Hot Frosty is the kind of movie that reminds me of how much I love my job. Because in this industry, as a critic, I try my hand at high budget TV shows like The Last of Us and Warrior Nun. I also spend a lot of time talking about the MCU, upcoming theatrical releases, and Oscar worthy films. But it’s movies like Netflix’s Hot Frosty that remind me that sometimes simple, silly, and sweet are really the kind of palate cleansers I need to write about, especially during the tumultuous times that we’re living in right now.
This Netflix movie starring Lacey Chabert and Dustin Milligan isn’t going to win awards. What it will win though is the hearts of viewers who love seeing Chabert in Hallmark movies, those who admire Milligan’s abs, and those who love a good laugh. Because you can’t take yourself too seriously while you’re watching Hot Frosty, even though it becomes abundantly clear 15 minutes into this movie that it’s going to be absurdly sweet to the point where you wonder how the actors didn’t burst out laughing the entirety of the time they were filming this.
Chabert, who I only know from Mean Girls, has absolutely sold me on checking out her entire filmography. This woman was given the most ridiculous role I have ever seen in a Christmas movie or any movie. And she somehow made her character feel relatable, warm, and grounded. She did all this while acting across Milligan, who I have only experienced as being the ever-patient Ted from Schitt’s Creek. He got an opportunity to be over the top, silly, but also really gentle and caring for those around him. Together, there were a considerate duo who were meant for each other.
I will admit that I was left with a lot of questions at the end of Hot Frosty. I had questions like who built that hot snowman? Are there more snowmans that will come to life? Can they make me a snowman? What about a snow woman? I’m an equal opportunity lover so both work for me. I also had questions like did no one think it was weird that Kathy (Chabert) was letting a stranger who claimed to be a snowman (Milligan) into her house? Why was everyone so accepting of Jack being a snowman because “Christmas”? Was it the scarf that was the magic or the power of belief? Also, why were so many women unapologetically horny? To the point where even I felt a little uncomfortable. Questions, questions, questions.
But all of these questions aren’t the point of Hot Frosty and don’t work against the movie. Entering into a movie like this, the social agreement that you sign is that logic goes out the window. And like I mentioned in my introductory paragraph, the world is hard and if you need a silly Christmas rom-com where a girl falls in love with a snowman, then so be it. You’re not hurting anyone and snowmen don’t come to life. So it’s not real. The point of Hot Frosty is to make the most of the time that you have with those you love and the new people who enter your life. And that’s what Kathy and Jack did.
Before I can say goodbye to this review for Hot Frosty I did want to circle back on the horniness of this movie. Because while Kathy and Jack were absolutely cute and adorable, the cougars of Hope Springs were as ridiculous as the Sheriff’s intensity over finding out what criminal mastermind was “stalking” their little New York City town. First it was the doctor, who had no problem taking Jack home with her. Then it was the lady who crashed her car and all of her friends who gawked at him later hanging a light. Oh and we can’t forget the first lady walking her dog with her husband. She saw it was a naked man and she wanted to investigate. Ma’am. Control yourself. This is still a Christmas movie. Tone it down.
Ultimately Hot Frosty is the reason why people love monster or sentient object romances. It takes the human male, strips it of all its patriarchal garbage, and gives us a male lead that is caring, kind, considerate, aka all the things that men don’t realize that women actually want from them. There is no mystery. This is the answer. And I have read a couple monster romances where this is the biggest draw. So I’m glad that Hot Frosty was made and that it’s unlocking something surprising for a lot of viewers that they can probably keep exploring in books. And if Netflix needs any ideas on what to do next to continue expanding this universe, I’ve got some ideas below.
14 Ideas for a Hot Frosty Spin-off:
- An Elf on the Shelf romance titled Under the Mistletoe with My Elf
- A candy cane romance titled Sweet on You
- A garland romance titled Wrapped in You
- A Christmas lights romance titled All Lit Up by Love
- A Christmas stocking romance titled Hot by the Hearth
- A Christmas card romance titled Sealed with a Kiss
- A ribbon romance titled Tied Up in Love
- A Christmas tree romance titled Falling for Fir
- A nativity scene romance titled Love in the Manger
- A Christmas ornament romance titled Hooked on You
- A gingerbread house romance titled Frosted with Love
- An eggnog romance titled Stirring Up Love
- A sleigh romance titled Riding Home for Christmas
- A snow globe romance titled Snowbound with You
Hot Frosty is now available on Netflix.
I loved this movie too!
best movie i’ve ever seen ever