Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Humor, character reunion overshadows so-so story for fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lego Frozen Northern Lights
What's the Story?
LEGO FROZEN NORTHERN LIGHTS follows royal sisters Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) on their journey to find the elusive aurora borealis, which is inexplicably invisible from their home kingdom of Arendelle. Joined by their friend Kristoff (Jonathan Groff); his reindeer, Sven (Groff again); and the ever-loyal snowman Olaf (Josh Gad), the two princesses clamor across snowy mountains in search of the northern lights. But with Elsa's ice powers on the fritz, the journey becomes surprisingly difficult.
Is It Any Good?
Lego works its now-familiar magic on these fan-favorite characters, adding block-inspired humor to the many movie throwbacks that maintain interest through a fairly mundane storyline. On the heels of Frozen's inspiring journey of self-awareness and a compelling sibling relationship, Lego Frozen Northern Lights is overly simplistic and at times feels more like a means to refreshing famous lines ("let it go," "the first time in forever," and "the cold never bothered me anyway" are cleverly placed in the dialogue) than a stand-alone hit. On the upside, the involvement of the original voice cast is a big plus.
That said, fans -- especially young ones -- will want to watch, and Lego Frozen Northern Lights will entertain them with many Olaf mishaps (made all the funnier now that he's made of blocks and a removable carrot nose) and some funny block humor. And though the plot languishes in spots, cameos from many of the movie's supporting characters help keep viewers' interest until the end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Lego Frozen Northern Lights' messages about loyalty and friendship. Why are Kristoff and Olaf so willing to help Elsa and Anna on their difficult journey? Who are some of your best and most reliable friends?
Kids: Do you always get along with your brothers and sisters? What makes sibling relationships somewhat more challenging than friendships?
Do you like how these characters look in their Lego forms? What does this block format allow them to do that they otherwise couldn't? Does it make the show funnier than it would be if they were regular cartoons?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 9, 2016
- Cast : Kristen Bell , Jonathan Groff , Josh Gad , Idina Menzel
- Network : Disney Channel
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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