Well, I am from the South so maybe that helps some with the endearment of the film. The film isn't perfect, and its major flaw is that Facilier doesn't directly antagonize the film's leads enough as you said. A great moment, a view of what could have been, was near the end when Facilier uses his powers to show Tiana a vision of her dream and offer her the deal to take it. I enjoy villains who try to lure the hero in with promises of glory, especially when it is all that character ever really wanted (so she thought at least).
I know a long while back you said the rest of the films would be ones you mostly enjoyed and liked, so yeah that's fine. I'd have probably ranked it higher though... without actually doing a list and seeing it in front of me, it's hard to say exactly where I'd place it. Top 10 material for me though, at the least.
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Still smilin'
:>