The Princess & The Frog

Everyone knows what to expect from a Disney movie; they expect to transported to a magical place where dreams come true if you wish upon a star, a place where Prince Charming sweeps a young woman off her feet and they live happily ever after.

And in that sense, The Princess & The Frog is no different from the Snow Whites and Cinderellas of the past. Except this time our heroine is a black woman.

For some, that might not make much difference, but to black women who grew up watching Disney movies that only showcased white beauty, this historical milestone means a lot.

But it won't mean anything if the movie isn't good. Luckily, in this case, it is.

The Princess & The Frog is retro, capturing that two-dimensional animation audiences haven't seen in many years. It is classic both in style and narrative.

Anika Noki Rose is Tiana, a native of New Orleans who dreams of making her late father's dream of opening a restaurant come true. She isn't a princess in the traditional sense. Tiana is a hardworking girl who saves her money and refuses to party.

Into her life comes a prince transformed into a frog, thanks to a evil voodoo conman played by Keith David. Of course, we know how the story goes -- princess kisses frog and frog turns into prince.

Well, not exactly. Tiana turning into a frog too in this scenario and together, fussing almost all the way, Tiana and the prince begin a journey to become human again. They encounter a cast of characters including a Creole-speaking light bug and a trumpet-playing alligator.

The movie is infused with New Orleans culture, from the food to the music, and I found myself swept away in show-stopping musical numbers, many blessed with the powerful voice of Anika Noki Rose (who wowed audiences a couple years ago in Dreamgirls).

Disney movies are often predictable and this one is no different. But we enjoy the journey and we laugh and go aww along the way.

The performances are universally wonderful (even Oprah Winfrey in a small role as Tiana's mother) as our heroine slowly begins to learn that love is the most important thing in the world.

G-rated films are not my fare (ummm.... Die Hard is at the top of my favorite movie list and that's about as far from Disney as you can get). But I enjoyed this movie, and not just because we have a black woman in a Disney film.

It is because the movie is good, entertaining and with a message all us adults could stand to learn.