Unfrosted

I should preface this review with a note of my bias. My cousin (or more like some # cousin, twice removed...something like that), Eleanor Sweeney, is in this film as the downright hilarious "dumpster girl". It's what has me watching this movie in the first place and she did an amazing job - I laughed - going toe to toe with Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, Melissa McCarthy, among others. 

Beyond that preface I will say that Unfrosted feels like a comedy from another era. It reminded me of a time when comedies used to be rather dumb, and silly...think something like Zoolander. It's strange because, while I thought it was "bad" as I watched the first few minutes, it eventually grew on me as something that was completely innocent, lighthearted, and generally family friendly. 

Unfrosted, directed by, written by, and starring Jerry Seinfeld is the greatly exaggerated story of how the Pop Tart came to be one of America's favorite breakfast items. It's set in Michigan where rival companies, Post and Kellog's, are locked in a heated war for the breakfast table and cereal-domination. If that sounds like an extended SNL skit to you, that's because...well...it is. It leans heavily into the breakfast puns, cereal wars, nostalgia of the 60s, and more, to deliver joke after joke after joke that are all pretty dumb. And while I could be using that word, "dumb", maliciously, that's where Unfrosted eventually won me over. Once I accepted it was all very "dumb", the comedy, hijinks, and zaniness all became funnier. Again, it feels like a comedy from another generation - think Airplane!. 

Unfrosted is packed with stars and comedians, often adding the fun of "who's up next?". Seinfeld is obviously having some wacky delight in his own film and his friends McCarthy, Gaffigan, and Schumer are along for the ride. Hugh Grant chews each scene he's in as the mascot Tony the Tiger, while a host of other cameos provide decent laughs of varying degrees. They each have their own schtick, which means the lifetime of the overall schtick gets extended without ever wearing out too much. I'm sure mileage will vary by audience, but at basically 90 minutes long, it doesn't overstay its welcome. 

From a humor perspective, there are a couple preposterous laugh-out-loud moments, but the rest of the jokes are...say it with me...quite dumb in an amusing, put-a-smile-on-your-face kind of way. It leans toward family friendly with only a few jokes that may take some explaining from brave parents to their kids, and the whole thing feels jovial and innocent. It's a happy, silly film that is harmless, and hard to hate, even as it'll have you rolling your eyes from time to time. And Eleanor Sweeney does a lights-out, hilarious job in it :-)  

Rapid Rath's Review Score | 6.5/10