Snow Day MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 Content: -1

Its mid-winter in Syracuse, New York, and the school kids feel cheated. Not one snow storm has been severe enough to close schools. TV weatherman, Tom Brandston, (Chevy Chase) sympathizes with his 10-year-old daughter, Natalie (Zena Grey), and teenage son, Hal (Mark Webber), but hes under terrific pressure. His producer insists that Tom wear ridiculous costumes to bring up the third-rate stations ratings. Suddenly, an unexpected storm sweeps through Syracuse and schools close. To save his job, Tom must expose his nemesis, the number one stations weatherman, as a complete fraud. Natalie and her schoolmates decide to plot against the scary snowplow driver (Chris Elliott). Prevent him from clearing the roads and they will have an extra snow day. Meanwhile, mom (Jean Smart), on the edge of a big business deal, cant drop her cell phone and computer long enough to give her incorrigible 4-year-old the attention and discipline he needs. Hal decides to use this snow day to compete with the handsome, athletic boyfriend of high school beauty, Claire (Emmanuelle Chriqui), to win her affection. Too juvenile for older teens and too mean-spirited for younger children, SNOW DAY should suffer a rapid melt-down.

Tearing down others, particularly authority figures, is an unfortunate theme for this PG film. The children show disrespect for their principal by bombarding him with snowballs as though he owes them a day off. He acts just as childish by taunting them on warm, sunny winter days. The snowplow man holds a frightened boy hostage, ties him to the front bumper and chases terrified kids. Natalie and her friends commandeer the snowplow and tie the driver to a street sign to keep him from doing his job. Tom tricks his competitor into destroying his career on live TV. Teenagers drive snowmobiles recklessly, crashing into each other and an ice skater crashes into a fence. While the film has no sexual content, Claire wears form-fitting knit tops that could stir any male teens hormones. A few moderate crude words and two mild obscenities slightly taint the dialogue. A boys problems with flatulence and his buttocks exposed are additional poor excuses for humor. Disrespectful, defiant and mean-spirited children and grownups alike give SNOW DAY low marks as a family experience.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures, 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038