The Princess and the Frog is a smart, jazz-fueled fairy tale set

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The Princess and the Frog is a smart, jazz-fueled fairy tale set in New Orleans.

The Dinner: Cheeseburgers, fries, and chocolate milkshakes at Burgermaster (9820 Aurora Avenue N.)

The Movie: The Princess and the Frog at AMC Loews Oak Tree 6 (10006 Aurora Ave N.)

The Screenplate: My 8-year-old “sister” (via the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program) insisted we see Disney’s latest animated film, claiming she was the only student at her school who hadn’t seen it. Apparently, she was telling the truth. AMC Loews was one of three theaters that was still showing the movie. It’s conveniently located a couple blocks away from Burgermaster, so it made sense to chow down there beforehand.

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The kitschy drive-in joint–an attendant takes your order, then comes back with it on a tray that can be hung on your car window–serves up American classics like burgers, fries, and pies. Personally, I prefer to eat my food sitting down at a table. But to an 8-year-old, it turns out, dining inside a Toyota Yaris is an epic adventure.

Our experiences continued to travel down opposite ends of the spectrum. I attempted to order the baconmaster “protein-style,” but was met with a blank stare from the attendant. “I don’t know what that means,” she said. I explained that I wanted my burger wrapped in lettuce instead of bread. This confused her more. “But our lettuce is shredded. Would that even work?” No, it wouldn’t. I may sound high-maintenance but hey, in my defense, they’ll do it for you at Red Robin. The 8-year-old was far less of a nuisance, requesting a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake. No substitutes necessary.

But bun or no bun, my burger was unimpressive. The meat was bland, the lettuce limp, and the supposed highlight–three fatty strips of bacon–dry from cooking too long. (Who knows, maybe they just didn’t like me after the special-request crap that I pulled and decided to deprive me of the good stuff). My companion downed her food with enthusiasm. “This is so cool!” she exclaimed. Huh. Whatever floats your boat, I guess. Admittedly, the milkshake she ordered was awesome. It was more of a dessert than a drink; so creamy that it would’ve probably made more sense to eat it with a spoon, rather than struggle to suck it through a straw. Still, the joint is called Burgermaster. Not Milkshake Master. That $20 would’ve gotten us a lot further at Burger King. I also could’ve even sat in a real chair. Thankfully, I could do that in the theater.

Which brings me to the movie. Disney’s The Princess and the Frog is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans during the Roaring Twenties. After being cut off by his parents, a spoiled prince named Naveen (Bruno Campos) comes to the south in hopes that he will find a rich wife. Instead, he finds an evil voodoo magician (Keith David) who casts a spell that transforms him into a frog. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, the film’s heroine Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) is working two grueling jobs in hopes that she will someday save enough money to open her own restaurant.

Naveen and Tiana cross paths one fateful evening at a party that she is catering. He explains his predicament, she screams because well, a frog is talking to her. Then it occurs to Tianna that she can turn this into an opportunity. She makes a proposal to Naveen: She will kiss him to turn him back into a human, if he agrees to finance her business plans. (Is it just me, or is there a whole lotta gold-digging going on in this movie?) He agrees. But it turns out that the fairy tale they’re both familiar with doesn’t apply in this particular situation. Tiana is transformed into a frog after she kisses Naveen. She’s horrified. And then moreso when she finds out that he is actually broke as a joke.

Drama ensues. She thinks he’s a pompous prick, he thinks she’s too uptight. To get themselves out of the mess and in turn, as far away from each other as possible, they set out on a journey across the Bayou to find voodoo priestess Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis) who is sure to have a solution. But along the way–surprise, surprise–they start to fall for each other.

The Princess and the Frog is a colorful, musical romp through Disney’s traditional girl-meets-boy storyline–ideal for an 8-year-old. I liked it, too. My only issue stems not from the movie, but from damn nostalgia. Disney can create countless new masterpieces, but none will ever take the place of The Little Mermaid in my heart.