Movie Review: Jingle All the Way

Jingle All the Way 

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Robert Conrad, Jake Lloyd, James Belushi, Martin Mull, Danny Woodburn 

Director: Brian Levant 

1492 Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, USA, 1996. 

Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a busy mattress salesman. Workaholic Howard is neglecting his family and he is always late for his son Jamie's (Jake Lloyd, who played later Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode I) karate lessons. Jamie is not happy.

Howard has forgotten something important

To console with his son, Howard must get a very popular Turbo Man action figure for Christmas present. Howard's wife Liz (Rita Wilson) already told Howard to buy the action figure weeks ago, and the toys are getting sold out fast. Howard also has an annoyingly perfect neighbour Ted (Phil Hartman) who is the favourite of the local single mothers. Ted is trying to woo Liz while Howard is away.

Superhero Turbo Man (performed by Daniel Riordan)

Liz

Jamie

Howard notices that he is not the only one doing last minute shopping. The gleeful store clerks are getting their fun from humiliating the searchers of Turbo Man. Howard gets a fierce competitor, a crazy mailman Myron Larabee (Sinbad). Howard gets also a Nemesis, motorcycle cop Hummell (Robert Conrad). Mall Santa (James Belushi) and Tony the Elf (Danny Woodburn) introduce Howard with the gang of shady Santa Clauses running illegal toy business. 

Annoying neighbour Ted

Myron is a postal worker

Gang of Santas lead by James Belushi

This is a surprisingly funny and entertaining movie about last minute shopping spree. Of course it wouldn't be a real Arnold movie without Arnold beating up some opponents or kicking down doors. There is a lot of parody on Arnold's character in action films. The finale goes a bit over the top with the cartoonish special effects, but still it kind of fits the story. There is a lot of Home Alone style comic slapstick. Near the end there is also a short scene where parade performers dressed as Christmas decorations check their knocked down friend, for some reason it looked terribly cute and amusing. 

Oh dear, Peter the Package fell down.

Runner up for the Best Customer Service of the Year (Chris Parnell)

Shop 'til you drop!

The satire of the movie is on commercial Christmas, if Howard does not bring Jamie the toy he wants he will grow up to be a loser like Myron! Even Howard's marriage depends on getting the toy. So the stakes are high. And wait for the punch line after the end credits!

Rating: Good