Friday, Dec. 11, 1998 | 11:27 a.m.
* Synopsis:
Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) is a musician and a forgetful father, who spends too much time on the road trying to get his big break. On Christmas Eve, Jack realizes his priorities are reversed and, in an effort to get home for the holidays, he skids off the road in a snowstorm. The following Christmas, Jack's son, Charlie, builds a snowman and it comes to life as Jack Frost, the coolest dad a kid ever had.
Dave:
As the saying goes, "'Tis the season to be jolly." Unfortunately, this holiday season has started out with a frosty snowman.
Oh, sure, "Jack Frost," a family-safe fantasy, sounds like a pretty typical, festive movie, what with multi-talented star Michael Keaton playing the famed title character. But the film seems to be missing the one element that not only makes every movie work, but every Christmas film memorable: spirit.
Jeff:
I'm torn. I want to like "Jack Frost" more than I should. Somehow, I just can't, no matter how hard I try. I love family-fantasy films, but the story of a dead father whose soul is trapped in a snowman, who comes back to repair the damaged relationship with his son is a bit too dark for my taste.
This is a syrupy sweet tale that has it's heart in the right place, and kids will enjoy the kindergarten humor -- the chase scenes, the radical snowboarding sequence -- while parents try to stay awake. It's like snow itself: light and airy, but unfilling, cold and tasteless.
Dave:
The versatile Keaton is practically wasted, since his Frosty alter ego is masked by computer graphic effects (courtesy of Jim Henson's Creature Shop). He is one of a few Hollywood actors today whose physical comedy and mannerisms are essential to his roles. Plus, he always brings a mischievous nature to his performances that seems to be lost and never found here.
Whether it be for 15 minutes of screen time in "Beetlejuice," or donning the caped crusader's rubbersuit in "Batman," or even taking a psychotic turn as the ruthless villain in "Pacific Heights," Keaton's engaging personality is a familiar to most fans. However, in this mess of a script (by four contributing writers), it is no wonder why Keaton seems to be at odds. Is he a caring father who finds redemption, or is he his son's new best friend who shares nothing more than a couple frills and spills?
Jeff:
We've talked in the past, Dave, about how we've missed Michael Keaton in his comedic roles. His first chance at comedy in years and he's hidden behind a muppet of snow! I did like the repartee between Keaton and his son, Charlie (superbly played by Joseph Cross), and Jack's ability to talk to his son as a friend and a father, even though he was never home or at any of Charlie's hockey games. Why it took Jack to be killed in a car crash and reincarnated into a snowman to get closer to his family is a mystery. Talk about overkill.
Jack is way too clam and accepting of his fate, and Charlie will need therapy for years to come. Imagine the reaction, too, of his mom (played by Kelly Preston) and the rest of the town when they see Charlie having conversations with and lugging around a snowman in his red wagon. Yes, Charlie needs closure to a traumatic loss of his musically-inclined father, but come on! They should have had the snowman come to life and help bring Charlie and his father together. I know, I know -- review the movie they made. I can't help it.
Dave:
And neither can I, Jeff. I can think of numerous ways that the filmmakers could have made this into a fantastic family film. The potential exists, but the result is lackluster. Grown-ups will find the story too campy and redundant, while a much younger audience may delight in the simple humor and the talking snowman. Hey, the holiday season comes but once a year, so all I ask as that a studio make a picture worthy of the season.
Jeff:
"Jack Frost" does have wonderful special effects, winsome winter landscapes and a jolly musical score. But it also has shallow characters, and a rushed climax that seems to be mimicking the ending of "Ghost" and "E.T." "Jack Frost" is all about cool special effects and orchestrating the right scenes to make you cry on cue. The story is absent and does little to keep your attention. What a shame.
MOVIE BUZZ
Norton and Stller have "Faith":
Edward Norton and Ben Stiller are losing their religion in "Keeping the Faith." Norton will play a priest and Stiller will be a rabbi in the romantic comedy, which begins shooting next May. The film shows what happens when the characters' childhood crush on a girl re-emerges when they're in their late 20's. The priest is thwarted by his vows of celibacy, and the rabbi by the fact that the girl is a Gentile. The female lead has not yet been cast.
"Toy Story 2" on Turkey Day?:
Disney may be laying claim to next Thanksgiving as a release date for "Toy Story 2" based on the early box office business that "A Bug's Life" garnered with a similar release strategy. Disney was so excited about the sequel's prospects that they agreed to release "Toy Story 2" theatrically instead of direct-to-video, which was the original plan. In the film, an obsessive toy collector kidnaps Woody -- who unbeknownst to himself is a highly valued collectable. It's up to Buzz Lightyear and the gang from Andy's room to spring into action and save their pal from winding up as a museum piece.
Crossing the "Line":
Why has John Travolta's name been suddenly removed from all posters and trailers from the upcoming WWII epic "The Thin Red Line"? Originally, Travolta's name appeared on all promotional materials for the film. Now, theatres are supposedly being told to destroy the original posters and return the trailers. Were Travolta's scenes cut from the film? Was there a falling out between the actor and the studio? Not quite. You see, Touchstone's film "A Civil Action," starring Travolta, is opening on the same day as "Line." Since Travolta is the star of "A Civil Action" and only has a cameo in "Line," the two studios saw it as bad ettiquette to mention Travolta's name in the latter film. Now that's civil!
NAME THAT FLICK
Our congratulations go out to Buzz Daly who guessed correctly that "Hey, look mister, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast. And we don't need any characters around to give the joint atmosphere," was spoken by Sheldon Leonard (Nick the bartender) in the holdiay classic "It's a Wonderful Life" Way to go, Buzz!
For this week, who said this and in what film: "Kevin!" Does it sound familiar? If you think you know, call the Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026, or e-mail us at [email protected]. Be sure to spell your name and leave your daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/ e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column for the entire Las Vegas Valley to read. See you next week!
THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears Friday in the Sun (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Las Vegas Weekly magazine. Plus, check them out online at lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/movies.
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