Snow Day is a 2000 American comedy film directed by Chris Koch, written by Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi, produced by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, and starring Chris Elliott, Mark Webber, Jean Smart, and Chevy Chase with supporting roles by Schuyler Fisk, Iggy Pop, Pam Grier, John Schneider, Zena Grey, Josh Peck, Jade Yorker, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and David Paetkau. The film premiered on January 29, 2000, and was theatrically released on February 11, 2000. It tells the story of a snow day occurring as a group of kids plan to thwart a snowplow driver so that the snow day can occur for one more day as well as the film featuring other subplots occurring. This is the first of two films to star both Josh Peck and Zena Grey, the other being Max Keeble's Big Move, released the following year.
It was met with generally negative reviews, but was a box office success, and the soundtrack single "Another Dumb Blonde" became the biggest chart single of Hoku's career. It was released on home video on October 3, 2000, and re-released on September 26, 2017.
A musical remake is currently in production for Paramount+.
Plot[]
The film focuses on a group of elementary school students in Syracuse, New York, led by Natalie Brandston (Zena Grey), who get a snow day, and try to keep their school snowed in and closed for a second day by stopping a snowplow driver (Chris Elliott) from plowing the streets. Meanwhile, Natalie's older brother, Hal (Mark Webber), tries to win the heart of popular high school girl Claire Bonner (Emmanuelle Chriqui), with the help of his best friend, Lane Leonard (Schuyler Fisk), who secretly harbors feelings for him. Also, their father, Tom (Chevy Chase), is a television meteorologist who must face off against a rival, Chad Symmonz (John Schneider), in order to continue his career. Their workaholic mother, Laura (Jean Smart), is stuck at home with their mischievous brother, Randy. Eventually, Natalie and her friends, Wayne (Josh Peck) and Chet (Jade Yorker), take over the plow and "unplow" the streets (move all the snow back in the way). After endless love demonstrations (and being rescued by Natalie), Hal finds out he, in fact, loves Lane. He is even encouraged by Claire to go after her. Tom unmasks Chad on live TV, showing the viewers that he is fake, and winning back his status. Chad is arrested and Laura takes the day off from work to look after Randy. When Principal Weaver gets home, the kids bombard him with snowballs.
Cast[]
- Zena Grey as Natalie Brandston, a young girl out to preserve the snow day that happens to Syracuse.
- Mark Webber as Hal Brandston, the older brother of Natalie. He serves as the narrator of the film.
- Jean Smart as Laura Brandston, the mother of Natalie and Hal.
- Chevy Chase as Tom Brandston, the father of Natalie and Hal who works as a weather man.
- Chris Elliott as Roger Stubblefield/Snowplow Man, a mean snowplow driver who has a reputation of eliminating snow days.
- Josh Peck as Wayne Alworth, a friend of Natalie.
- Jade Yorker as Chet Felker, a friend of Natalie.
- Schuyler Fisk as Lane Leonard, the best friend of Hal who harbors feelings for him.
- Emmanuelle Chriqui as Claire Bonner, a teenager and expert diver who is Hal's love interest.
- Iggy Pop as Mr. Zellweger, a boring disc jockey.
- Pam Grier as Tina
- John Schneider as Chad Symmonz, a weather man who is Tom's rival.
- Damian Young as Principal Ken Weaver, the principal of Natalie's school who becomes a target of snowballs on snow days which becomes a running gag throughout the film.
- Connor Matheus as Randy Brandston, the baby brother of Natalie and Hal.
- J. Adam Brown as Bill Korn, a friend of Hal.
- David Paetkau as Chuck Wheeler, an ill-tempered boyfriend who becomes Hal's rival for Claire's affection.
- Kea Wong as Paula
- Carly Pope as Fawn
- Tim Paleniuk as Mailman
- Rozonda Thomas as Mona
- Katharine Isabelle as Marla