In the Unfrosted Movie, the pop tart’s invention is viewed as extremely absurd, and those involved are shown as a group of crazy people.
“Unfrosted,” helmed by Jerry Seinfeld, boasts a stellar lineup including Joel Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, and Melissa McCarthy. While it heralds Seinfeld’s comeback and delivers occasional comedic gems, it often strains for laughs with dated references. Amy Schumer’s appearances may signal a convenient bathroom break due to some repetitive moments. Overall, with a lukewarm 3 out of 5 rating, “Unfrosted” might only truly resonate with die-hard Seinfeld aficionados or cereal enthusiasts. Clocking in at 120 minutes, it’s accessible on Netflix with English subtitles.
“Unfrosted,” directed by Jerry Seinfeld and featuring a cast comprising Joel Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, and Melissa McCarthy, marks Seinfeld’s return to the screen and offers sporadic humor. However, its reliance on outdated jokes and a tendency towards repetition may prompt viewers to opt for a bathroom break during Amy Schumer’s scenes. With a rating of 3 out of 5, the film may primarily appeal to devoted Seinfeld fans or those with a penchant for breakfast cereals. Available on Netflix with English subtitles, it spans 120 minutes.
Everyone can agree that both Seinfeld and Friends were masterpieces of their eras, but at one point in television history, Seinfeld had the title of most well-known comedy in the world. Seinfeld hasn’t done much creative work since then, living off the show’s reputation, but he’s back with a passion project centered around making the pop-tart, one of Kellogg’s most well-known breakfast items.
Unfrosted Movie Review: A Study of the Script
Comedy, like most things in the entertainment industry, is always highly subjective. What makes a joke funny to one person may not be funny to another. Since Seinfeld is essentially taking full responsibility for the existence of Unfrosted, you will find yourself asking why frequently as you watch. It is virtually true that the film is a complete jumble in terms of plot and storyline, as it jumps around and tries to sneak jokes every single second without any form of break. This is not to suggest that many people will love its whimsical nature.
Naturally, the script’s attempt to make fun of the intense rivalry between cereal makers and suggest to viewers that they might not take cereal so seriously is achieved by turning it into an absurd narrative. The film, however, fails to acknowledge that, for those individuals, creating the greatest product and propelling their businesses to new heights was their passion and reason for taking things seriously—not because it was cereal.
Additionally, there are far too many characters, which may make the movie somewhat of a cameo roller coaster. However, when the majority of these individuals turn out to be unimportant to the plot, you start to question why they were there in the first place. Just to make the already brief playtime longer? Not only do the numerous personalities in the movie give it a dispersed air, but Seinfeld himself makes the political and meta-commentary themes seem a little hypocritical.
Review of Unfrosted: A Standout Performance
In addition to directing the movie, Seinfeld co-wrote the screenplay and plays our protagonist, Bob Cabana, who heads Kellogg’s division that will move heaven and earth and everything in between to develop the pop tart. It is difficult to determine whether Seinfeld developed a character here because he is not an actor and just adopts his identity as he did in his TV series. Though I don’t think he did, it’s good to have Jerry back on TV for people who miss the original Seinfeld.
McCarthy, the second major character in the movie, performs as we would now expect from her. Donna, the character she plays, is bold, determined, and a troublemaker. McCarthy is entertaining to watch, but she shares Seinfeld’s sense that she is only inhabiting the character she has developed for her on-screen roles rather than acting. This is not a performance-based film; rather, it is a concept film and not a very fascinating one at that.
Review of Unfrosted: Direction, Scoring
With a flourish, Seinfeld attempts to elevate the film above the average biopic; he employs a good deal of special effects and strange, almost experimental transitions, which may be a result of his inexperience as a director. The film’s aesthetic is perfectly in line with the early 1960s American worldview.
But nothing stands out, and because the movie is set in this bizarre hyperrealistic setting, none of the characters have any genuine humanity to them, which breaks any potential bond we may have. The soundtrack is also unmemorable; although a few songs here and there provide interesting transitions between scenes, they don’t improve the ones they’re in.
Unfrosted Film Critic: The Final Word
Unfrosted seems like a film that nobody asked for, and since it’s Seinfeld’s passion project, it is in many respects just that. Though we always knew he was a cereal lover, we didn’t realize how much, and unfortunately, even setting the story in a fantastical universe doesn’t make the topic compelling enough to support a whole movie.
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