- Directed by Troy Miller
- December 10, 1998 (Australia) / December 11, 1998 (US)
A father and musician killed in a car accident is brought back to life in the form of a snowman through a magical harmonica.
…or…
Michael Keaton must die in order to become a good father and now helps his son through a trying time caused by his death.
That’s the point of the story and it doesn’t get beyond that. Musician Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) comes back, has a few good days with his son Charlie (Joseph Cross) to get the kid’s life back on track before checking out permanently. Not too different from what he has been doing from the impression I was left with. That doesn’t mean this Jack Frost (there are several films with that name) is without its cute moments and just general fun but let’s put too much lipstick on this and say it is something it’s not.
I think director Troy Miller and pals knew on some level exactly what they had. Jack after returning notes how unoriginal it is for someone named ‘Jack Frost’ to come back as a snowman in one of several cute moments. They manage to squeeze out an adequate movie with some 90s special effects and filming on sets to control appearance. There’s a lot of fake snow in this but they handled it all appropriately.
While as a human and later as a snowman Keaton as Frost tried too hard to be cool. It’s one thing to push cool on a stage. It is another to do it at home. I really wish somebody had said something along the lines of “You’re trying too hard, Jack.” They made a funny about the name so why not about that? It would have highlighted that Jack’s efforts were superficial with Jack learning something by helping his son. Or maybe the director just should have stopped filming and made Keaton stop during those times.
Henry Rollins is local ice hockey coach Sid Gronic and the film’s resident jerk. All holiday movies need one. I really thought he was going to end up as some kind of villain but he’s just a jerk. A prominent jerk in the movie but still just a jerk. In what I guess is a takedown of Gronic he sees Jack after he comes back and it makes it on the news. He spent the rest of his next moment or two in the movie bordering on being an emotional wreck. All he was though was fluff to stretch the movie out that teased something more entertaining that never was.
Jack’s wife Gabby (Kelly Preston) exists just to be a caregiver for Charlie so that Jack’s death does not leave his son in foster care. Jack has some concern for her but not enough to try hard to see her again. Was their marriage that bad? She is not much of a character. She’s just there to give a reason that the son is okay until the next Christmas. No defining qualities.
This is a very by the numbers film We have a best bud for Jack with Mac MacArthur (Mark Addy) whom one would think Jack would seek some help from but is there to mitigate Jack’s previous parental neglect in a few scenes. We can’t have Jack being a complete douche.
Sometimes the guy-that-must-come-back film can be good. I’m not saying this one is bad but something about this does not entirely click with me. Charlie’s turnaround is pretty easy and I feel Jack gets off kind of light. He was so concerned with getting to a gig in bad weather that it cost him his life! Yeah he decided to come home but that was when he died. He made numerous promises to his son and managing to fulfill one after he died makes up for everything? How is that acceptable?
Despite my issues there is a level of sweetness and just general fun. While it doesn’t break any new ground it does enjoy the concepts such as the freak out of Sid Gronic and the magical snowball battle. Expected moments but also fun. It is well done comfort food.
If you don’t think about the things I brought up too much (which really this film asks you to do) then Jack Frost will be fine. I really picked at it but as family viewing it’s not bad. Just don’t think too deeply about what you see.
Warren Watched A Movie 