Jack Frost (1998)

 A film that definitely had an icy reception...

People do not like this film, that’s for sure. It flopped at the box office, more than one review has described it as the worst films ever made and it only made $34m, less than its budget which oddly sources describe as being between $40- $85m. So poorly was the movie received that it was never considered significant enough for a blu ray release though pops up on streamers around this time of year for obvious reasons.  Yet it’s a Christmas film (not to be mistaken for an identically titled horror movie) starring Michael Keaton who is always good whatever he’s in. So, can it really be that bad? Let’s find out…

There’s a Genesis song called `Snowbound` wherein a man wakes up as a snowman and I always thought it would be an interesting basis for a film. Twenty years after that song was released Jack Frost uses a similar idea and the main character is even a musician whose real name is actually Jack Frost. He leads a sort of hybrid blues/ rock combo whose music in real life is handled by none other than Trevor Rabin who had been a member of Yes a couple of times. The plot sees him neglecting twelve-year-old son Charlie and wife Gabby to pursue his musical dreams. On the way to sing a significant record contract, he has second thoughts about leaving his family over Xmas, rushes back to be with them but is killed when his car skids off the road in icy conditions. Crucial detail- we’ve seen him gift his son a supposedly magic harmonica which he says he will always hear if the boy plays it.

Cut to one year later and the snowman Charlie is building comes to life when he plays that harmonica and what do you know- it is his later father rejuvenated. Now this in itself is an ok idea- don’t ask how the harmonica works but the magical spell it casts is displayed as a shimmering whirlwind. It takes a while for Charlie to realise and then be convinced this is his reincarnated father but when he does the narrative takes a somewhat frivolous turn. It can’t seem to reconcile itself to how monumental this scenario would be for the child and indeed for Jack himself so leans into the comedic side of it. The reason the film melts rather as its protagonist could at any moment is twofold.

First of all, the animated snowman does not convince at all. Its was made by Jim Henson’s company and therefore looks like its made of fabric rather than frozen ice. It never looks like packed snow, rather it resembles someone inside a white duvet. What could have been the saving grace- a face filled with expression- is too simplistic relying solely on the eyes moving. Even the theatrical poster has more expression than the figure in the film. Second reason is the lack of emotion and surprise about the whole thing. By leaping to a year after the car crash the film chooses to portray Charlie as being `a bit miffed` while Gabby seems cheerfully unchanged. Christmas films should hinge on some sort of emotion whether it’s tragic or euphoric or celebratory (or even horrific) but Jack Frost soon becomes a less than exciting race against time to enable Jack to see Charlie’s hockey match before he can be whisked away to a colder place to avoid melting. When all that has been done, he then says he has to go anyway! The tone just feels wrong.

Good points include the ever-reliable Michael Keaton who may disappear visually after twenty minutes but whose voice is the only thing animating the snowman. Joseph Cross, still working regularly today, was at the start of his career here and shows promise with what is thin material. Even less well served, Kelly Preston manages to give Gabby some personality. Its noticeable that director Troy Miller didn’t direct another feature film after this though has worked extensively as a producer. While any director might struggle to join the dots here, Miller does at least take advantage of the snowy terrain.

Watching this film I couldn’t help think that a slightly darker approach might have paid dividends. Instead of having the snowman moving around like a cartoon character, what if it had been just speaking to Charlie with the doubt as to whether it was real or not. That would also heighten its effect and make it seem more like an actual snowman. Given Kelly Preston’s skills it might also have been better to have brought her into the secret sooner than at the very end when she discovers the truth about what has been happening.

Jack Frost isn’t an essential Xmas film but it was interesting enough to view once. Its just a shame the filmmakers didn’t consider the full possibility the plot offered but also the practical limitations of the concept.