In one scene from the Disney blockbuster Frozen, a shopkeeper in a snow-clogged forest advertises a “big summer blowout” on swim trunks and sunscreen as a supernatural blizzard envelops the land. Needless to say, it is poorly received.
This past Wednesday night, as a seasonable August gradually gave way to autumn, Hoboken held a big summer blowout of its own, one that was much more successful. When Frozen was shown outdoors as part of the city’s Movies Under the Stars programming, Hobokenites filled the main lawn in Pier A Park from front to back.
Not that anyone should be surprised. Frozen won the 2014 Oscar for best animated feature, and recently became the highest grossing animated film of all time (though the Hoboken show was free). Adults brought their kids, dogs, and a Loudmouth Larry, a globe-trotting puppet.
Many children were clearly fans of the Disney musical, singing along with “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and cheering at the end of Princess Elsa’s anthemic “Let it Go.” Among children talked to by the Hoboken Reporter, Elsa was the clear front-runner for favorite character, followed by her sister Anna, mountain man Kristoff, and the cunning prince Hans.
The movies in Pier A Park are made possible through the sponsorship of the Hudson County Division of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, The Applied Companies, United Water, Burgiss, CarePoint Health, among others. They are held every Wednesday night throughout the summer.
Carlo Davis may be reached at cdavis@hudsonreporter.com.