Olaf's Frozen Adventure (2017)

A Brilliant Conflict

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

If "Frozen" is anything like this insipid, inane short, I want nothing to do with it. The characters, especially the snowman (Olaf, I presume) were grating and annoying, the music was unmemorable, and the plot was below preschool-level of intelligence. After seeing so many of Pixar's excellent shorts, especially "Bounding", this was horrific. Now I'm glad I never had to sit through "Frozen".

This spin off short of Frozen was shown on television in the UK. The animation is rather good, it zips along in a zany fashion but the songs, well oh dear. It has a rather few of them, not memorable and seems inserted to pad the short film out.Elsa and Anna realise they have no family traditions of their own. Olaf sets out to find some traditions that are celebrated and bring them back to the palace. Unfortunately some wolves get in his way and a hawk takes his fruitcake.Young kids will certainly enjoy this but it left me rather cold.

About the only time I get around to writing a review on a movie is when I see the current reviews are so off base its ridiculous and this certainly fits the criteria! I wonder, did a major writer or producer get fired during the making of this short film that all their little followers decided to organize and write a grip of negative reviews of this short film, or is this simply just a coincidence where only the negative Nancys. decided to turn out and chime in?I thought this short film was hilariously funny, in good taste, and I loved it! Don't let the reviews be the deciding factor on whether or not you see this film, watch it anyways and I'm sure your review ill be more favorable then the ratings lead on.

The fundamental issue with "Olaf's Frozen Adventure" is that it's a cute idea for a ten-minute short stretched to an almost unbearable length for no other reason that "Frozen" got popular. Originally set to air as an ABC Christmas Primetime special, the short was later deemed "theatrical" enough that it was attached to theaters playing the latest Pixar film, "Coco."The short follows the adorable living snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) as he goes on an adventure to find new holiday family traditions upon learning his friends Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) don't have one to call their own. After interviewing the townspeople of Arendelle and collecting pieces of different "traditions" in his sleigh, Olaf seems set... until a disaster strikes and his plans seem to be completely ruined. Will he find a family tradition for his friends? Or perhaps do they already have one and just not realize it yet?Much like its theatrical predecessor, "Olaf's Frozen Adventure" is a stunningly beautiful and exceptionally well-made film from a pure, aesthetic standpoint. Character design and animation work is top- notch, and the atmospheric effects such as snow and ice look wildly true-to-life. The cast continues to charm, and it actually boasts some really fun moments, including answering a lingering question leftover from the original film about what happens when Olaf gets too hot.The issue is that the film is just too darned long for its own good. With some clever writing, this could have easily been worked down into a simple, sweet and efficient eight or ten-minute short based around two or three back-to-back songs. And it would have been all the better for it. It feels like writer Jac Schaeffer and the songwriting team are really stretching the material to hit "TV Special" length, and as a result, there's a lot of moments that feel shoehorned and inorganic. Only about half the jokes land with anything other than a flat thud, and outside of the stellar finale (which I will not spoil), the melodies and lyrics lack that catchy snap that the songs of the original film had.I also do feel the need to make an important note for people who are planning on seeing the movie "Coco", to which "Olaf's Frozen Adventure" is attached. This movie is well over twenty minutes, and I've known a number of people who have been irritated by this fact, as it significantly lengthens the amount of time they're in the theater and might interfere with plans afterwords. In addition to the standard fifteen or twenty minutes or previews and commercials, this short basically means that "Coco" will not begin for nearly forty-five minutes after the scheduled showtime. Please be aware and plan ahead. However, this fact is not something I am taking into account for my review- I am judging the film on its own merits."Olaf's Frozen Adventure" is overlong and a bit half-baked. And I can definitely see its unwieldy length turning off many audiences. But the animation is as gorgeous as ever, the cast continues to tug at your heartstrings and it does have just enough good gags and charming melodies to keep you invested. Even if it is really only an extended commercial for "Frozen 2." So I'm giving it a slightly above average 6 out of 10. Worth checking out once. Just don't expect a whole lot out of it.