Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Took a gamble on Jack Frost (1998: Michael Keaton et al) being a meaningless kiddie flick. Surprising satisfying and touching, a family film with a touch of magic and lots of humour. It also dared have one teen say that life without a dad sucked - political correctivism now demands we rubbish fatherhood in spite of the true sociology, and family life (thus marriage) in general. I guess in 1998 PCism wasn't so dominant. The dad, Jack Frost, combined his love of music with his love of family, trying to do the right thing amid some conflict of loves. Ironically he died by making the right choice, but (presumably) by the grace & humour of heaven next winter found himself in a snowman's body on his family's front lawn. Initially he only revealed himself to his son (Charlie) and sought to spend quality parent time with him to make up for lost time, even to the extent of risking his meltable body. As things warm up, he follows Charlie's scheme to keep his far from abominable snowman life going forever. As crunch time comes, Jack, believing that only his body will melt, realises that it's time to leave his widow (Gabby) and son to their mortal lives. Only at this end does Gabby meet Jack postmortem, and comes out with "my god" or "o God". Jack could have smilingly pointed upwards at this stage, since the film, being pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-fathers, pro-postmortem, could easily have gone just a little deeper into what C S Lewis called the Deeper Magic. A good family film of fun & frolic.

Jack Frost (1998): Dir: Troy Miller / Cast: Michael Keaton, Joseph Cross, Kelly Preston, Mark Addy, Henry Rollins: Depressing family film with a character given the title name. What kind of nit-pick bullshit is that? Could they not give him a name of more normal presentation? It just sounds like cruel parenting. The concept fails because the magic harmonica is never explained and just sounds like a dumb plot device. Instead it gets reduced to formula that becomes as much fun as a snow covered rock to the head. Michael Keaton plays Jack Frost, a musician who spends less time with his family. A nasty storm sends his car off the road and he is pronounced dead. His son plays the magic harmonica and the result is a talking snowman. We know that he will attempt to conceal him from his mother, and he will eventually melt giving an ending of all the quality of yellow snow. Director Troy Miller has fun with the visuals but that is pretty much all the film has going for it. Keaton is a likable comic actor but this is far beneath his talent. In flat supporting roles are Joseph Cross as his son. Kelly Preston is cardboard as his wife. Mark Addy has the thankless role as best friend who sticks around after the accident. One could say that he stuck around too long if he had any hint that this sh*t storm would be good. The snowman doesn't melt nearly as fast as the screenplay. Score: 2 / 10

Watching this movie for the first time in years and it still makes me tear up! For a Christmas comedy film, it handles the subject of loss very well. It shows how hard it can be to move on especially in the circumstances but then allows the second chance for Jack to be a father and Charlie to spend an extra bit of time with his dad and get a chance to say goodbye.This movie has some good music which sticks with you after it has ended especially Landslide by Fleetwood Mac always makes me think of Charlie out in building the snowman.I looked this movie up as I watched it and was so surprised of the low score it had received across the internet! Think that it deserves higher and would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a good, heartwarming Christmas movie for all the family.

My two boys (12 & 16) and my wife and I just watched this together over the holidays. This movie deserves better treatment than it's been given by the critics and by many reviewers on this site. The characters and the character development are really pretty good, and this drives the rest of the movie. There is the required (and implied) suspension of disbelief about a snowman coming to life, but all of this is tied into father/son, husband/wife and other relationships that I personally found believable enough to care about them. They take a little time to develop these before the fantasy part begins. There are some really nice moments here, and some layers in the relationships that matter for the story. It's not a perfect or hugely important movie - I just think it's hard to find good options like this one for the whole family and I think Jack Frost hits a really nice "sweet" spot. (Double entendre works here...) I found it very entertaining but also more emotional and "real" than I expected. Great soundtrack for a family Christmas movie, too.! I would say it's a great and safe option for kids of 6 or 7 and up, and the whole family can watch with them and not be bored.