JACK FROST

US, 1998 102 minutes, Colour.
Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Mark Addy, Joseph Cross.
Directed by Troy Miller.

Jack Frost is a Christmas ghost story, especially for children, especially for boys.

The impact will depend on audience mood, sympathy for Michael Keaton as Jack Frost, sympathy for Joseph Cross as his son. It is quite a sentimental film, focusing on the relationship between absent father and son.

Michael Keaton brings some manic energy to his role as a rock singer who neglects his family, despite his wish that he could be with them. He is killed in a car accident. After a year, he reappears as a snowman in the family garden. He then becomes a guardian for his son, helping him from attacks by a bully, helping him to be able to grieve for his father but always remember him.

Kelly Preston is his wife, Mark Addy, soon after his success in The Full Monty, is a friend of Jack. This film really depends on audience moods and acceptance of the cheerful ghost story premise.

1. A family film? For fathers, for sons?

2. The Colorado locations, the family home, the town and school? The season, winter, the mountains and the snow?

3. The music, the rock band, the variations on Christmas themes and songs?

4. The plausibility of the plot, audience accepting this kind of Christmas ghost story? The role of the snowman in American Christmas mythology?

5. Jack Frost, his personality, Michael Keaton’s energy? In the rock band, their hopes for success, on the road, recording? His relationship with Gabby? With Charlie? Jack and his promise to Charlie, the ice hockey match? His failing? The Christmas promise? The invitation to the party, the record deal? On his way, the decision, the accident?

6. Gabby, her love for Jack, exasperation, at home, with Charlie? Charlie, his age, missing his father, the ice hockey, his father’s promise? His father’s death, his grief?

7. A year later, the building of the snowman? The memory of his father? The film showing the snowman coming alive? The scarf, the hat? Jack’s voice?

8. Charlie and his reaction, doubt, the snowman’s activities, speaking? The attraction of the snowman – the snowman’s involvement in his life, at school, the bullies? The snowman as father figure?

9. Jack, the melting snow, Charlie and the game, Jack watching?

10. Charlie, his reaction, wanting to save his father, going up to the cabin? To freeze again?

11. The realisation that Jack has to go, Charlie saying goodbye? Jack saying goodbye to Charlie and Gabby? The new bond in the family? The bond between Charlie and his mother?

12. Mac, his friendship with Jack, friendship with Gabby and Charlie, stepping in to help? A genial friend?

13. The school, the bullies, Charlie and his ice hockey? The bully, change of heart, helping Charlie?

14. American sentiment, father and son relationships, the context of Christmas?