Cook review: Older viewers will savor ‘Unfrosted’

Honestly, you need to be “a certain age” to really savor “Unfrosted.”

Yes, I’m talking about senior citizens, who will giggle at exaggerated memories and ridiculous scenarios as they remember goofy sitcoms and real-life characters from the past.

You’ll especially like it if you enjoyed the “Seinfield” series and were sorry to see the finale of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Jerry Seinfeld is director, producer and co-screenwriter.

He also plays the central character, the fictional Bob Cabana, an executive at Kellogg’s in the 1960s. The whole story is a flashback that Bob shares with a little kid.

Bob is part of a team that’s trying to stay ahead of Post, the other cereal giant, as each tries to add something remarkably new to American breakfast options. Naturally, this involves goofball scenes of corporate espionage.

You’ll watch glimpses of the 1960s including Sea Monkeys (these are real, and continue to be sold, incidentally) famed fitness expert Jack LaLanne, played by James Marsden, and Steve Schwinn (Jack McBrayer, “30 Rock,”) head of a bicycle company.

There really was a Thurl Ravenscroft, played here by Hugh Grant, who was the voice of Tony the Tiger,the Frosted Flakes mascot.

Melissa McCarthy is a good choice to include in the Kellogg’s goings-on, with Amy Schumer as the conniving mean-girl head of Post. Christian Slater is funny as a threatening milkman. There’s a whole ensemble of familiar faces that are fun to see here.

It’s goofiness is the point of it, with some jokes hitting and some completely missing – a graveside scene is deplorable, for example, and a runaway toaster pastry is just silly and not particularly funny.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable concoction – especially for older viewers. I recommend having a Pop Tart – unfrosted, of course – while you take it in.

3 stars

Running time: One hour and 33 minutes.

Rated: PG-13 for sexual innuendo and coarse language.

Streaming on Netflix.

Watch the trailer here.

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