Charlie builds a snowman as he and his father used to do annually, dresses him up in his father's scarf, hat, and button. Outside, the wind howls and swirls around the snowman. Suddenly, the snowman comes to life. The initial setup takes quite a long time to get through, making some kids bored. What impressed me the most is this setup which takes so long.
Many films geared towards kids and adults like to get on with the main plot as quickly as possible.
By the end of the film, adults are usually bored with the antics on screen. We see a loving father who wants the best for his family, and how his death can affect that family. I was very surprised at how well this was handled, which could have resorted to relying on melodramatic moments. Instead, the family's trauma is realistic, portrayed with extreme efficiency by Preston and Cross. Cross especially is stunning, and an Academy Award nomination isn't too unlikely.