I've had a bit of a rocky history with this movie. When I first watched it I thought it was okay. Saw two reviews and wound up changing my perspective, but somewhere along the line, I wound up hating the original Frosty special.
I hate to pump the breaks for something only partially related, but I feel I'd have a lot to answer for that statement. I feel that Frosty the Snowman, and Olive the Reindeer while I'm at it, were obnoxiously happy. I know that's a stretch, but it's not as apparent in the films I've talked about/enjoyed, there was a balance, a little off at worst.
Until I'm told different, Frosty was basically about kids taking someone's property (or at the very least not questioning where the hat came from, then Santa comes along and he's like "Fuck you, Christmas spirit, kids are entitled to everything including the oncoming complex." It's not stated outright, but to me that's how it felt. Olive the Other Reindeer really only had the animation going for it, as it felt like it focused far too much on Olive and the goody-goodness of the Holidays, what did drive the mailman to insanity? We may never know aside from the implication Christmas spirit is carried out in an authoritarian manner.
This was the way for the more beloved Christmas specials, details on the antagonists are intentionally left vague to drive people to gravitate toward the protagonists. As this is based on a religious holiday (in terms of inception), no path is better than God's path, which can be twisted to follow the good side and think nothing of the other. At least Mr Magoo was based on an existing story, one where Scrooge's choice would be entirely up to him.
I will definitely not review the original Frosty, but I may review Olive, consider what I said above as an idea on how it'll go down.
After Casper's Haunted Christmas, I feel anything could be better than this. I mean I already know how this special would go down, I have been driven mad by my toxic work environment long enough to seek escapism, if I could make it to the end then it could be a compliment to the film.
Background Divider
Legend of Frosty the Snowman was released in 2005, but screened on, you guessed it, Cartoon Network. This special is interesting in that it was an American production produced by a Canadian company. What I mean by that is that the film was produced by Studio B Productions, but uses a predominantly American cast, which regretfully includes Tara Strong. Claiming you're an immigrant if you're from Canada is like claiming you're Mexican because you run a taco stand which was started in Wyoming.
The opening narration was done by Burt Reynolds, and that's about it.
Animation
This was produced around the time Studio B scaled back on their production quality. At this point, many of their shows were produced with floaty flash animation. I'm certain they've outsourced this, but whatever the case, this uses traditional animation. It has a retro look and feel to it, and hell, it looks superior to the original Frosty.
Frosty the Snowman was the ugliest in terms of 60s Christmas cartoons, Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, anything by Bill Melendez which extends to Peanuts, Frosty Returns and Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, each look more pleasing to the eye than the very mess that was Rankin Bass' cel-animated efforts. They did better when it came to stop motion, and I can say with certainty I still like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
As they had worked with an American licensor, it's possible they were able to afford outsourcing or more animators to make it as such.
Ranting
To sum up, I won't be discussing the plot per-se. There's one aspect people rag on this the most. Any aspects related to the plot would only be discussed if they impact the message the movie's going for.
The root of the film's drama is that of a town's residents being bound by their desire for following the rules, strict orders, the whole kebab. This seems like the work of a crooked mayor, but while he enforces them, he doesn't act as harsh. Our antagonist for this is a school principal who wants to push his belief in following the rules. Makes... just enough sense. The mayor keeps order but is lax about it, the principal wants to take it to a higher level. Think authoritarianism to straight-up fascism.
Right out of the gate, our lead for this, Tommy Tinkerton, is at least down enough to be sympathetic, living in an authoritarian state can cause anyone with sense to crumble, not to mention he finds himself slipping behind his more obedient eldest brother.
The film kinda reminds me of The Electric Piper, but while that had a more no-nonsense grim flavor to it, this feels a bit... brighter for a lack of a better word. If The Electric Piper is Pink Floyd: The Wall in terms of songs that're open for multiple meanings, Legend is like R.E.M.'s Shiny Happy People in terms of delicious irony, where the effect of an oppressive society isn't worn on the sleeve. Tommy tries to go along with what's happening, even if he doesn't feel he could, so I feel the kind of person he becomes later has plenty to work off of.
We also have a girl who falls under the girls can do anything moniker. Now look, I'm all for that sentiment, I'm only against women who render it toxic. I guess I'm saying that because she is played by Tara Strong, you know, someone who uses her influence to drive others to think like she does. You didn't make my childhood, you were just a regrettable part of it.
To get this out of the way, Strong's character, Sara Simple, wants to be an urban planner, this spurred by her mother referring to her as "princess". The revelation is admittedly clumsy, unless you feel pet names are derogatory, though I feel this should've been layered better. If I had to guess, the world the mayor cultivated would've had her become an obedient housewife, so I guess she just wanted to get it out there while she still could.
In terms of how over the top people are when it comes to order, well it just goes to show how terrible things would be if everyone treated it like it was sacred. A meaning that would be lost on people who only cater to popular opinion.
Then there's Frosty's introduction. In the first Frosty film, Professor Hinkle gets rid of a faulty hat after a magic show goes bad, it winds up in the possession of some kids, the genesis of the hat is vague (whether Hinkle bought it with his own money or it was a heirloom, hence him trying to get it back.) In this, the mayor aspired to practice magic as a child, against his otherwise cynical uncle Hinkle (dun dun duh), and after his encounter with Frosty, the hat is taken by a boy who would become the principal in the future. Pity an otherwise okay backstory is glanced over.
Where am I going with this? The hat at the start never established the owner out of the gate, at least one not shown outright. It was locked away before breaking out and found its way to town. Feels like the hat is an amalgamate for childhood imagination and freedom, Frosty merely being a manifestation. The kids playing with Frosty and whatever trouble they get in is the drive behind the hat being taken away. Not to mention, the principal was a dick from the start, as an old man who had toiled away in the educational system for years and enjoying the orderly nature presented, it works.
So pick your poison, raising sociopaths or fighting the power?
Whether or not Frosty is any better compared to previous versions is null, because different versions fit different tellings.
But speaking of different tellings. This version has a different genesis for the hat, and according to some people, this is the worst thing to ever happen and makes this the worst Christmas special of all time.
First off, have you even seen Casper's Haunted Christmas or Bah Humduck?
Second, people are pissed off because some girl wasn't represented, and I'm not saying her by name because I'm already pissing off the various geriatrics who watched it just by saying where I stand with it, over and over again.
People who have shat on this believe that every Frosty film has a set continuity, and by people, I mean idiots. The changes in this special mean absolutely nothing, it's its own thing, and if you expect otherwise, you're an elitist. It's hyperbolic, sure, but freedom of adaptation is basic knowledge. The Ghost of Christmas Past was predominately male, are you the kind of person who'd lose their shit over adaptations that make it female? These kinds of people would likely be or support the "blank goes full woke" crowd with their level of elitism.
And for the record, this ranting over discussing the story of this film shows that everything can be quickly summed up about it. Really, the only reason I even ranted is because the changes in Frosty's inception is the biggest takeaway people got from this. Dedication to a Christmas special that wasn't even the best of its period led to a misconception that never needed to be.
Overall
Legend of Frosty the Snowman is forgettable and mediocre at best. Whatever's bad about it has nothing to do with what people would lead you to believe. I feel standing up to authoritative douchebags has more impact than kids stealing property.
If you still believe Frosty is something that has continuity, you deserve to relegate yourself to staring at your fireplace all Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment