Themes: Mischievous Children, Sibling Relationships, Forces of Nature
Main Cast: Chris Elliott, Mark Webber, Jean Smart, Schuyler Fisk, Iggy Pop
Release Year: 2000
Country: US
Run Time: 89 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
It's the day children dream of and parents dread: a sudden snowstorm causes the cancellation of school, giving kids a day off and their folks one more thing to worry about. Snow Day traces what happens in an upstate New York town when a thick layer of white stuff forces local schools to take a day off. Fifteen-year-old Hal Brandston (Mark Webber) is crazy about Claire Bonner (Emmanuelle Chriqui), the prettiest girl in his tenth-grade class, who already has a boyfriend -- the class jock and BMOC. Will the magical powers of Snow Day give Hal a chance to win her away? Meanwhile, Hal's ten-year-old sister, Natalie (Zena Grey), is having so much fun with Snow Day that she doesn't want it to end, so she makes sure the Snow Plow Man (Chris Elliott) can't get the roads cleared before morning. Four-year-old Randy Brandston (Connor Matheus) is all cranked up and ready to enjoy life on a day with no day care -- bad news for his mom, Laura (Jean Smart), a businesswoman who has to close an important deal. And weather is a sore spot with father Tom Brandston (Chevy Chase); as the meteorologist at the lowest-rated TV station in town, he is trying in vain to get folks to pay attention to what he has to say about snow, rain, and the elements. Snow Day was produced by Nickelodeon Movies, the feature-film branch of the children's television network, and its eclectic cast also includes Pam Grier, John Schneider, and Iggy Pop. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
The premise of Snow Day is delightful, as anyone who grew up in a wintry environment can relate to the exquisite joy of having school canceled by a blizzard. The movie follows its much-repeated mantra "Anything can happen on a snow day" to all logical conclusions -- but that's what prevents it from continuing to resonate for viewers who've moved past the Nickelodeon age bracket. Clearly, any resemblance to reality is thrown out the window when a couple of ten-year-olds construct a massive fort full of serpentine tunnels, complete with a living space where they've set up a game system -- by 9:30 the morning after the winter's first snowfall. And a silly running joke involves the principal, a gangly goofball, never being out of range of a fusillade of pelted snowballs from unseen attackers. But reviewing the film for a realist is missing the point, and people at an age still eligible for snow days may find this Snow Day an enjoyable enough diversion. Chris Elliott submits a deliciously nasty, rotted-tooth turn as a malevolent snow-plow driver -- though only in the world of this film could a public servant just trying to clear the roads be so vilified. The movie smartly follows a handful of characters throughout their day's activities, making it kind of a preteen Robert Altman movie. But some plots just grow tiresome, such as the relentless campaign carried off by Hal (Mark Webber) to win over the school's hottie snob, when the girl who's really right for him (Schuyler Fisk) is just under his nose. Still, any time one thing starts to sputter, it's nothing that a little ice sculpting or a snowmobile chase can't fix. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Ken Rempel - Art Director, David Kerwin - Associate Producer, Mary Gail Artz - Casting, Barbara Cohen - Casting, Grace Gilroy - Co-producer, Will McRobb - Co-producer, Chris Viscardi - Co-producer, Wendy Partridge - Costume Designer, Richard Cowan - First Assistant Director, Chris Koch - Director, David Finfer - Editor, Raymond Wagner - Executive Producer, Steve Bartek - Composer (Music Score), Leslie McDonald - Production Designer, Robbie Greenberg - Cinematographer, Julia Pistor - Producer, Albie Hecht - Producer, Carol Lavoie - Set Designer, Garrell Clark - Sound/Sound Designer, Will McRobb - Screenwriter, Chris Viscardi - Screenwriter
The film focuses on a group of elementary students in Syracuse, New York, led by Natalie Brandston (Zena Grey), who try to keep their school snowed-in and closed by stopping a snow plow driver known as "Snowplow man" from plowing the streets. Meanwhile, her older brother Hal (Mark Webber) tries to win the heart of high school sweetheart Claire Bonner (Emmanuelle Chriqui), with the help of his best friend, Lane Leonard (Schuyler Fisk). Also, their dad Tom Brandston (Chevy Chase) is a TV meteorologist who must face off against a rival meteorologist, Chad Symmonz (John Schneider), in order to have the right of continuing his weather career. Laura, the workaholic mother, is stuck at home with Randy, her mischievous son. Eventually, Natalie and her friends (Josh Peck,Jade Yorker) take over the plow and "unplow" the streets. After endless love demonstrations, Hal finds out he, fact, loves Lane. Tom unmasks Chad on live TV, showing the viewers he is fake, winning his status back. And Laura (Jean Smart) gives up her work to just play with Randy.
Cast
Chris Elliott - Roger Stubblefield (aka Snowplowman)
