‘Snowmen’ tries to melt your heart

Snowmen, the new family feature starring Ray Liotta and Christopher Lloyd, tries to warm the heart with an against-all-odds story featuring a terminally ill child trying to leave a lasting impression before he dies.

For a based-on-a-true-story movie that has a target audience among the PG crowd, Snowmen discusses some serious issues. But whatever good the movie might have done for youngsters is hijacked by paint-by-numbers characters and a weak script. Robert Kirbyson, who wrote and directed the feature, can’t pull his thesis together without instigating a few unintended laughs.

Billy Kirkfield (a likable Bobby Coleman) teams up with his two best friends (an annoying Bobb’e J. Thompson with an oddly fake Jamaican accent and Christian Martyn) to overcome the school bully (Josh Flitter) and break the Guinness World Record for building the most snowmen ever.

The school and local media, realizing that Billy is a cancer patient, rally behind the children and join in the effort.

Liotta plays Billy’s father, a business-minded car dealer who loves to see his face on the TV. Lloyd, who has one scene that lasts a few minutes, is the caretaker of a local cemetery. He turns up at the most opportune time to offer his wizened two cents.

The premise of looking at a serious illness through a child’s eyes is admirable. Kirbyson deserves credit for attempting a difficult task. Unfortunately, the execution is far from perfect.

The script holds the movie back. Everyone speaks cheesy one-liners that feel more appropriate for Nickelodeon sitcoms than a feature film. Thompson’s character, in particular, is grating. Every other line out of his mouth is “yeah, mon.” Just in case you forget that he’s Jamaican, he needs to remind you every single second.

Coleman is an extremely talented actor and holds much of the film on his shoulders. He is able to convey an impressive range of emotions at such a young age.

Liotta and Lloyd are working through the motions. Not much characterization makes it into the final cut.

Snowmen tries hard and it has a big heart, but this family entertainment is far from entertaining. The fact that it’s based on a true story, which viewers can learn more about in the bonus features, makes the flick doubly disappointing. There is real inspiration to be found in Billy’s story, but Snowmen isn’t a worthy vehicle for such a message.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Snowmen

• 2011

• Written and directed by Robert Kirbyson

• Starring Bobby Coleman, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Josh Flitter, Doug E. Dough, Christopher Lloyd and Ray Liotta

• Running time: 86 minutes

• Rated PG for thematic material, some rough bullying and peril, language and brief juvenile humor

• DVD features: bloopers, outtakes, short documentaries on the true story and director’s commentary.

• Rating: