It’s always nice to see a movie set in New Orleans. It’s even better when they’re accurate in the way they portray the city and its people. Disney’s 2009 film, “The Princess and the Frog,” I have to say, did a pretty good job of doing so, down to the detail of St. Louis Cathedral’s uncommonly used Roman numeral four on the clock. Yes, check it out sometime. It’s really IIII instead of IV.
The movie is set in 1920’s New Orleans and follows the life of a waitress named Tiana, a girl who dreams of one day becoming a chef with a restaurant of her own. When she is hired to make beignets at a masquerade ball honoring a visiting prince, Naveen, things get complicated for Tiana. Naveen meets Dr. Facilier, a voodoo bokor, who promises to grant him his every wish but instead deceives him, turning him into a frog. As Tiana is wishing upon a star, she spots the frog, whom she makes a deal with. He convinces her to kiss him, believing that it will break the curse. To their surprise, Naveen is not returned to his former self, but Tiana is also transformed into a frog. When this occurs, the two set out to find a way to return to their former selves.
From the start of the movie I was very impressed with the way the film represented the city. I have seen many movies that swear all residents of New Orleans live in one of two places-a huge plantation or the swamp. I applaud them for showing several locations outside of these areas. And although most of us have never seen the entire city break into spontaneous song, I must say I have been in New Orleans and seen a solo person on a street corner randomly dancing unaccompanied by music more than once. I thought the movie gave a true feeling of what it is like to visit the French Quarter.
The film had a great diversity of characters in it as well. From Tiana, Disney’s first African American princess, to Raymond, the lovesick Cajun firefly, the city’s culture and flavor was accurately represented. A mixture of Creole and Haitian influences are also seen throughout the movie. All the little things that make New Orleans unique were there.
The movie also had a good message in it. It showed that it is good to have dreams, but hard work is also required to reach your goals.
I found two aspects of this movie very appealing. The first was that the humor could be received by a vast audience of many different ages. The second was that the film was done in the style of old school animation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to a Pixar, CG movie, but it’s nice to see that old style of animation resurface every now and then.
I would probably tell you to go see any movie based on New Orleans just because I’m biased in my love of the city. If a movie comes out about New Orleans, I usually go see it in hopes I can help push the profits up and sway them to make more movies here. This is a genuinely good movie though. If you haven’t seen it yet, do so. Trust me-the movie is well-worth seeing for Raymond, the firefly, alone. Go see it, and you’ll understand.
