New Characters, Teachable Moments, and 4 Other Reasons to Take the Kids to See Frozen 2!

It's no secret that Olaf was the comic relief in Frozen, but he seriously amps up the humour in the sequel! Whether he's rearranging his body (yes, that happens a few times!), or is reenacting Anna and Kristoff's love story, you can count on a few serious laughs. And FYI: during the early press screening I went to, kids were literally LOLing in their seats at several points, so yep, he's definitely child-approved!

While we're bringing our little ones to get their fill of the characters they couldn't get enough of in the original, there are a few friendly faces that add some pizzazz to the new storyline. First off, there's an adorable lizard who I would die for — he reminds me of one of my cats! — and who takes a strong liking to both Olaf and Elsa. Additionally, viewers get to meet Lieutenant Mattias (who's voiced by the especially dreamy Sterling K. Brown), a soldier who's been trapped in a magical forest for 34 years. Not only does he add a lot to the movie by way of backstory, he also has a few hilarious lines that will make you and your kids smile.

If you've been caught belting out "Love Is an Open Door" in the car (ahem, even without your kids), you're not alone. And thanks to Frozen 2's actors' pipes, you can count on a whole new soundtrack of songs to sing with the kids. While there are about a dozen new songs in the flick that your kids will fall in love with, "Into the Unknown" is a true bop that's honestly still stuck in my head days later.

One of the earliest storylines we see in Frozen 2 shows Kristoff grappling with the question of when and how he should propose to Anna. Throughout the movie, he makes several attempts — only to be cut off for one reason or another — and it's clear that not only does he truly love Anna, but he's also a little bit frustrated. Seeing an otherwise brawny, handsome character truly lean into his romantic feelings is refreshing. After all, boys have feelings, too, and it sends a great message to children.

The sequel also isn't afraid to dive deep into emotions that even adults might not feel comfortable talking about. Toward the end of the film, Anna gets stuck in a cave and is truly feeling helpless. She takes a few moments to process what she's experiencing and sings about how blue she is; and though she eventually figures out her next steps and comes out of the lackluster situation unscathed, the scene provides the message that it's OK to be in your feelings for a while.

Like the original, there are plenty of touching sisterly moments. And one of the most heartwarming threads is when Anna makes multiple attempts to check in with Elsa when she knows she's not feeling her best. In the beginning of the flick, Elsa excuses herself from a game of charades. Aware that something was amiss with her sister, Anna makes a point to speak with Elsa to see what's wrong. This scene — and the following ones in the same vein — shows how important it is to make sure your loved ones are OK. It might even be worth a discussion on your way home from the theatre so you can truly hammer the point home.

Obviously, the animated movie is geared towards kids, but there are plenty of moments that parents will get a kick out of. From some of Olaf's one-liners that will sail right over your kids' heads to a hilarious, straight-out-of-an-'80s-music-video moment starring Kristoff, it's certainly very enjoyable for the older set.

Be sure to order your Frozen 2 tickets before it hits theatres on Nov. 22!