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Poster for Snowtime!

Snowtime!

War, war, it's not a reason to hurt each other!

2015 · 1h 22m · PG Animation, Comedy, Family

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Overview

To amuse themselves during the winter school break, the kids in a small village decide to have a massive snowball fight. Luke and Sophie, both 11 years old, become the leaders of the opposing sides. Sophie and her cohort defend an elaborate snow fort against the assault of Luke’s horde. Whichever side occupies the fort at the end of the winter break, wins. But what starts out as pure youthful fun and enthusiasm deteriorates into a more serious conflict. Joy is restored when all the children decide to attack the fort rather than each other and happily destroy every last bit of the snow fort.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
74%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Aimed at very young audiences, the cheerier remake - with voice work by Sandra Oh as the young architect of a snow fort and a song by Celine Dion - is more distinguished by its charming animation than how it handles the storyline.

Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Rotten

The characters remain underdeveloped, a problem complicated by the weightless, unexpressive animation.

Charles Solomon, Los Angeles Times
Fresh

"Snowtime!" is by turns ribald (there's a flatulent dog), boisterous (there's charging through the snow with wooden swords wildly waved), tender (there's a boy grieving quietly for a father killed in a real war) and, yes, tragic.

Soren Anderson, Seattle Times
Fresh

That's the charm (and the quandary) of this film. Sophisticated in its look and feel on the one hand (the warm hues and tones evoke a warmth that defies the wintry cold), it's almost too retro for its own good on the other.

Miriam Di Nunzio, Chicago Sun-Times
Fresh

It is aimed at younger children and includes pretty songs, but it doesn't soft-pedal anything. Its low-key story is about friendship, but it's also about loss, which should leave pint-size viewers with plenty to think about.

Neil Genzlinger, New York Times

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