 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Frosty's Winter Wonderland
- Review Date: November 20, 2007
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1974
Common Sense Media says
Snowman takes a wife in predictable sequel.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this holiday movie is harmless fluff, just right for getting in the spirit of the season when the better-loved classics have already been viewed. The Jack Frost character may be mildly creepy for very young children. Characters demonstrate positive models of friendship and caring. This is one holiday special that doesn't even mention Christmas so it's suitable for families of many faith traditions.
What's the story?
Narrated by Andy Griffith, FROSTY'S WINTER WONDERLAND comes with a heavy dose of sing-along holiday music and the same animation style as the original. Frosty (voiced by Jackie Vernon) has returned from the North Pole and feels lonely as he watches the children retreat inside -- where he'd melt -- each night. So the kids build him a snow-wife named Crystal (Shelley Winters) and a snow parson to marry them. Meanwhile jealous ice-blue Jack Frost tries to quash Frosty's popularity with the children, but finds out it's not as easy as it looks.
Is it any good?
Like that fourth cookie from the holiday dessert table, this sequel may serve only as seasonal excess, but that's not always such a bad thing. This sequel may lack a real plot, but it also forgoes the sadness that made the first movie a bit heavy for younger kids.
One of the nice but quiet messages in the movie is that Frosty's magic doesn't just come from his hat, and that it's really love that gives the characters their spirit. That's a good message any time of the year, but especially at the holidays.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why Frosty might be lonely now that he's back from visiting the North Pole. For families in snowier climates, it might be fun to build Frosty and Crystal in a yard or park. If that's not a possibility, what could you make a snowman out of in your own home -- pillows? Construction paper? Lace doilies?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Not bad, not outstanding.
Rankin/Bass usually does great sequels (i.e. The Little Drummer Boy Book II, and most of the "Rudolph" movies), but this was somewhat boring as compared to the original Frosty. It wasn't bad-- some parts actually were interesting-- and it is worth seeing at least once, but it's not a favourite.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Warner Home Video |
| Directors: | Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass |
| Cast: | Andy Griffith, Jackie Vernon, Shelley Winters |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 24 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 1, 1974 |
| DVD release date: | November 1, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
| MPAA explanation: | Not Rated |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
