Unfrosted” is a 2024 American comedy film directed by Jerry Seinfeld, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Spike Feresten, Barry Marder, and Andy Robin. The film, loosely based on the true story of the creation of Pop-Tarts toaster pastries, features an ensemble cast including Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Max Greenfield, Hugh Grant, and Amy Schumer. This marks Seinfeld’s feature directorial debut. He and Feresten also produced the film alongside Beau Bauman through Columbus 81 Productions. Released by Netflix on May 3, 2024, the film received mixed reviews from critics and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.
Plot Summary
The story begins with a young runaway who orders Pop-Tarts in a diner and meets Bob Cabana, who narrates the origin story of Pop-Tarts.
In 1963, Bob, head of development at Kellogg’s in Battle Creek, Michigan, discovers that rival company Post is developing a new shelf-stable, fruit-based pastry breakfast food. To counter this, Bob convinces Kellogg’s to hire back former employee Donna “Stan” Stankowski from NASA. Together, they develop a similar product, eventually coming up with a rectangular, fruit-filled food that can be toasted.
Ful Movie Download Click
As the Kellogg’s team races against Post to release their product, they face numerous challenges, including interference from a powerful dairy industry cabal, communist sugar deals involving the USSR, and internal marketing struggles. After a series of comedic events and mishaps, including an explosion during testing and a violent mascot strike led by Thurl Ravenscroft (Tony the Tiger), Kellogg’s manages to launch the product under the name “Pop-Tarts.”
The film concludes with a present-day scene where the boy questions the story’s authenticity, and a humorous revelation involving a sentient ravioli creature.
Cast
- Jerry Seinfeld as Bob Cabana
- Melissa McCarthy as Donna Stankowski
- Jim Gaffigan as Edsel Kellogg III
- Max Greenfield as Rick Ludwin
- Hugh Grant as Thurl Ravenscroft
- Amy Schumer as Marjorie Post
- Peter Dinklage as Harry Friendly
- Christian Slater as Mike Diamond
- Bill Burr as John F. Kennedy
- 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 Nikita 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
- Jon Hamm as Ad Man #2
- Aparna Nancherla as Purvis Pendleton
- Andy Daly as Isaiah Lamb
- Sarah Burns as Mrs. Schwinn
- Eleanor Sweeney as Cathy
- Bailey Sheetz as Butchie
- Isaac Bae as George, the runaway
- Rachael Harris as Anna
- Kue Lawrence and Catherine Last as Bobby and Annie
- Patrick Warburton as Tom Terranova
- Ken Narasaki as Ralston Purina
- Earthquake as Cookie Rojas
- Sasheer Zamata as Beth Donovan
- Michael Joseph Pierce as General Mills
- Ronny Chieng as Chuck
Production
Netflix acquired the project in June 2021. Principal photography occurred in mid-2022. To promote the film, Kellogg’s and Netflix collaborated on a unique campaign.
Music
The score was composed by Christophe Beck, with a featured song “Sweet Morning Heat” by Meghan Trainor and Jimmy Fallon.
Release and Reception
The film premiered at Grauman’s Egyptian Theater in Hollywood on April 30, 2024, and was released on Netflix on May 3, 2024. It received mixed reviews, with a 42% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 42 out of 100 score on Metacritic. While some critics praised its humor and Seinfeld’s direction, othe
rs found it lacking in substance.
Notable Reviews
- New York Times: Praised the film’s fast-paced jokes and humor.
- Variety: Described it as “an agreeably flaked-out piece of surrealist vaudeville.”
- The Hollywood Reporter: Highlighted the film’s playful production design and humor.
Despite the divided critical reception, “Unfrosted” secured a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
Leave a Reply