“ | I will always hear you. | ” |
— Jack Frost's last line as a human |
Jack Frost (working title: Frost) is a 1998 Christmas-themed movie, starring Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston, that was released in theaters on December 11, 1998, as part of Warner Bros.' year-long 75th Anniversary event.
Synopsis[]
Jack Frost is the lead singer in a rock band simply titled "The Jack Frost Band", based in the fictional town of Medford, Colorado, who make their living performing blues covers and an assortment of their own songs in the hope of signing a record deal. He returns to his 11-year-old son Charlie, who has just returned from a snowball fight against local bully Rory Buck. After they build a snowman in their front yard, Jack gives him his best harmonica, which he got the day Charlie was born, jokingly telling him that it's magical, and he will be able to hear it wherever he is. Jack promises his wife Gabby that he will attend his son's hockey game, but misses it in favor of recording a new hit song "Don't Lose Your Faith". To make up for it, Jack then promises to take his family on a Christmas trip to the mountains, but is then called in on a gig that could make or break his career. On his way to the gig, Jack realizes his mistake and borrows his best friend (and the band's keyboardist) Mac MacArthur's car to go to the mountains to meet his family. Unfortunately, Jack encounters a bad snowstorm that he is unable to navigate through due to the faulty windshield wipers and poor weather conditions. As a result, he swerves off the road, crashes the car, and is killed instantly (off-screen).
A year later, Charlie has fallen into depression over his father's death, to the point of withdrawing from all contact with his friends. One night, he makes another snowman that bears as much of a resemblance to Jack as he can remember and plays Jack's harmonica just before going to sleep. The harmonica turns out to be magical after all, as it revives Jack, transferring his spirit into the snowman. Jack attempts to greet Charlie, but instead, ends up terrifying him by mistake. The next day, Charlie discovers Jack in his yard and attempts to run away from him, leaving Jack feeling humiliated once more, but still determined to go after his son. When Charlie winds up in the snowball battlefield, Jack pelts Rory and the other children with snowballs and escapes with Charlie on a sled. After losing them, Charlie realizes that the snowman is his father after Jack uses his nickname "Charlie boy". Jack reconnects with Charlie and teaches him the values that he never got to teach him. After some hockey lessons, Jack convinces Charlie to rejoin the team instead of continuing to grieve over his death, becoming their best player. In the meantime, Mac continues to be a friend of the family, while also becoming a father figure to Charlie at Gabby's suggestion.
As winter approaches its end, Jack begins melting and struggles to get to Charlie's hockey game. Afterwards, Charlie decides to take Jack to the mountains where it is colder, but has a difficult time convincing Gabby to do so. Charlie comes across Rory, who also insults the snowman by asking which is more stupid. After Jack speaks in front of Rory by correcting his last sentence, Rory then sympathizes with Charlie not having a father and helps him sneak Jack onto a truck en route to the mountains. Jack and Charlie arrive at the isolated cabin that the family was going to stay at for Christmas before Jack's death. Jack calls Gabby, nonchalantly asking her to come to the cabin to pick up Charlie; Gabby is shocked, but recognizes his voice and obliges. Jack tells a disheartened Charlie that he has to leave. When Gabby arrives, the snowman shell dissipates, revealing Jack in an ethereal form. Jack tells Charlie he will be with him wherever he goes and, after saying farewell and giving his love to both his wife and son, returns to the afterlife.
In the closing moments of the film, Charlie plays hockey with his group of friends (which now includes Rory), while Gabby happily watches and Mac plays music on the piano. The final street scene shows that all the front lawns have snowmen on them.
Music[]
Songs[]
Title(s) | Performed by |
---|---|
"Frosty the Snowman" "Don't Lose Your Faith" |
The Jack Frost Band featuring Michael Keaton |
"Roll with the Changes" | REO Speedwagon |
"Merry Christmas Baby" "Gimme Some Lovin'" "Good Lovin'" |
Hanson |
"Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" | |
"Rock and Roll (Part 2)" | Gary Glitter |
"Can't Let Go" | Lucinda Williams |
"Leavin' Again" | Steve Poltz |
"Couldn't Stand the Weather" | Stevie Ray Vaughn |
"Landslide" | Fleetwood Mac |
"Free Ride" | Edgar Winter Group |
"Hey Now Now" | Swirl 360 |
"Final Fire" from Backdraft (1991) | Hans Zimmer (composer) |
"Jingle Bell Rock" | Michael Sherwood's Tangletown |
"Hot in the City" | Billy Idol |
"Sleigh Ride" | Spice Girls |
"Slow Ride" | Foghat |
"Five Candles (You Were There)" | Jars of Clay |
"How" | Lisa Loeb |
"Father's Love" | Bob Carlisle |
Home video releases[]
Cast[]
Actor/actress | Character(s) |
---|---|
Michael Keaton | Jack Frost |
Kelly Preston | Gabby Frost |
Joseph Cross | Charlie Frost |
Mark Addy | Mac MacArthur |
Andy Lawrence | Tuck Gronic |
Eli Marienthal | Spencer |
Will Rothhaar | Dennis |
Mika Boorem* | Natalie |
Benjamin Brock | Alexander |
Taylor Handley | Rory Buck |
Joe Rokicki | Mitch |
Cameron Ferre | Pudge |
Ahmet Zappa | Snowplow driver |
Paul F. Tompkins | Audience member |
Henry Rollins | Sid Gronic |
Dweezil Zappa | John Kaplan |
Steve Giannelli | Referee |
Jay Johnston | TV weatherman |
Jeff Cesario (voice) | Radio announcer |
Scott Thomson | Dennis' dad |
Googy Gress | Spencer's dad |
Scott Kraft | Natalie's dad |
Jimmy Michaels | Devil's goalie |
Ajai Sanders | Interviewer |
John Ennis | Truck driver |
Wayne Federman | Policeman Dave |
Pat Brown | Scorekeeper |
Mr. Chips (Dog) | Chester |
The Jack Frost Band | |
Trevor Rabin (composer) | Lead guitar |
Lili Haydn | Violin |
Louis Molino III | Drummer |
Scott Colomby | Bass |
Credited/Uncredited | |
Golden Henning Nakia Hurried |
Bank customers |
Uncredited | |
Mike Butters | Devil's coach |
Carmi Greene | Patron |
Rich Knight | Clubgoer |
Jazzie Mahannah | Featured |
Rusty Nelson Moon Unit Zappa |
Schoolteachers |
Jennifer Robertson | Brooke |
* - Nominated for the 1999 YoungStar Award for Best Actress
Gallery[]
External links[]
content from Wikipedia (view authors). |