Unfrosted 2024 – Bad or just misunderstood?

“Unfrosted,” Jerry Seinfeld’s movie and directorial debut about the 1960s rivalry between cereal manufacturers Kellogg and Post, was met with some harsh criticism. Jerry himself played the lead role of Bob Cabana, the fictional head of development at Kellogg during that era. Negative feedback focused on the pacing, the humor, the script — and just about everything else. Which leads me to say:

Cereasly?

Because I, on the other hand, enjoyed every minute of it. I thought it was brilliant. The humor was sharp and the fast pacing made perfect sense — it mirrored the script’s theme of racing toward the next big breakfast innovation. As for the script itself, I saw it as a storytelling masterclass that was either misunderstood or simply underappreciated.

Here’s why I thought it was brilliant:

Storytelling principle: Ending should bring us closer to god

Let me explain. One man’s effort toward a goal often brings him nothing but exhaustion — a fatigue that typically surfaces around the midpoint of the story (if it follows that structure). It’s not until he turns toward something greater — fate, faith, or even God — and lets go of control that his chances for true success begin to rise.

In Unfrosted, the ending centers on the success of the Pop-Tarts. So, to make that payoff resonate with this principle (which is a solid storytelling choice), the script wisely implies throughout that their success was, in fact, destined.

And it was executed expertly:

• The creation of Pop-Tarts wasn’t the result of one man’s effort, but a culmination of many characters following their passions and doing what they loved.
• One character even somehow breathed life into his creation — a subtle suggestion that a higher power, or “God,” was near.
• All their contributions were eventually unified by Bob’s sudden burst of inspiration, triggered by a chance encounter with some kids dumpster diving.
• Even the name “Pop-Tarts” emerged after a series of almost absurd coincidences — as if destiny had a hand in all of it.
• All while Bob himself was losing more and more control. He was captured by the “Organized Milk” mob, thrown unprepared into a meeting at the White House, and during the cereal funeral, when Mrs. Schwinn asked if he had planned the “cereal honors,” he simply replied, “I don’t know.”

So, who other could than be behind it all? 🙂

Moving forward, in a clear contrast, Post’s efforts in the other camp became apparent when they came up with the uninspired brand name ‘Country Squares’ that flopped.

Other key story elements were there too — but I’ll save those for another article. Honestly, I don’t think this script could have been put together any better. And I believe that one day, people will come to appreciate it a lot more.

Ira