Jerry Seinfeld is an interesting fellow. For his directorial film debut, the comedian probably could have done anything he wanted. What he chose to do was tell a mildly humorous version of the 1960's battle between cereal giants Kellogg and Post as they raced to develop a toaster pastry. The result of that battle was Pop-tarts, “the greatest pair of rectangles since the 10 Commandments.”
The story is based loosely on the very real rivalry between Kellogg and Post. The companies have always stolen each other's ideas. As a character says in the movie, “We're like Ford and Chevy. We sell the exact same thing; the difference is marketing.” Post really did start out ahead in the pastry race, but timing and marketing are everything, and their Country Squares proved no match for Pop-tarts.
When a guy of Seinfeld's comedic stature calls, people in Hollywood are going to answer, and sure enough, a ridiculously high-octane cast of A-list personae showed up for this farce. The list includes Melissa McCarthy, Hugh Grant, Amy Schumer, Jon Hamm, Peter Dinklage, and way too many B+-listers and character actors to name here. You will spend the whole movie saying, “Hey, that's so-and-so!”
And you will watch the movie, assuming you have Netflix and are of an age to know who Jerry Seinfeld is. There is simply no reason not to watch this silly celebration of breakfast food. There is also no reason to pretend that it is anything more than an amusing vanity project. In the 90's, “Seinfeld” pushed boundaries with episodes like the “master of my domain” one and the one with the wooden Indian. He took risks and ruffled feathers. “Unfrosted” does neither. The movie is one big Dad-joke. It has laughs, but they are gentle, family friendly, even. Like the breakfast pastry that the film celebrates, it is a bunch of empty calories that you will forget about soon after consuming it. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)
2.5 stars out of 5
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