Jack Frost

On a snowy Christmas eve, small-time blues musician Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) reaches a life-changing decision: rather than spend another day with his wife and son taking a back seat to his gigs, he'll turn around and head home. Unfortunately, an icy road and broken windshield wipers intervene, and Jack is killed in a car accident. At the half-hour mark of Jack Frost, the titular character has not yet been reborn as a walking, talking snowman. He has, however, been reborn in the only way that matters dramatically. Jack doesn't die as a vaguely selfish flake, in need of learning What Really Matters; he dies repentant, on his way to make things right. Promising setup notwithstanding, Jack Frost is basically a syrupy trifle, a collection of special effects-enhanced bonding moments that are sentimental without being resonant. However, I did learn a lesson about What Really Matters in a script: it's best not to complete your protagonist's character arc before the popcorn has cooled off. Not recommended. (S. Renshaw)