I LOVED The Princess and the Frog!

I had today off from work (supposedly to Christmas shop but I’m braindead and have no idea what to get anyone) so WM and I went to see The Princess and the Frog.

We got our tickets, got our popcorn and headed toward theater 9. One of the trailers featured a guy (Gerard Butler, my love) in prison, eating his last meal. It seemed a bit dark and long for a trailer. Then the cast started dropping the F-bomb. We then realized (after far too long) that we were actually in theater 8, watching Law Abiding Citizen.

Ooops.

Anyway, here is everything I knew about the movie going in: First Black Princess, 2D animation, New Orleans/Katrina, Oprah.

I really hope EVERYONE can get past all of that (some well-deserved, some a bit over the top) hype and see the movie for what it is: a BEAUTIFUL, FUN, FUNNY and POIGNANT story of Tiana, a hard-working girl from New Orleans who wants to make her own dream come true. Wishing on a star comes secondary.

The movie’s opening card is a Steamboat Willie animation with the “Walt Disney Animation” title. Very nice, since this is Disney’s first classic 2D animated feature since 2004′s Home on the Range. Remember that one? No? That’s okay. I didn’t either.

The music was catchy New Orleans-style jazz. I admit to doing a bit of dancing in my seat the whole way through. I wasn’t the only one.

Looking for a message in this Disney Classic? There are quite a few:

• Working hard vs. partying
• Haves vs. have nots
• Being boy crazy vs. keeping a level head
• Good magic vs. bad magic
• Working for your dreams vs. wishing for your dreams
• What you WANT vs. what you NEED

But funny enough, I never felt beaten over the head with any of these themes. For example, when Tiana and her mother left Big Daddy’s house via streetcar, you see a change from the mansions to the smaller working-class housing. You immediately know Tiana’s family doesn’t have as much as Big Daddy and Lottie. But Tiana’s family doesn’t whine about being poorer or having to work harder. They just are and do.

And yes, Virginia, there is a happy ending.

But I need to tell you something every review I’ve read failed to mention: there will be tears. Serious sad tears. At one point, everyone in our theater was sniffling or crying. I cried, WM cried, kids cried. If your youngling can’t bounce back quickly from a very sad moment to a very happy one, then I’d actually suggest you want a bit until they can.

I loved this movie. I will buy it when it comes out on DVD and own it forever.