Tiana seems to be the exact opposite of a Disney Princess. She was not born into royalty, she does not dream of some prince to make everything perfect for her, and she doesn't spend hours singing about how there must be something more. Instead, she works dilligently so that one day, she may open her very own restaurant. She has almost no social life, so it seems, as her only interest in Mardi Gras is serving Gumbo.
Meanwhile, we have the visiting prince. He's foolish, lazy, and has spent his last dollar. He has been cut off from his family fortune. Needing money, he makes a deal with a witch doctor known as the Shadow Man. Apparently, he didn't understand the subtext to such bold statements as 'I see green in your future" and the various hop puns.
It's only a matter of time before Tiana comes into contact with Prince Naveen, who convinces her to give him on kiss, so that he may turn human. But there is a catch- Tiana is no Princess. Only a Princess can change him back, after all. Seems that frog-kissing by non royalty has unexpected side effects. This is the extent of what you have seen in the previews for the last year and a half.
Tiana and Naveen search for a kinder, gentler Voodoo practicioner in hopes for a way to change them back. What else should be expected then them falling in love. Still, it's not the what, but the how. In a different movie, there would be one moment where the hearts and minds change. This film manages to show it gradually, between comical interludes by the necessary talking animal companions (a poetic cajun firefly, and an Alligator who wants to play Jazz).
This movie, while it suffers from being not a return to the classic Disney film but a return to formula, works. It's light, positive, and very well put together. Though I find I'm more interested in seeing the characters interact, and any time the story progresses I feel they were not done with the previous moment. Some bad jokes meant to appease the immature male audience take away from more tender moments.
I doubt this film is the beginning of a new Disney Renaissance. It's a very flawed, imperfect film. Perhaps it needed just a few more (or less) rewrites to reach the level of some of the classics I remember watching as a kid.
Well, at least we got a good little film out of it regardless.
*** out of ****
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