--- title: "The Princess and the Frog: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-princess-and-the-frog/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-princess-and-the-frog" critics_score: 70 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Princess and the Frog (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 70 from 17 reviews: 8 positive, 8 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics are pleased to see it, and the pleasure is chiefly in seeing Disney draw by hand again. The reviews praise the craftsmanship of the animation, the vivid New Orleans setting and the eccentric supporting cast, with the villain Dr Facilier and his voodoo sequences singled out more than once, though a few warn they may be too frightening for the youngest viewers. The warmest notices call it charming, fresh and a return to form. The reservations gather around the songs and the story. Several critics find Randy Newman’s numbers derivative or forgettable, and the plot too familiar to surprise, with sluggish and sentimental stretches along the way. The spread is wide: Variety finds it diverting rather than captivating, Slant Magazine is troubled by its handling of race, and Eye for Film argues the ending undoes the more challenging ideas set up earlier. Almost everyone agrees the animation itself is a success. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2009. The critic calls it the best Disney animated film in years and predicts a strong audience response. He praises its vibrant storytelling, richly drawn New Orleans setting, and the warmth of its hand-drawn animation. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/princess-frog-film-review-93780/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2009. Sharkey gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, calling it charming, fresh, and beautifully executed. She especially praises its hand-drawn animation and exuberant musical numbers. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-25-la-et-princess25-2009nov25-story.html) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2010. French finds the romantic comedy delightful and praises its return to traditional hand-drawn animation. He singles out the exquisite graphic work, Randy Newman's lilting songs, and the frightening sequences featuring Dr Facilier's black arts. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jan/31/the-princess-and-the-frog-review-philip-french) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2010. The review is strongly positive, calling the film a lively success for Disney’s return to hand-drawn animation. It especially praises the small comic details, including Mama Odie’s pet snake adding Tabasco to the gumbo. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/the-princess-and-the-frog-u-1882241.html) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2008. O’Hara calls it a return to form: a sincere, entertaining Disney fairy tale. She particularly praises the beautiful hand-drawn animation and catchy songs, while noting it may be too scary for very young children. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/princess-frog-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film charming and visually delightful, though less accomplished than Disney’s classics. They praise its careful animation while faulting its sluggish stretches and overly sentimental tone. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/disney-finds-its-simple-charm-in-the-princess-and-the-frog-7418425.html) ## Screen Daily — Mike Goodridge Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2009. The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict is not visible. The paywall also obscures what the critic singled out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-princess-and-the-frog/5008524.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2009. The page returned only a JavaScript and ad-blocker notice, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. No praise or complaint from the review is available in the provided page text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/movies/25frog.html?_r=0) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 3/5. The review finds the film uneven, with true love arriving predictably after a bumpy start. It singles out Tiana as Disney’s first African-American animated lead as a notable feature. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-eczdma/the-princess-and-the-frog/) ## Time Out Rating 3/5. 25 November 2009. The review sees the film as a blend of Disney tradition and change. It singles out its handling of fairy-tale conventions as a strength. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-princess-and-the-frog-1) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2/4. 25 November 2009. Schager finds the film’s promise of princess spectacle only intermittently fulfilled, with its racial storytelling choices particularly troubling. He praises a striking early sequence whose hand-drawn animation takes on a stylized 1920s jazz-age look. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-princess-and-the-frog/) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2009. Chang finds the film diverting but not captivating, and says it falls short of Disney’s former glory. He praises the hand-drawn animation’s craftsmanship and the visual inspiration of New Orleans, while faulting the songs for feeling derivative. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/digital/reviews/the-princess-and-the-frog-1200477289/) ## HeyUGuys — Jon Lyus Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2010. The critic gives the film a strongly positive verdict, celebrating its lively return to hand-drawn Disney animation. They single out the craftsmanship, New Orleans music, and charming characters, while noting that the familiar plot is unlikely to surprise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/review-the-princess-and-the-frog/) ## Collider — Jennifer Smith Fi1m's normalised score 86/100 (inferred from the text). 24 March 2010. Smith finds the film a funny, inventive and enjoyable addition to Disney’s animated canon. She especially praises the vivid voodoo imagery and the memorable supporting characters, including Ray and Charlotte. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-princess-and-the-frog-blu-ray-review/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2010. The critic finds the film a welcome, nostalgic return to hand-drawn Disney animation, despite some shortcomings. They praise its craftsmanship, vibrant New Orleans setting and eccentric supporting characters, while noting that Tiana and the songs are less successful. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a191729/the-princess-and-the-frog/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 3/5. 29 January 2010. The critic finds it an entertaining, charming return to hand-drawn Disney animation, though not a classic. He praises the vivid animation and memorable characters, especially villain Facilier, while faulting the songs and story. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-princess-and-the-frog-review/) ## Eye for Film — Anton Bitel Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 30 January 2010. The critic finds the film’s critique of Disney wish-fulfilment intriguing but ultimately undermined by its retreat to convention. They praise its animation while criticizing the ending for undoing the more challenging values developed earlier. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-princess-and-the-frog-film-review-by-anton-bitel) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-princess-and-the-frog.md