“Is that an icicle in your pocket or...”

November 15, 2024 9:40 AM

[CW: implied fornication, mortality, death] Starring Lacey Chabert and Dustin Milligan, Hot Frosty is a Netflix rom-com. Stylist: Hot Frosty might look like fun festive fluff, but it deals with a complex female fantasy. Forbes: Hot Frosty currently has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, which is not exactly what you’d expect about a magically hot snowman seducing a widow. The Wrap: It’s because this movie is, unlike the rest of the overwhelmingly chaste films in this subgenre, incredibly horny. There’s a scene where Lauren Holly (“Dumb and Dumber”) gets her car stuck in the snow and the shirtless sleetcake asks questions like “You want me to get behind you and push?” and “Are you ready for me?” before she revs her engine and moans with satisfaction. Hallmark would never. Roger Ebert review.
posted by Wordshore (51 comments total)

Omg this sounds like exactly what I need right now.
posted by CostcoCultist at 9:47 AM on November 15 [2 favorites]

Omg this sounds like exactly what I need right now.

It looks exactly like the kind of film I would eyeroll at and bail on after less than 2 minutes, but several (not just one) even more cynical friends than me said they enjoyed it, in different ways.
posted by Wordshore at 9:48 AM on November 15 [4 favorites]

I thought I was gonna watch a few minutes of this because it was dumb as hell. But, thinking it over, I suppose the titular Hot Frosty is no stranger a romantic lead than Doug Jones in The Shape of Water or Lisa Frankenstein’s half-decayed corpse, both of whom were quite lovely in the end.
posted by Countess Elena at 9:53 AM on November 15 [1 favorite]

I know of families with young girls who have been looking forward to this movie and the parents all thought it was a new animated movie. I've tried to give a heads up that they should probably watch it with their tween and pre-tween daughters. Not that there's anything overt, but the innuendo is strong.
posted by drossdragon at 10:02 AM on November 15 [1 favorite]

According to the screenwriter:

in 2021, I started pitching to my friends, in my best Norm Macdonald-esque delivery, “what if, when Frosty the Snowman came to life… he was a super-hot dude?” then I'd hit them with "it's called HOT FROSTY." and it always got a laugh… but over time, it also burrowed under my skin. for whatever reason, I couldn’t let this idea go. I had to write this movie.
posted by AzraelBrown at 10:14 AM on November 15 [23 favorites]

Heh, in October as I was driving to Montreal I got off the highway in Brockville to get a decent coffee and ended up at Boboli, a nice little cafe, and was chatting to the person making my coffee and she mentioned that Netflix recently shot a Christmas movie there starring “Chavez I think her name is?” and that the entire crew ended up there on most days as it’s the only place in town to get a decent espresso. Anyhow, yes, imdb says this was shot in Brockville and yes Chabert.
posted by chococat at 10:16 AM on November 15 [3 favorites]

This movie has been a frequent topic of conversation on an LGBT Slack I'm on. It looks just pitch perfect for what it wants to be. Apparently it's good casting.
posted by Nelson at 10:21 AM on November 15 [5 favorites]

Didn’t Kate Bush already do this?
posted by snortasprocket at 10:23 AM on November 15 [4 favorites]

shot a Christmas movie there starring “Chavez I think her name is?”

Hmmmm. Lacey Chabert may have a new gig going. My wife just dragged me into watching a Hallmark Christmas movie starring Chabert and her "Party of Five" co-star Scott Wolf, again as sister and brother, this one set in Scotland.

Hot Frosty sounds a LOT better.
posted by martin q blank at 10:32 AM on November 15

It was cute, a bit maudlin I suppose. Nothing remotely scandalous. The town sheriff was terrific. Never saw the lead male before. He's the epitomy of sinewy.
posted by Czjewel at 10:33 AM on November 15

I enjoy blowing people's minds by pointing out the male lead is the hot veterinarian from Schitt's Creek.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:46 AM on November 15 [18 favorites]

I'm looking forward to watching this at some point after this show is over. There seems to be a "Sexay Christmas" theme going on this year in a few places.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:47 AM on November 15

50 words for stupid sexy snow.
posted by bonehead at 10:55 AM on November 15 [10 favorites]

Less horny, more Hallmarky, still has shirtless buff snowman coming to life because someone put a scarf around its neck: Snowmance. (2017)
posted by grumpybear69 at 10:57 AM on November 15 [2 favorites]

"Hallmark, but make it horny" may be an untapped direct to streaming market.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:05 AM on November 15 [28 favorites]

He's the epitomy of sinewy.

Epitewy?

Camera pans over to sign saying "no spitting"

...sorry.
posted by notoriety public at 11:07 AM on November 15 [3 favorites]

A hot frosty sounds like a coffee-bar minty drink that leaves whipped cream on your upper lip.
posted by bonehead at 11:15 AM on November 15 [8 favorites]

icicle lust

sleetcake

the innuendo is strong

the epitomy of sinewy

stupid sexy snow

This post is chock-full of good usernames.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:23 AM on November 15 [12 favorites]

I used to have a guy, Spike, who did work for me on my farm and he'd constantly show up in a set of insulated coveralls with apparently nothing underneath in the winter and would stack hay in the summer wearing only blaze-orange logging chaps and the style of gym shorts most commonly associated with the 1970s and Jeffey of Family Circus fame.

It was... not at all like this.
posted by stet at 11:30 AM on November 15 [13 favorites]

I just started rewatching the Pink Panther movies, of all things, and I was noticing how actually sexy they were. It's not even just this subgenre—stats show that movies in general now include less sex than ever. Despite dated tropes and dialogue, people in movies from decades past somehow feel...healthier, more real and full-bodied in their lusty humanity and lack of action-figure muscles. Like we're not actually a different species from what we were then, but watch a lot of movies and it starts to seem like it.
posted by limeonaire at 11:31 AM on November 15 [13 favorites]

Hot Frosty review – Netflix’s sexy snowman romance is as silly as expected
Adrian Horton in the Grauniad with a more sympathetic review than the title suggests
posted by lalochezia at 11:39 AM on November 15

"Hallmark, but make it horny" may be an untapped direct to streaming market.

You are looking for Passionflix.

They are releasing a series of movies based on my favourite romance novels (the Stage Dive series from Kylie Scott) starting in December.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:52 AM on November 15 [7 favorites]

I just started rewatching the Pink Panther movies, of all things, and I was noticing how actually sexy they were. It's not even just this subgenre—stats show that movies in general now include less sex than ever. Despite dated tropes and dialogue, people in movies from decades past somehow feel...healthier, more real and full-bodied in their lusty humanity

I love this comment and noticed it too. Now go back and watch Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Those teenagers were hooooorrrrny! While still being PG somehow. It’s great.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:06 PM on November 15 [4 favorites]

You are looking for ...

No, I'm not. Just noticing a market, is all. But y'all go buckwild. Have fun.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:07 PM on November 15 [1 favorite]

Maybe it’s the kissing? People in movies now kiss like it’s their job (which I mean, it is) and it’s like crisp and chaste even while “passionate”; but older movies they kiss like they want to $&*#
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:08 PM on November 15 [2 favorites]

The film critic Jourdain Searles said something to the effect of how actors today look like models, but actors in the 70's "looked like ashtrays who fuck."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:22 PM on November 15 [21 favorites]

Heh, in October as I was driving to Montreal I got off the highway in Brockville to get a decent coffee and ended up at Boboli, a nice little cafe, and was chatting to the person making my coffee and she mentioned that Netflix recently shot a Christmas movie there starring “Chavez I think her name is?”

Oh my god, they shot it in Brockville?? If you have ever been to Brockville--one, I'm sorry, and two, at least it's not Cornwall--this might be the most interesting thing that has ever happened (besides Bruce Springsteen's favourite fish and chips being located there, but I dunno if I believe that).
posted by Kitteh at 12:23 PM on November 15 [2 favorites]

Dustin Milligan was pretty charming in Schitt's Creek

this stuff is not my jam, but for what it is, it looks kind of perfect
posted by ginger.beef at 12:49 PM on November 15 [1 favorite]

Oh my god, they shot it in Brockville??
Seems like they shoot all of these in small Ontario towns.
There was one a few years ago with the girl from High School Musical and it was like “hey that’s the Giant Tiger in Gravenhurst!"
posted by chococat at 12:53 PM on November 15 [1 favorite]

Olaf fanfic?
posted by Thorzdad at 12:53 PM on November 15 [4 favorites]

Brockville has a pretty downtown and a couple really nice cafes. Harumph harumph.

It's also on the other end of a really nice cycle path that runs to Gananoque.

Anyway, my point is, that's it's a great stop-off point on a day ride for the spandex shorts crowd.
posted by bonehead at 12:56 PM on November 15

Seems like they shoot all of these in small Ontario towns.

Port Perry, where my in-laws live? First season of Reacher shot there, second season of American Gods, and the entirety of Eli Roth's Thanksgiving.

Kingston has had two Guillermo del Toro productions shoot scenes here: Crimson Peak, and his upcoming Frankenstein.

But yeah, it is wild that Ontario small towns play American better than American small towns, I guess.
posted by Kitteh at 12:58 PM on November 15 [2 favorites]

Ottawa is the home of the Hallmark Christmas movies. There's like 16 of them being shot here every year. Carleton Place, Smith Falls, Perth, and they luuuuuuurve Merrickville (no surprise).
posted by bonehead at 12:58 PM on November 15

Brockville has a pretty downtown and a couple really nice cafes. Harumph harumph.

And even better, it's not Cornwall! Cornwall, where the two times I've been there I have had fucked up experiences! Dead cats on sidewalks in front of cafes! Food poisoning from a suspiciously vacant Chinese restaurant in their equally suspiciously vacant downtown!

Cornwall: Flee while you can

they luuuuuuurve Merrickville (no surprise).

Wick Witch has gotten so much of my money in the past seven years
posted by Kitteh at 1:00 PM on November 15 [1 favorite]

people in movies from decades past somehow feel...healthier, more real and full-bodied in their lusty humanity and lack of action-figure muscles

If you're interested in others' reflections on this phenomenon, you might want to check out Everyone is Beautiful and No One Is Horny and the "Erotic 80s" and "Erotica 90s" seasons of You Must Remember This.
posted by EvaDestruction at 1:00 PM on November 15 [14 favorites]

Like Wordshore, this is just not my thing.

However, the Ebert article ends with
...communities rally around their most vulnerable, people are willing to call cops out on their abuse of power...

We soooo need these messages. You can better believe I'm going to be hyping it up to all my former Trump-voting friends, now acquaintances. Despite the furious book banning, they love them some innuendo in sexy (but not too sexy!) movies. Maybe it will grow their grinchy hearts.

the epitomy of sinewy
snowy
FTFY
posted by BlueHorse at 1:02 PM on November 15 [7 favorites]

it is wild that Ontario small towns play American better than American small towns, I guess.

Or maybe movie productions just get more tax incentives for filming in Canada, making it cheaper to film there than in the US.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:09 PM on November 15 [12 favorites]

maybe movie productions just get more tax incentives for filming in Canada

(finger on nose)
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:10 PM on November 15 [5 favorites]

Maybe this is just me, but it rubs me the wrong way to describe one of the links as a "Roger Ebert review". Out of respect for the man's body of work and to minimize the chances of confusing readers, would it be possible to refer to reviews published by that website but not by Ebert less ambiguously, e.g. "rogerebert.com review"? That site hosts plenty of decent film criticism but Ebert himself has been dead since 2013 and it seems like better attribution is called for.
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:52 PM on November 15 [25 favorites]

it is wild that Ontario small towns play American better than American small towns, I guess.

Or maybe movie productions just get more tax incentives for filming in Canada, making it cheaper to film there than in the US.

Tax incentives, plus lower costs across your budget, plus lots of local skilled filmmaking folks to staff your production.
posted by theory at 2:51 PM on November 15 [1 favorite]

→ Cornwall: Flee while you can

It's got a St. Hubert tho, and not many places in Ontario can say that
posted by scruss at 5:58 PM on November 15 [4 favorites]

It's got a St. Hubert tho, and not many places in Ontario can say that

CHICKEN POINTING UP
posted by Kitteh at 6:29 PM on November 15 [1 favorite]

How does it compare to Prince Santa?
posted by kyrademon at 6:45 AM on November 16

Someone apparently noticed this was similar to a Chuck Tingle book and pointed that out to him. His response was a tongue-in-cheek "how dare they."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:49 AM on November 16 [2 favorites]

Ooh do they use the Brockville Tunnel at all in the movie? We do the drive from Montreal to Michigan at least yearly, but my one and only stop-off in Brockville was to see Canada's oldest railway tunnel repurposed as a lighted walk on the recommendation of a docent at the 1000 Islands Tower. It was pretty cool. I know nothing more of Brockville except when we pass the sign on the 401 I say, "Oh, hey, that's where that tunnel is." Now I can add, "and where Hot Frosty was shot."

I'm holding off on actually seeing the movie until it's a little closer to December but it's hard to wait. In our household, "Scrooged" is the traditional First Christmas Movie Of the Year on the night we decorate the apartment, often followed by the genuinely-heinous-but-I-can't-not-watch-it-every-year-because-it's-about-kittens "Santa Claws." I'm betting we'll get to "Hot Frosty" right quick after though, because my partner has a delightfully surprising soft spot for the goofy holiday rom-coms and I'm really looking forward to this one.
posted by kittensyay at 11:01 AM on November 16

oh do they use the Brockville Tunnel at all in the movie? We do the drive from Montreal to Michigan at least yearly, but my one and only stop-off in Brockville was to see Canada's oldest railway tunnel repurposed as a lighted walk on the recommendation of a docent at the 1000 Islands Tower. It was pretty cool. I know nothing more of Brockville except when we pass the sign on the 401 I say, "Oh, hey, that's where that tunnel is." Now I can add, "and where Hot Frosty was shot."

The tunnel IS cool. Shepherd and I went one summer on a lark and it is a very nice place to escape the heat. Did they have the Canadian pop songstresses on a loop when you were there?
posted by Kitteh at 11:09 AM on November 16

Does the snowman say "..Happy BIRTHday!" at any point? This is a deal-maker or breaker for me.
posted by delfin at 1:47 PM on November 16 [3 favorites]

I just watched it on the basis of this post.

It is a movie that knows exactly what movie it is, and I have to say that I do appreciate that.
posted by kyrademon at 1:49 PM on November 16 [4 favorites]

I also just watched it. It was sweet, but heh, I think the level of sexiness was way overhyped.
posted by limeonaire at 2:06 PM on November 16

We watched this last night, and, yeah, the supposed naughtiness is wayyyyyyyy overhyped. There’s one kinda overt-ish scene that’s played for giggles, and that’s pretty much it. Otherwise, it’s a cute little holiday flick that knows exactly what it is and does the job it set out to do.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:05 AM on November 17

By way overhyped, people mean the scene between Rudolph and Clarice in the felt puppet tv special is sexier. I thought the ending was really odd and the snowman’s brain and ability to learn was kind of the deuce ex machina of the movie- they had no idea what to do with the idea beyond a title.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:30 AM on November 18