‘Tis the season of the corny Christmas flick.
Long gone are the days when Hallmark had a market monopoly. In recent years, streaming sites have jumped on the bandwagon, producing a slew of ridiculously merry movies that could warm even the tiniest Grinch’s heart, with Netflix leading the pack. One of their latest offerings, the aptly titled Hot Frosty, reimagines the character of Jack Frost as a half-naked himbo named Jack, a snowman who mysteriously comes to life when a young widow wraps her scarf around his neck. Starring Lacey Chabert and Dustin Milligan, Hot Frosty is written by Russell Hainline and directed by Jerry Ciccoritti.
Kathy Barrett, a young diner owner who has barely been getting by since the passing of her husband, is a beloved fixture in her small town of Hope Springs, New York. Struggling to cope with her loss, Kathy is allowing her house to fall apart in the absence of her handyman husband, suffering through a leaky roof and broken heater in the icy winter. Encouraging her to seek happiness after her loss, her friends Theo and Mel gift her with a red knit scarf that she promptly wraps around the neck of a snowman in the town square – this simple act of kindness magically brings the snowman to life as a handsome, 6-pack wielding naked man with luscious blond hair and an eagerness to make Kathy happy.
Initially unwilling to believe that this attractive mystery man is indeed a snowman, Kathy relents to letting him stay in her home, when it becomes apparent that he has nowhere else to go. Before long, Jack Snowman is making waves across town, befriending the local septuagenarian women, helping the high school plan their winter formal, and repairing Kathy’s dilapidated home – all while trying to avoid the overzealous sheriff hell-bent on arresting him.
A verified queen of holiday movies, having appeared in over 30 for the Hallmark network, Chabert is extremely enjoyable to watch on screen. For many viewers, Hot Frosty may be the first project they’ve seen her in since she entered our lives as Toaster Strudel heiress Gretchen Weiners in Mean Girls, and she absolutely delivers. Chabert entirely understands the task at hand as Kathy Barrett, and could not have been cast better, perfectly executing the corny and camp aspects that are a staple of these projects without completely butchering scenes with overacting.
Having first stolen hearts as the affable vet Ted Mullens in Schitt’s Creek, it feels like a totally natural transition for Dustin Milligan to take on a role like Jack Snowman. Undeniably handsome without being intimidating, Milligan nails the role of a himbo – that is, a man who is strong, attractive, kind, and a little dumb. Learning the ropes of being human, falling in love, and finding his purpose, Milligan plays Jack Snowman with equal parts comedy and endearment, creating an instantly lovable character that won’t soon become forgettable in the slate of similar Christmas projects.
Now, not to state the obvious but Hot Frosty is far from a “good” film, and I mean this entirely as a compliment. While it isn’t in league with holiday season favourites like The Holiday or Love Actually, Hot Frosty makes no effort to be, and that is probably the best thing about it. Leaning into the goofiness of its plot, casting familiar faces like Chabert and Milligan with comedy heavyweights Joe Lo Truglio and Craig Robinson to support as the blundering law enforcement, Hot Frosty is certainly not lacking in laughs or feel-good moments.
Even in spite of its rushed ending, if approached purely with the intention of having a good time, Hot Frosty more than delivers and may even become part of your yearly movie rotation.
