Jack Frost MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 Content: -1/2

This comedy fantasy takes place in Colorado during a snowy winter season. And Jack Frost is the name of a young father played by Michael Keaton who dearly loves his wife, Gabby (Kelly Preston), and eleven-year-old son, Charlie (Joseph Cross). All is going rather well for their Christmas until Jack is killed in an auto accident. But he miraculously comes back to life as a snowman and is able to visit and talk with his wife and son. During his brief visit, he has fun with Charlie in snowball fights and snow sled rides. They also must escape from some of Charlie's tough school rivals in daring snow sled chases and other escapades. Jack specializes in comical quips, as he and Charlie clown around and startle some of the local townspeople. And Jack and Gabby share some touching moments which add to the film's appeal. Even so, this heartwarming and comical story turns out to be only fairly entertaining and probably isn't destined to be a big box office winner.

Although most children viewing this film will probably see it as a fantasy, the theme of Jack returning from the dead and communicating with his wife and son is disturbing. Communicating with the dead is forbidden in the Bible, and some children may get the idea that communicating with deceased parents is acceptable and even desirable. And theres is no reference to heaven or hell as being part of the hereafter. But it is very refreshing for a film like JACK FROST to portray family members who care deeply for each other. To "modernize" the story and avoid a G rating, the producers have Jack making some sexually suggestive quips including comical references and incidents pertaining to male genitals and female breasts. It is also disappointing that Charlie's friends and others frequently indulge in crude slang expressions such as "butt and "butthead". The kids at Charlie's school engage in some serious snowball battles and one harrowing snow sled chase results in some injuries, but these do not seem excessive. So, it's mainly the films theme of communicating with the dead and the rough language used by the youngsters which make JACK FROST slightly objectionable.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Warner Brothers, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank CA 91521