As Olaf the Snowman from Disney's "Frozen" would cheer, "It's Summer!" Even though this box-office hit was released in the winter and has themes indicative of this frosty season, its popularity has increased to the point where it has been played throughout the summer on select TV movie channels. Much of the movie's success has stemmed from its combination of humor and touching messages of sisterly and friendly love. It almost seems as though the quirky individual natures of the characters themselves contribute to audiences rolling in their seats laughing and wiping away tears once the emotional catharsis is reached.
As college students, we are never to old to have a little bit of fun watching animated sing-alongs. But, one thing hit me as I was gazing at the TV screen belting out the lyrics of "Let It Go" yesterday. Because the characters are so life-like, they almost remind me of some of my closest friends. Or, at the very least, of people I have seen or heard talked about repeatedly around campus. These analogies inspired me to provide a glimpse of the friends you meet during the course of your college experience…in the eyes of "Frozen" characters.
1. Queen Elsa-The Puzzle. Elsa is that beautiful and uniquely, yet, unfairly gifted (her one-of-a-kind ice powers would attest to this trait) girl you meet at school who seems so perfect that it is too good to be true. There must be something suspicious going on behind the scenes for her to be capable of operating this flawlessly. And, indeed, there is. Unlike most queens, or queen bees if related to a college setting, who enjoy large crowds, she prefers being "alone and free." Be careful. Most people would philosophize that she is one of those girls who will force you away while she is attempting to complete her thesis in the library. She could be so brilliant that she is scheming to overtake the school or create an international empire with her name written in icicles all over it. Yet, her few close friends know that she is harmless, and that she is the "nicest, warmest, gentlest person ever," if I may speak the words of Olaf.
2. Princess Anna-The "It" Girl. Contrary to Elsa, Anna is the bubbly extrovert who everyone desires to be around constantly…Olaf, Sven, and you can't forget her new guy candy of the week…will it be Hans or Kristoff on Monday? A girl like Anna would most likely find her niche in a sorority because she loves to makes crafts and get others involved with them, as she constantly asks her sisters the question, "Do you want to build a snowman?!" To maintain an energy level of her caliber, she probably drinks a lot of coffee before her 8 am classes, and is perpetually on the hunt for chocolate at her sorority formals. But, what makes Anna the most enjoyable to hang out with is her genuine nature. This girl is real. She will tell you if she thinks that "your physique helps," right on the spot, or if she questions your social circles…the "love experts," perhaps?
3. Kristoff- The Lovable Nerd. There is a good chance that Kristoff is one of those guys who went through a magical physical transformation in between high school and college. He probably shows girls his sledding license picture from when he turned sixteen, and their responses are those of utter shock that the guy on the card is the same person standing before their salivating mouths. However, he still possesses the same dorky, yet, intriguing personality and hobbies he has had his whole life. He is very artistic, as he sings and plays the guitar with his pet reindeer, and probably draws pictures of what his next ice sculpture is going to look like in class. Because ice carving for years gave him some muscle tone, he uses it to his advantage by playing sports, but, chooses to go the "hipster" route and not play college football like every other guy has the dream to do before he steps onto his college campus. He instead chooses something involving ice, such as hockey or snowboarding because "ice is [his] life."
4. Prince Hans of the Southern Isles-The Player. Watch out, ladies. His princely chivalry allows him to radiate a charm which captivates every girl in the school…well, except Elsa. He will tell you that he "love[s] crazy" to make you feel special, but, chances are, you will see him at a different party three hours later wooing another lady with the same line. He is in every club on campus, is the starting quarterback on the football team-see, far different from Kristoff already-and has a 4.0 GPA in hopes of attaining his master's degree and becoming president one day. Does he engage in all of these activities and flirt with all of these women because he is actually interested in each one? Sadly, he doesn't. His "well-roundedness" is a stepping stone to please his parents and boost his reputation above those of his twelve other over-achieving brothers.
5. Sven-The Silent Voice of Reason. Have you ever had that friend who always seems to hide in the background of all of your conversations to the point where those who are blabbing for hours almost forget that he or she is there? The wallflower who never says two words, but, eternally shoots sarcastic or skeptical facial expressions in your direction when you are making a poor decision, but, actually allows you to reevaluate because of his or her sly, yet, telling mannerisms? That's Sven. He is extremely loyal, and will be at every friend function, having as much fun as everyone else, even if he is not vocal about it. Aside from guiding you to chase after your true love, he can even be the silent life of the party, stealing your carrot nose from you when you aren't looking. Shhh.
6. Olaf-The Best Friend. I saved this little guy for last, because…well...I'm biased, and he is my favorite. Like Sven, Olaf is always there for you. He is your wingman, whether he is the distractor in an uncomfortable situation (such as running away from "the love experts"), the one providing relationship advice when a guy hesitates in telling you that your snowy white hair looks pretty, or the one giving you "warm hugs," when you are having a bad day.
