Geekatana Review - Jingle All the Way (1996) - Get to da Toyyah!!!

Jingle All the Way is a Christmas comedy film for the family that was released back in 1996. Being a big Arnold fan that I am back then I rushed and watched this in theaters along. It was directed by Brian Levant and is written by Randy Kornfield. The film was released under 20th Century Fox.

 

It's one of those feel good film for me where you can just watch a movie on christmas eve and have a good laugh, be entertained and have fun. Its a comedy family film set on christmas eve with Arnold Schwarzenegger and for a kid like me back then that is more than enough for me.

Howard Langston is a workaholic salesman at a mattress company and cause of this he constantly disappoints his son, Jamie. So when Jamie said he all he wants for Christmas is an action figure of Turbo Man Howard decides to not disappoint him. Saly its Christmas eve and the toy is mostly sold out. So Howard must travel all over town and compete with everybody else in getting the toy including a rather persistent postal worker named Myron. Slapsticks and misadventures occur.

 

The story of Jingle All the Way is what you would expect, a satire of how insane things can get during christmas eve when parents hunt for that one toy their kids want all year round only to find it sold out. The situation is played as both real and extreme as folks will scramble for that last minute holiday shopping. As a tale though it doesnt offer much that we have not seen in comedy movies of this type before. The typical antic and slapstick you expect. Still It is a really fun movie if you don't take it too seriously and enjoy it for what it is.

The characterization is basic at most but still got in a few good lines and some decent funny moments here and there. The characters does play off on each other good enough that I definitely got some good laughs off. Sure the film may have issues but its still an enjoyable movie. Some may think that Arnolds acting is wooden but that is part of his charm and he delivers it in spades none the less. Him and Sinbad play off each other strengths and weaknesses really well. Oh and did I mention that the kid who wants the Turbo man figure will be Anakin in Starwars? Anakin, he will be....he will be. Afraid are you?

The movie is definitely not trying to be movie of the ear. It is just a funny christmas movie where you can just watch it and just laugh at how over the top and hilarious it is. Its basically a loonie toons like live action christmas movie with Arnold at what he does best. Just an idea on how hilariously exaggerated this movie can get is that there is a scene where he punches a Reindeer. It's in the trailer and it is in the movie. It does get a bit too violent at some scenes that they play as funny that is probably not for little kids.

 

This film was directed by the guy that made Ms Doubtfire and Home Alone. If the two movies mention don't get you on what type of movie this is I dont know what will. The comedy is there and the violent comedy you find in Home Alone movies is also here given that certain Arnold from the movie Commando style type of scenario. If this is the type of comedy christmas film your into then this is definitely the movie for you. This movie came out back in 1996 if you haven't seen this movie yet by now then you are probably not watching much during christmas season.

 

Jingle All the Way is a fun and entertaining christmas movie. If you like some over the top slapsticks and is a fan of Arnold you definitely should give this movie a go. Still chances are you have already seen this movie by now and no doubt can relate to the film one way or another be it your an adult, a kid or a teenager. It is probably one of the better Arnold comedy movies out there for me regardless of its shortcomings and how over the top silly it can get. Its not the best christmas movie out there but its still a very entertaining film even to this day.