A Disney Movie without a Prince Charming?

We watched Frozen with our kids last night. It's a pretty good movie outright. Nice CGI, well-developed characters (at least by Disney standards), some catchy songs, and a funny little snowman. What made it impressive, however, was the notable lack of a male savior. Sure, the main characters get some help from a guy along the way. And the snowman is male, though not particularly masculine, but, spoiler alert, it isn't the kiss of a prince that saves the day. When a male character does finally kiss a female character, he asks permission. Even then, he isn't the one who initiates the kiss. From a feminist perspective, this is a big shift for Disney. Even the stronger female characters in Disney movies are still completely reliant on men.
It does have a few problems, but it is a clear pass on the Bechdel Test. Anna spends a good deal of energy chasing men, and Kristoff criticizes her feelings and calls her "feisty pants." Not super respectful. Anna also needs more than a little help from Kristoff. She does take control of the situation most of the time; She isn't totally infatuated by Kristoff, and she almost always assumes the lead in making decisions on what she (and Kristoff after she meets him) about how she will deal with various situations. While the song "Fixer Upper" might seem problematic on the surface it is really a commentary on how so often women (and men) are pushed together by the people around them, but that doesn't mean that they have to listen. There may or may not be some emotional (love inspired) tension between Kristoff and Anna, but it certainly isn't overt, and is more likely brought to the movie by the preconceptions of the viewer rather than any specific interaction between those two characters.
People are complex beings. Men and women both. To portray any character as perfect would be to slight humanity. The lead characters in this movie are strong women and Disney should be commended for that. More importantly, I think this shows an important change in our culture. Feminism isn't on the fringe anymore. This is a feminist movie. Make no mistake. It is not perfect, but it is also not extreme. It is mainstream movie inspired by a classic tale. It is Disney kitsch, but it shows progress and gives hope.
I've always thought of myself as a feminist, but like most boys and men in our society I subconsciously believed that men should not just respect women, but they should be their protectors. Without us, women aren't capable of anything worth doing, and that idea makes men think that they deserve to exercise a certain amount of control over women. We all need help. We all rely on each other. This movie shows that not only should men respect women, but should treat them as equals, as leaders, as people who can make decisions and take responsibility for their own actions. They don't need men to save them, just to occasionally help them pursue their own goals.
Yep, its a Disney movie. So don't take all of this too seriously. It's entertainment, but entertainment is a reflection of culture. And I think this is a pretty positive reflection.