As we come to 1998’s non-horror Jack Frost, starring Michael Keaton, I have to admit I am feeling emotionally raw. We got some seriously bad news, as our house sale got messed up again and it now looks like we’re not moving after all. Everything’s up in the air, as apparently the person who was buying the house off the people who are buying our house has screwed them over. Some free advice: if you’re thinking of selling your house, don’t get caught in ‘a chain’. It’s an absolute nightmare. Our solicitors are talking to everyone else’s people but it’s not looking good.
So, in a rage-like state I settle in to watch another film that was hated when it came out and I can sort of see why, though it certainly starts strongly before seriously losing its way. Director Troy Miller’s film has some strong performances, particularly from star Keaton who impresses as ageing blues singer Jack, frantically trying to grasp onto any fleeting chance of fame. It’s never quite happened for him but he’s always convinced that the next shot will be the one that catapults him and his band to the big time. So, when the call comes on Christmas Eve to play a potentially career-making gig, he jumps at the chance, dropping his plans with his wife (Kelly Preston) and son Charlie (Joseph Cross). Suffering a crisis of conscience on the drive there, Jack does a U-turn and races for home but gets killed in a car crash. Tragic.
Fear not - Jack is resurrected one year later at Christmas as a talking snowman and sets about trying to make up for the time he missed with his kid while out on the road.The build-up to Jack’s icy transmogrification takes absolutely ages, taking an astonishing 40 minutes before the enchanting magical stuff kicks in. Director Miller, a musician himself, seems a little too interested in showing us Jack’s band performing which, though impressive, makes the opening stretch drag like a crippled reindeer, missing the point that people came for a magic snowman picture.
The effects are pretty solid CGI, especially for ‘98 and Jim Henson’s team were involved with animatronic stuff. It says a lot that I can’t tell which bits are CGI and which are puppets, so good job on that, at least. However, snowman Jack looks hella creepy - I’m not sure why they made him look so angry, with his big eyebrows and beady coal eyes.
It’s a mad idea but not one that the screenwriters find much to do with. It’s as if they suddenly realised that having a talking snowman around might attract attention and also that snowmen can’t do much on account of having no legs. The film has to keep finding ways for this kid to be friends with a living snowdude without anyone noticing, so we get lots of scenes of the boy dragging Jack around on a sled and also plenty of parts where you’d really expect someone to notice that this thing is talking and moving.
After the film’s heavy opening everything descends into cookie-cutter, kid-friendly schmaltz. There are some rubbish sight gags and unforgivable puns, like “You da man!”, “No, I’m da snowman.” Urgh. Also a dog wees on him, prompting gags about yellow snow. Chortle.
The film’s main set piece is a big snowball fight against some bullies where Jack discovers a natural ability for throwing snowballs real fast. It’s fun but then goes over the top as it turns into an extended chase sledge chase sequence with snowboards, elaborate traps and a big Raiders of the Lost Ark-style snow boulder that comes out of bloody nowhere. Again, nobody seems to notice that Charlie’s co-pilot is a living snowman.
The film carries a crude but relevant message about kids having to learn about loss as they grow up. Jack, realising his priorities a little too late admits he was “so busy trying to make his mark on the world” that he missed that his wonderful son was his mark. It’s touching and I guess that’s how I feel doing this silly project. I want to do something special that gets noticed but, especially after the really tough couple of years our little family has experienced, I have to remember that, with my daughter, I’ve already created something a lot more special than my silly ramblings here. With that thought cheering me up a little, I’m off now to give her some extra big hugs………
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