room and agrees to kiss the cursed prince. But the spell backfires and Tiana ends up as a frog as well before both end up in the Louisiana Bayou. There, they meet Louis (Michael Leon-Wooley), an alligator who just wants to play his trumpet in a jazz band. He agrees to take Tiana and Naveen to Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis), a Voodoo magician as well. The trio gets some help from firefly Ray (Disney Stalwart Jim Cummings) and his family. Mama Odie helps Naveen see that what he wants is Tiana, but the waitress needs a little more encouragement. As Dr. Faciler chases after Naveen, Tiana is about to learn an important Lesson.

While some have condemned “The Princess and the Frog” for the use of Voodoo, it is a rather unique way of retelling the fairy-tale. Setting the story in New Orleans around Mardi Gras added to the supernatural feel the city seems to conjure up. Tiana is a worthy addition to the line of Disney Princesses. She is independent, a hard worker and kind—if a bit too much of a realist and not much of a dreamer. Prince Naveen is in the line of Disney princes—kind at heart, if a bit immature. But like Tiana, he too makes a journey of growth in the bayou. Ray and Louis keep in the tradition of Disney side-kicks.

The movie does have a dark undertone and some parts may frighten young children. Voodoo spirits play a prominent role in the film and part of the climax takes place in a New Orleans’ cemetery, which due to the sea level are above ground crypts. There is also a character death, which may also upset children in the “They shot Bambi’s mom!” vein. The music, composed by Pixar stalwart Randy Newman, mixes a blend of jazz and other Louisiana music to create a feel of New Orleans. This is also the first Disney animated movie since “Beauty and the Beast” where the voice actors also provided the singing voices of their characters. The film is a good time and a must-see for all Disney princesses out there.