KSL Movie Show review: ‘Hot Frosty’ proves you shouldn’t judge a movie by its title
Nov 15, 2024, 7:00 AM
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SALT LAKE CITY — Oh boy! I’ve been looking forward to trashing this movie that dared to call itself “Hot Frosty” for weeks now!
I mean seriously, somebody wanting to turn a snowman into a Chippendale has got to be either nuts or at least way out of bounds, right?
Practically salivating, I began watching this oncoming train wreck set in the town of “Hope Springs” — first eye roll — where a sad widow Kathy (played by the Yas Queen of Christmas, Lacey Chabert) is still mourning the loss of her husband to cancer two years ago. Second eye roll.
She owns a quaint diner on the main street, Kathy’s Kafe, near where the annual snow sculpting challenge takes place each Christmas.
The usual offerings are in abundance until we get to “the men of crush” display, where this snow stud with chiseled abs and a flowing mane catches Kathy’s eye. She adorns him with a red scarf she just received from some dear friends worried about her never finding love again.
I don’t think they expected her to discard their gift so swiftly, but we only have 90 minutes to make movie magic, so…
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And as luck and script would have it, the magic scarf brings frozen Fabio to life, naked as a jaybird, terrifying an elderly couple walking their dog at… 1 a.m. Who are these people?
I should say SnowBoy frightens the old man, while Granny Good Time goes chasing after this newly minted Dash Riprock! Ew.
He subsequently falls through a plate glass window, naked, not a mark on him — third eye roll — grabs some overalls marked “Jack” (wink wink) and goes on his merry, innocent way. You see, he was a snowman, so he knows nothing about human living, but manages to know some things while being an idiot about others.
I’m running out of eyerolls here!
Which is probably a good thing because, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, a bit of charm and sweetness is beginning to ooze out of what was heretofore Christmas claptrap.
And what do we attribute this stunning turn of events to?
Unbelievably, it’s Jack the SnowPonyBoy who has turned my frown upside down.
Yes, I said it. He’s considerate, kind, friendly, helpful — all that Boy Scout stuff — plus also a conveniently quick learner.
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Kathy has a leaky roof. A shirtless Jack is up there laying new shingles.
A cougar neighbor (Lauren Holly) needs help installing a new light fixture. He does the job while other adoring ladies drool with keen interest. Yikes!
The nearby elementary school needs help decorating for the annual Christmas dance. There’s Jack with a million ideas for creating a winter wonderland.
While Jack is making friends all over town, Sheriff Nate (Craig Robinson) and Deputy Ed (Joe Lo Truglio) are still trying to solve the crime of the century — namely the broken window and stolen clothes.
Meanwhile, Jack is developing feelings for Kathy, at the same time dealing with his life-threatening need for freezing cold temperatures. So how’s that going to work?
Here’s the kicker.
I couldn’t for the life of me figure out where I’d seen this Jack guy before. It is none other than Dustin Milligan who played the sweetheart veterinarian Ted on “Schitt’s Creek.” Mind blown.
So the moral of this story is: don’t judge a movie by its dumb title or goofy plot line. Because it might just prove you wrong. I stand mostly humbled and corrected.
“Hot Frosty” (B-) Rated TV-PG for being a little sassy. Starring Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Katy Mixon Greer, Craig Robinson and Joe Lo Truglio. Directed by Jerry Ciccoritti (“Angel Falls Christmas” “Schitt’s Creek” TV series) – filmed in Brockville, Ontario, Canada. Running time: 92 minutes. A NETFLIX exclusive.
