Jingle All the Way [DVD]

Jingle All the Way: it's got everything a dad could want in a Christmas movie - Arnold Schwarzenegger as an action hero searching for a toy, hijinks galore, and a healthy dose of 90s cheese. But is it actually good? Let's break it down, dad style.The Good Stuff:Action Dad: Arnie in his prime, throwing down with bad guys and generally being awesome. He may not be able to bench press his way out of every situation, but he sure gives it his best shot.Turbo Time! The movie's central quest - finding the hottest Christmas toy of the year - is relatable to any parent who's ever faced the holiday shopping frenzy.Laughs (Mostly Unintentional): This movie is a goldmine of dad jokes and cheesy one-liners. You might groan, but you'll also probably chuckle.The Not-So-Good Stuff:Plot as Thin as Wrapping Paper: The story is about as deep as a kiddie pool, but hey, sometimes you just want mindless entertainment.Special Effects That Haven't Aged Well: Those reindeer might have been cutting edge in 1996, but they look more like they belong in a Rankin/Bass special these days.Turbo-Charged Consumerism: The movie can be a bit heavy-handed on the whole "gotta have the latest toy" message. Maybe a good opportunity for a teachable moment with the kids?The Verdict:Jingle All the Way is a holiday movie classic, in a cheesy, dad joke-filled kind of way. It's not going to win any awards, but it's a guaranteed good time for anyone who appreciates a little holiday chaos and a whole lot of Arnold. Just don't expect a cinematic masterpiece.So, grab your eggnog, put on your favorite ugly sweater, and prepare to be entertained (and maybe a little embarrassed) by Jingle All the Way.

Yeah, I shamelessly adore this movie. It's one of my all-time Christmas favorites that I watch repeatedly along with "A Christmas Story" and "Santa Claus: The Movie." I prefer the extended addition because you get so much more. The additional scenes really do add to the mayhem. And mayhem will ensue when you add Arnold Schwarzenegger as a workaholic father who's neglected his son far too often. He's the sort of man who will schmooze his clients over the telephone about how they're his number one customer while forgetting his only son's karate class. Then when he realizes that he waited too long and the traffic will keep him in this movie for longer than he intended, tries to take a shortcut. He gets caught and tries to butter up the "I'm not having it today, and especially from you!" patrolman, played by the irrepressible Robert Conrad. He plays it straight and it's hilarious. While Arnie as Howard Langston makes it to his son's school, he quickly realizes he's late. And you will discover he's late to a lot of things. Like his son. His family. The Christmas decorations. He comes home to find the late great Phil Hartman on his roof and filling in on the house lights. Phil as Ted will do a lot of filling in as the movie chugs along.Well, Howard gets both barrels from his wife, Liz, played by Rita Wilson. She's not having his excuses. Neither is his son, Jamie. The boy is the future Anakin Skywalker. It's all good. When the boy isn't shooting future Darth Vader death at this father for skipping the belt ceremony, he's busy drawing endless pictures of his hulking father. It's hilarious to see Howard try and humble himself before the boy. When he asks the innocent question of what Jamie wants for Christmas, we get "Turbo Man!" Turbo Man will be a running joke from now on. It's the "Tickle Me Elmo" of the 90s. And what The Cabbage Patch Dolls were to the 80s. It's the must-have toy of the year! And Howard is late to the party. As usual. It's never explained why Liz never went out and got the doll herself. I guess she must have been fending off Phil Hartman. Anyway, she had entrusted the deed to her hapless husband and you discover that was stupid. He has no idea what she's going on about. Who is this Turbo Man? He's about to find out.And so begins poor Howard's quest to make up for all the times he was a lousy father. He waits until Christmas Eve to go searching for the toy that Jamie just has to have. Now we get to the good part. And the madness that ensues when greed and desperation collide. It's the stuff of Black Friday nightmares as Howard navigates his way through one toy store to another trying to find this doll that is the most popular toy ever! Along the way, he meets up with exhausted mailman and single dad, Sinbad, who's in the same boat. His son wants the doll too. He's Arnie's comedic foil and rival as they shove, trip, and annoy each other trying to get this stupid, plastic homage to every parent's worst Christmas fear---not getting that perfect gift for their precious child.If you've ever had to plow your way through an army of angry, determined parents trying to get the hottest toy of the year, you'll laugh and cry right along with poor Howard as he's maced, bitten, assaulted by harried mothers, chased by a psychotic reindeer who makes the predator look tame, and taken advantage of by a group of shyster Santa Clauses who are running a counterfeit toy ring. The scene involving the pileup of Santas is worth the price of admission. Candy cane nunchucks! And you get cameos by Verne Troyer and "The Giant" before he was known as "The Big Show." He's going to deck Howard's halls. Nice.Howard is so disillusioned by his failed trek through the Christmas toy rush that he tries to steal Ted's Turbo Man present to his son, Johnny. Sinbad foils him at every turn. And Phil Hartman's "Dad Of The Year" Ted, is trying to do more than eat Liz's sugar cookies. And Jamie. Well, poor Jamie just wants to see his dad at the Christmas parade. He'll get his wish and more.All in all, a hilarious take on the evils of holiday shopping and what happens when you leave getting that perfect present until the last minute. There are some nice bits here. Harvey Korman as The President during the opening montage of a Turbo Man show. Robert Conrad shaking what looks to be a harmless Christmas package. Martin Mull as the ponytailed DJ. The tow truck driver who was Arnie's first Sarah Connor victim in "The Terminator" and Jim Belushi as the slimy conman in a Santa suit. The extended edition has the tow truck scene.If you're looking for laughs and an addition to your Christmas movie library, I'd pick this up and set it beside "Christmas Vacation." Don't let the naysayers put you off this movie. It's really very sweet the way Howard goes to heck and back trying to make his son happy because he loves him. Most parents, I think, would do the same. And he also comes to realize how much his wife means to him too. But he seems to have neglected to buy her a present.Five stars.

Nostalgic Christmas movie! Watched this as a kid. My boys loved it now! Funny! Perfect to add to your Christmas tradition watch list!

I love to watch this movie with family every year, it remembers me The golden years of Christmas.

Watched this for arnie and his muscles, I have a rash now

I recommend

Such a funny movie!

This is my all time favorite christmas movie

Excellent !!

Schöner Film für die Weihnachtstage.Arnold Schwarzenegger ist einer etwas anderen Rolle.Es muss ja nicht immer Terminator sein .Kaufempfehlung kann gegeben werden.

Buen producto y buena calidad

Tutto perfetto!

Blu-rayが安くなっていたので購入。久しぶりに観ましたが、面白かったですね。