HOT FROSTY

Canada/US, 2024, 93 minutes, Colour.

Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Craig Robinson, Joe Lo Truglio, Katie Mixon Greer, Lauren Holly.

Directed by Jerry Ciccoritti.

Hot Frosty, a Netflix Christmas movie amongst many others, was described as “affable”. And, for most audiences, it is.

It is a variation on the Jack Frost story, Jack Frost coming alive and joining a community for Christmas. Over many years, Lacey Chabert has been a popular star of television films, over 30 for Hallmark. Here she is again, Kathy, a grieving widow, managing a cafe, many friends in the small town, but letting her life and repairs on her house slide.

She is given a red scarf by her friends at a store, wraps it around a snowman in the centre of town where there is a display of sculptured snowmen. And she takes a photo of him. And, he comes alive, a touch embarrassed with no clothes, scaring an elderly couple, falling backwards through the window of the store, getting some clothes, one with the label, Jack. He is continually cold and tries to avoid, sometimes unsuccessfully, anything which might heat him up.

As expected, he is charming, very agreeable in conversation, no memories before Kathy and the scarf, but, as the film progresses, he is able to pick up all kinds of information from watching television programs, becomes a handyman par excellence, and, shirtless, attract a lot of attention from the rather middle-aged ladies of the town. He also helps out one of their sons, the school principal, helping with repairs at school, working with the kids, absolutely charming.

On the other hand, the by-the-book and beyond sheriff of the town, played by veteran Craig Robinson, quotes the law all the time applied rigidly, and is determined to arrest the vagrant who scared the elderly couple and who smashed the window of the store and stole the clothes. He assisted by a very genial comedian, Joe Lo Truglioi, as his more sympathetic Deputy.

Kathy resists the romance, Jack relies on her and fixes the house. And he invites her to the school dance. And, of course, the sheriff arrests Jack, the doctor stating that he is a snowman, and the townspeople making an appeal. And, eventually, Jack and Kathy kiss. Jack had seen a promotion for Hawaii, not realising it was hot, but, as he seemed to come alive as human, he had Kathy buy a ticket for Hawaii.

A cheerful and light variation on the theme.