I think the biggest issue I have with this holiday perennial, is that it was obvious that the writers were trying to put together a script that appealed to kids on one level, and adults on another, not unlike Willy Wonka. While this is certainly admirable to shoot for, it's very difficult to pull off and when it misses it can be quite painful to watch. This was no exception; it not only missed, but missed badly; consequently, much of this is completely unwatchable.
Additionally, the animation is poor. One of the producers is Bill Melendez, famous for his work on the Peanuts cartoons. Not coincidentally, the animation and the characters at times look like something out of a Peanuts cartoons. Unfortunately, it captured none of the charm of even the least inspiring of the Peanuts cartoons.
Not least of all, the music was tuneless and uninspiring. It wasn't hummable, it wasn't memorable, it was just embarrassing.
Why this continues to be shown every year opposite the original Frosty - in my mind one of the three best Christmas specials of all time - escapes me. If it were my call, I'd just run the original Frosty, twice. In the meantime, on this I'll pass.
0 out of 10.