Frozen 2 has already sat comfortably at the top of the box office for a few weekends now, meaning that people are again flocking to see Anna and Elsa. Though most animated movies are targeted at children, there are still bound to be adults who want to participate in the magic of Disney. Is there something to take away from Frozen 2 as an adult, however? While some one-dimensional animated movies can fall flat, Frozen 2 does not - and there is plenty for adults to learn from in the film.
1. Men should be able to freely express their feelings.
Beginning with Kristoff, we see a direct rejection of toxic masculinity that is rare for Disney's prince-type characters. Not only is Kristoff openly flustered and nervous for most of the film because he's worried about messing up his proposal to Anna, he sings about his complicated emotions on the subject in a powerful ballad reminiscent of '80s pop. His character teaches an important lesson about encouraging men to express their feelings in a world that often asks them to conceal them in order to preserve some fictional definition of masculinity.
2. Both partners should be there for each other equally.
Other than Kristoff acting as a model for male expression of emotion, he acts as a model example of a partner. Two key moments of this in the movie came when Kristoff rescued Anna and, instead of assuming that he knew what needed to be done next and acting as a knight in shining armor, he told her, "I'm here. What do you need?" It's a simple line, but it's a great example of a supportive partner asking their significant other what they could do to help while openly confirming that they are there to support them. When Anna is insecure, feeling like she hurt Kristoff and thus made him dislike her, toward the end of the movie, Kristoff maturely responds, "My love is not fragile." This kind of reassurance is important in any relationship, and it's a lesson that adults should say something to affirm their partner in moments of insecurity.
3. It's important to prioritize our own mental health above all.
In the beginning, Elsa is at a place where she doesn't want to put the new life that she's built since the last movie on the line - even for her own well-being - as she hears "a call" that is pulling her away from her kingdom. In many ways, Elsa's predicament can be the same as many adults who feel like they need to please others more than they need to prioritize their own well-being. In the end, Elsa chooses to pass her responsibilities as queen onto Anna so that she can focus on doing what is best for her. This makes a better result for both the family and the kingdom because both sisters can be where they need to be. While prioritizing oneself often feels like a selfish act, Elsa proves that it can be a thing of power and freedom.
4. It's OK to take time to recover.
In a lot of ways, Anna has the most moving song of the film with "The Next Right Thing." The song is a tearjerker that describes Anna's descent into hopelessness and experience with depression upon what is presumed to be Elsa's death. Anna, who has dealt with a lot of abandonment-related traumas, seems to shut down in the song, citing feelings of numbness and emptiness. She is able to pull herself forward with the titular motto of going on "and do the next right thing." The lyrics of this song are particularly poetic, telling the story of Anna "stumbling blindly toward the light" and trying to heal herself when it feels impossible. For many, Anna's feelings of isolation and depression are relatable, but the goal of simply aiming to do the next right thing toward a happier future self is inspiring. Anna's song clearly articulates that the journey toward recovery is not instantaneous, and that one must dedicate time and small actions to recover.
