NETFLIX Review: Seinfeld's 'Unfrosted' an easily digestible comedy, even if a bit of an acquired taste

Netflix, 2024.

Viewed through the right lens, Jerry Seinfeld's directorial debut, "Unfrosted" (now streaming on Netflix) is a harmless diversion. Much like its subject, the Pop Tart, if you're looking for nuance, exquisite flavor or any level of complexity, you are probably sniffing in the wrong toaster. But if you want something fast and edible, this may be the comedy for you.

Grade: B-

Did you really choose to watch "Unfrosted" because you thought it would be an historically accurate re-telling of the Pop Tart? That's on you. Were you expecting Jerry Seinfeld - famous for starring in a "show about nothing" - to deliver us a movie with deep existential meaning? Curb your enthusiasm, my friend.

No, it may be unfair, but to me, comedies should and ARE critiqued a bit differently than other genres of film. The "well, was it funny?" question is THE most important question of all. For example, I'm not exactly looking for stylish direction or innovative cinematography when I plop down to watch a comedy. I'm not necessarily judging performances or character development. I am though, a devout student and fan of the "smart dumb" comedies like "Airplane!" or "The Naked Gun." I love me some Weird Al. I'm all about comedians taking big swings even if some of them don't land.

All one can hope for is that the laughs are pure and plenty, that there is a mix of "high-brow" humor and keen observations to go along with any of the "low-brow" stuff. Those watching a 93-minute streaming comedy directed by (and starring) Jerry Seinfeld and centered on the origins of the Pop Tart, who were looking for anything more than a good time, I'm sorry to say, are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Well "Unfrosted" is funny, if not consistently so. It takes a seed of truth - that back in the 1960s, there was somewhat of a competition between competing cereal companies, Kellogg and Post - and creates a sugary-sweet fantasy deep-fried in nostalgia. I was reminded of the recent movie "Weird," that chronicled the life of "Weird Al" Yankovic, but re-wrote history as it wished, for maximum laughs. If you're not in on the primary joke of "Unfrosted" - that none of this really matters one way or the other - you're bound to become frustrated by Seinfeld's folly.

Seinfeld himself stars as an executive for the Kellogg company, who becomes threatened when they discover that the Post company is on the verge of a major breakfast-breakthrough: A quick-and-easy-to-make toaster treat is being developed, that looks to reshape breakfasts for millions of Americans. There's very little that occurs that is true. That's part of the fun of it all.

He carves out larger roles for Jim Gaffigan (as Edsel Kellogg III), Amy Schumer (Marjorie Post) and Melissa McCarthy (as a NASA scientist). He lampoons Walter Kronkite (Kyle Dunnigan), JFK (Bill Burr) and fitness guru Jack Lalanne (James Marsden) while making the legendary Thurl Ravenscroft (Hugh Grant) into a major player (Thurl famously gave voice to Tony the Tiger for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes). Christian Slater plays a mysterious milk man, and we discover that there is an ugly underbelly to the profession. Countless other comedians pop in and out of the movie, to the degree that there are nearly more cameos than laughs, and there are plenty of laughs.

This is a world where Snap, Crackle and Pop, Chef Boy Ardee, Little Debbie, the Quaker Oats Guy and countless other mascots walk around as if this was an alternate "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" universe. Even Kruschev (Dean Norris) and Andy Warhol (Dan Levy) show up. To drive the point home and to state the obvious, I think it's a "stretch" at best to think that the race for the first Pop Tart included so many iconic figures of the time.

Seinfeld even frames the movie as a corny "flashback," as his character regales the story to a lone child (Isaac Bae) at a diner.

All of this, and we haven't even mentioned the living space-monkey ravioli character. Or the storm of people that raid the Kellogg building, drawing clear parallels to the January 6th attack at the U.S. Capitol.

Does it all work? Of course not. The movie feels more like a shamble of sketch-comedy bits, sewn together to form some semblance of a narrative. Visually, it's as if Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory burst open and contaminated the world.

Even at 93 minutes, it does feel like its charm dilutes as it moves along. You won't be thinking about this movie for very long after watching it. If there is a point - and trust me, I'm not convinced there is - it's that Seinfeld seems to be giving the people what they want.  Hey American People, you want frivolous and mindless content? OK! Here you go! Enjoy!

The Pop Tart, in that sense, represents the needs of our country perfectly, then and now: We don't want to be challenged, we just want something quick and tasty...we don't care where it came from or what's inside of it...as long as it feels good and goes down easy, delivered to us in the most convenient of ways.

Wait a minute...is "Unfrosted" Jerry Seinfeld's way of basically giving the American People the middle finger? A sly mirror held up to the face of our society, exposing the very worst of human nature and rubbing our noses in it?

Or is it simply a movie co-starring a talking ravioli?

Regardless, "Unfrosted" may be a lot of things, but unfunny isn't one of them. Isn't that the main ingredient of a comedy?

Grade: B-

Genre: Comedy.
Run Time: 1 hour 33 minutes.
Rated PG-13.

Starring: Isaac Bae, Jerry Seinfeld, Christian Slater, Jim Gaffigan, Hugh Grant, Kyle Mooney, Mikey Day, Sarah Cooper, Patrick Warburton, Amy Schumer.

Co-Written and Directed by Jerry Seinfeld (feature-film directorial debut).

"Unfrosted" is available on Netflix on Friday, May 3rd, 2024.