THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG is full of stereotypes.   At times I had to fast forward because the songs didn’t hold my interest and I could still get the gist of the plot (which isn’t a good thing if fast forwarding means you can still get the basic plot).   You have the traditional movie stereotypes of how you should remain in your place, the playboy who finds himself, the moustache twirling villain (the evil voodoo man), and the dim-witted frog trappers to name a few.   It is interesting to see a Disney animated film take place in New Orleans and combine the music of the place in the music score.  

The story revolves around Tiana who dreams of opening her own restraunt that she works two waitress jobs to save up for the down payment on a place.  Meanwhile, her lifelong bubbly rich blond friend wants to marry herself a prince  (Prince Naveen) who happens to be cut-off from money by his parents (sand he's black).   The prince and his manservant comes across an evil Voodoo priest (Doctor Facilier) who curses them.   Naveen becomes a frog and he kisses Tiana mistaking her for a princess (and she also ends up becoming a frog).

Tiana and Naveen have an adventure into the bayou and back.  They meet a Jazz horn blowing croc, a blind voodoo priestess, and a firefly.   They search for a way to become human again while Doctor Facilier plots to take over New Orleans.

I'll think I'll stick with Japanese animation, a good Pixar film, and old classic Disney animated films.   THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG was a little too thin and boring for my tastes.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The DVD has an audio commentary by the two co-writers/co-directors.

The deleted scenes are in storyboard form even though one has test animation for the alligator.  Each scene has commentary (before each scene) by the co-directors.

Also on the disc are a music video and a Princess Portraits Game.

The Blu-Ray has many featurettes-

THE MAKING OF A PRINCESS

CONJURING THE VILLAIN

THE RETURN TO HAND-DRAWN ANIMATION

THE DISNEY LEGACY

DISNEY’S NEWEST PRINCESS

BRINGING LIFE TO ANIMATION

It also has art galleries

FINAL ANALYSIS:   THE PRINCESS AND THE ROG has wonderful hand-drawn animation, but the story just didn't interest me.

this DVD review is (c)3-27-2010 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com