Unfrosted
| Unfrosted | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Directed by | Jerry Seinfeld |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Bill Pope |
| Edited by | Evan Henke |
| Music by | Christophe Beck |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
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Running time | 93 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Unfrosted is a 2024 American comedy film directed by Jerry Seinfeld (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay he co-wrote with his writing team of Spike Feresten, Barry Marder, and Andy Robin. Seinfeld and Feresten also serve as producers of the film alongside Beau Bauman, through their production company Columbus 81 Productions. The film stars an ensemble cast that includes Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Max Greenfield, Hugh Grant, and Amy Schumer. Christophe Beck composed the film's score. The film is loosely based on the true story of the creation of Pop-Tarts toaster pastries.
In this "tale of ambition, betrayal, sugar, and menacing milkmen", cereal company Kellogg's attempts to beat their rival Post to the market with a revolutionary breakfast pastry in 1963 Battle Creek, Michigan.[2]
The film was released in the United States on May 3, 2024, via Netflix.
Plot[edit]
Bob Cabana, an employee of Kellogg's, befriends a young boy in a diner who's running away from home and asks for Pop-Tarts. He offers to tell him the true origin story of the American breakfast food.
In 60s Battlecreek, MI, the headquarters of both cereal giants Kellogg's and Post, the companies battle to develop more and more popular breakfast foods. After Kellogg's yet again dominates in the '63 Bowl and Spoon Awards, Bob senses that Post is about to unveil something that could dominate the market.
Soon after, observing kids dumpster-diving at Post, Bob discovers they have developed a shelf-stable, tasty, fruit-based pastry breakfast food. He warns his boss Eddie Kellogg of the possibly impending breakfast product.
Through a Kellogg's undercover spy in maintenance they discover Post has further developed a product former employee Donna Stankowski 'Stan' had created for them. Now, she's a NASA scientist working on foods for space missions.
Kellogg's has a press conference, announcing that several prominent figures are joining forces with them as taste pilots as they create a new product. Marjorie Post, the head of rival cereal company Post, calls a meeting of the five major cereal companies, which includes Quaker, Ralston and General Mills. She demands prime shelf placement as her product will fly off the shelves.
Bob flies down to Puerto Rico to El Sucre, who controls most of the world's sugar, and gets exclusive rights. So, Post deals with Russia to secure Cuba's sugar.
Meanwhile, although the taste pilots don't come up with a viable food idea, Bob and Stan are inspired by combining their ideas. They come up with the idea of a rectangular, fruit-filled food packaged in foil that can be toasted. President Kennedy, concerned with the Communists' involvement, summons Kellogg's to DC. JFK urges them to develop their product quickly to thwart them.
Both the cereal mascots and milk industry are concerned with the potential of breakfast no longer being cereal based. The former protest and riot, the latter try to pressure Bob through intimidation.
Cast[edit]
- Jerry Seinfeld as Bob Cabana, an employee of Kellogg's, loosely based on William Post; also the voice of teen Ravioli
- Melissa McCarthy as Donna Stankowski, a NASA scientist who joins the Kellogg's team
- Jim Gaffigan as Edsel Kellogg III, the head of Kellogg's and Bob's boss
- Max Greenfield as Rick Ludwin, an employee of Post
- Hugh Grant as Thurl Ravenscroft, a Shakespearean actor cast as Tony the Tiger
- Amy Schumer as Marjorie Post, the head of rival cereal company Post
- Peter Dinklage as Harry Friendly, leader of the milk syndicate
- Christian Slater as Mike Diamond, a sinister milkman
- Bill Burr as JFK
- Dan Levy as Andy Warhol
- James Marsden as Jack LaLanne
- Jack McBrayer as Steve Schwinn
- Thomas Lennon as Harold von Braunhut
- Bobby Moynihan as Chef Boy Ardee
- Adrian Martinez as Tom Carvel
- Sarah Cooper as Poppy Northcutt
- Mikey Day as Crackle
- Kyle Mooney as Snap
- Drew Tarver as Pop
- Tony Hale as Eddie Mink
- Felix Solis as El Sucre
- Maria Bakalova as Rada Adzhubey
- Dean Norris as Khrushchev
- Kyle Dunnigan as Walter Cronkite and Johnny Carson
- Sebastian Maniscalco as Chester Slink
- Beck Bennett as Barney Stein
- Cedric the Entertainer as Stu Smiley
- Fred Armisen as Mike Puntz
- John Slattery as Ad Man #1[a]
- Jon Hamm as Ad Man #2[a]
- Aparna Nancherla as Purvis Pendleton
- Andy Daly as Isaiah Lamb
- Sarah Burns as Mrs. Schwinn
- Eleanor Sweeney as Cathy
- Bailey Sheetz as Butchie
Production[edit]
It was announced in June 2021 that Netflix had won the rights to the project. Jerry Seinfeld would direct, produce, co-write and star in the film, which is based on a joke he told about the creation of the Pop-Tart.[4] In June 2022, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer, Hugh Grant, and James Marsden were among the newest additions to the cast.[5] Grant provided an audition tape for Seinfeld, being the first time he had done so in over 30 years.[6] In August, Maria Bakalova was announced for a cameo appearance.[7] In February 2024, it was revealed that Bill Burr and Dan Levy joined the cast.[8]
The production was granted a tax credit to film in California in February 2022.[9] Principal photography took place in mid 2022.[10]
Music[edit]
Christophe Beck composed the score for the film.[11] Meghan Trainor and Jimmy Fallon provide a song for the film called "Sweet Morning Heat".[12]
Release[edit]
The film premiered at Grauman's Egyptian Theater in Hollywood on April 30, 2024.[13] The film was released on Netflix on May 3, 2024.[14]
Reception[edit]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 41% of 85 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5/10. The website's consensus reads: "Much like a preservative-packed toaster pastry, Unfrosted is sweet and colorful, yet it's ultimately an empty experience that may leave the consumer feeling pangs of regret."[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 43 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[16]
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b Slattery and Hamm make cameo appearances mimicking their Roger Sterling and Don Draper characters, respectively, from Mad Men[3]
References[edit]
- ^ "Unfrosted (12)". BBFC. May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Dilillo, John. "What's the Deal with Unfrosted? Watch the Sweet Trailer and Find Out". Tudum. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Warner, Sam (May 3, 2024). "Mad Men stars reprise classic roles in Netflix's new movie Unfrosted". Yahoo! News. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 23, 2021). "Jerry Seinfeld To Star In & Direct 'Unfrosted'; Netflix Wins Movie About Creation Of The Pop-Tart". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (June 15, 2022). "Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer, Hugh Grant, James Marsden & More Join Jerry Seinfeld's Comedy Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story For Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ Travis, Ben (March 8, 2024). "Hugh Grant Plays Tony The Tiger In Jerry Seinfeld's Pop-Tarts Movie – Exclusive Image". Empire. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (August 11, 2022). "'Borat' Breakout Maria Bakalova Joins Sofia Coppola-Produced Fairyland And Jerry Seinfeld's Pop-Tart Pic Unfrosted For Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 1, 2024). "Netflix 2024 Movie Slate Counts Titles From Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Jerry Seinfeld & Woody Woodpecker; 'Beverly Hills Cop 4' Sets Date". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Robb, David (February 28, 2022). "California Film Commission Picks 30 Films For Next Round Of Tax Credits Expected To Generate $1.17 Billion Statewide". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ Ehrlich, David (May 3, 2024). "Unfrosted Review: Jerry Seinfeld's Painfully Stale Pop-Tarts Comedy Never Heats Up". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Christophe Beck Scoring Jerry Seinfeld's Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story". Film Music Reporter. May 23, 2023. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ "Jerry Seinfeld Rants About Hating Everything, Talks Hugh Grant Playing Tony the Tiger and Unfrosted". YouTube. March 27, 2024. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Hogan, Kate. "See Melissa McCarthy, Jerry Seinfeld and More Stars Arriving to the 'Unfrosted' Premiere in L.A." Peoplemag. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 1, 2024). "Netflix 2024 Movie Slate Counts Titles From Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Jerry Seinfeld & Woody Woodpecker, 'Beverly Hills Cop 4' Sets Date". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "Unfrosted". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ "Unfrosted". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
