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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 15 November 2019
Review: An evolved iceman? Kristoff

steps up in ‘Frozen 2’

By JOCELYN NOVECK cause you're Idina Menzel, complex storyline that will
Associated Press duh. But "Lost in the Woods," definitely be harder to fol-
Picture this: A princess is in sung by the effortlessly lov- low for younger fans, there's
distress. It looks bad. Her able Jonathan Groff, might plenty to like, especially the
dashing young man rides just be the true heir to "Let lush visuals. Directors Jenni-
up in the nick of time and it Go," at least in terms of its fer Lee and Chris Buck give
says, “Here I am to save addictiveness. An angsty us an animated ocean
you, my dear!” Actually, he love ballad, performed in that looks incredibly real,
doesn’t. He just says, “I'm retro glam rock style with a more mature, autumn-
here. Whaddya need?” intentionally cheesy mu- hued color palette, and a
This image released by Disney shows Elsa, voiced by Idina Men- She has a plan, and off sic video moves, a rein- magical forest surrounded
zel, in a scene from "Frozen 2." they go. deer chorus and Kristoff's by a wall of mist. There are
Associated Press This little exchange be- blond mane blowing in the new creatures, from im-
tween Kristoff and Anna wind ... what’s not to love? posing “earth giants” to
may not be the showiest in “You’re my only landmark, a sweet little salamander.
“Frozen 2,” the long-await- so I’m lost in the woods,” he There’s an interesting new
ed sequel to that little 2013 sings. Sigh. character played by Ster-
Disney movie that won two It’s a highlight of the film. ling K. Brown, a man from
Oscars, broke box office The rest, you ask? Well, it’s Elsa and Anna’s past. And
records and caused count- got quality, and it’s got there are seven new origi-
less young girls (and boys) quantity (HOW many ani- nal songs by the estimable
to find their inner belting mators are listed in those songwriting team of Kristen
voice. closing credits?) It just Anderson-Lopez and Bob-
But if you're a parent look- doesn’t have the exciting, by Lopez, including a fit-
ing for your young girl or boy lightning-in-a-bottle feel ting anthem for each main
to learn good relationship that the wonderful original character.
behavior, they could do had. Perhaps that was too We begin, of course, in Ar-
well to watch Kristoff, who much to ask. Certainly, the endelle. In flashback, we
has now become probably main characters, who have see Elsa and Anna as young
the most evolved iceman aged three years (though girls, being put to bed by
this side of Arendelle or all we humans have aged their mother, Queen Iduna
of Scandinavia or maybe twice that — drat!) are in (Evan Rachel Wood). In
the entire European Union, good voice, led by Men- her soothing lullaby, “All is
pre- or post-Brexit. zel's majestic Elsa and Kris- Found,” there’s a message
Not that a man is the an- ten Bell's spunky Anna. Olaf that will shape the story.
swer to Elsa and Anna’s the snowman (Josh Gad) is Back to present time: It's au-
problems. As in the first back, too, and he's learned tumn, a season we haven't
movie, the sisters are still how to read, and he has seen yet in the kingdom.
doing it for themselves. questions. (And nerve! At Elsa has gained some
And they’re wearing the one point he channels an control over her magic.
pants — literally. Gowns “American Idol” judge and All seems well. “Some
give way to more practical pronounces Elsa’s singing Things Never Change,”
attire, even a royal wetsuit. “a little pitchy.”) the four main characters
But, folks: Kristoff has the And if it all seems less ef- sing, in what amounts to
best song, too. Sorry, Elsa! fortless, more workmanlike a Broadway-style opening
You sound great — be- than the first film, with a very number.q

Maya Angelou, RuPaul among

California Hall of Fame class

— Author Maya Angelou A. Córdova, author Jeanne
and performer RuPaul are Wakatsuki Houston, civil
among the inductees for rights leader James M.
the next class of California Lawson Jr. and winemaker
Hall of Fame. Helen M. Turley.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and The class will be inducted
his wife, Jennifer Siebel during a ceremony on
Newsom, announced the Dec. 10, though Angelou
In this Nov. 21, 2008, file photo, inductees on Wednesday. died in 2014.
poet Maya Angelou smiles at The class includes soccer The California Hall of Fame
an event in Washington. An- player and two-time World started in 2006, and induct-
gelou, who died in 2014, is Cup champion Brandi ees are selected each year
among several inductees for
the next class of the California Chastain, skateboarder by the governor and first
Hall of Fame. and entrepreneur Tony partner.
Associated Press Hawk, actor and come- Newsom is a Democrat
dian George Lopez, chef and says the inductees
Associated Press and restaurateur Wolfgang “embody California’s inno-
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Puck, astrophysicist France vative spirit.”q