Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-20 21:11:14

Very Funny-not nearly as bad as some would have you beleive

I can't beleive this movie gets the bad reviews it does, but it seems to be a love it/hate it relationship. Even Dr. Laura chimed in about how bad this was, but at least she admits she didn't watch it all (else I think she may change her mind).First - unless you watch it to the conclusion, you may think it's about parental materialism and purchased loyalties. IT'S NOT! In fact, the end of the movie very firmly reinforces the idea that Christmas is NOT about materialism.I don't want to spoil the plot for you, but so many bad reviews may lead you away from this movie if I do not dispell at least some of them. The movie is in fact quite heart-warming. Where others have said that the kid is annoying and materialistic, he is the one who best demonstrates true christmas spirit at the end by admiting that it is not the TOY that matters at all - in fact he GIVES IT AWAY after getting it, in favour of a BETTER gift: his own father.The supposedly leacherous character of hartman is, in fact, leacherous. But his target (Arnold's wife) quite firmly affirms her monogomous loyalty by cold-cocking the leacher upside his noggin. Also, at the end.And Sinbad's performance is pure, well, Sinbad! I love this guy. An overweight postman trying to outrun the President's Fitness Council chairman! HA! Running down the street throwing mail overboard to lighten the load! I don't think this part was written for Sinbad... No, I think he improvised most of it himself! It's great!Don't listen to the naysayers. I suppose these people completely missed the point of the movie which was driven home very strongly in the end.Buy it! I did, and it's one of my favourites.

Rob 2012-05-20 07:59:29

Cool Christmas Movie

One of my favorite christmas movies. Good acting, plot and story. I dont know what to say but watch and stop reading my crappy reviews! Its Xmas time ! Dont let me waste you time!~Silentrob45

Jack Starr 2012-05-18 11:39:54

Critics are wrong!

Sometimes critics mistake.This is definitely an example.You see somemovies don't need to be reviewed,you just need to watch them first,andthen judge your feelings. So idea of the movie is great,and its prettyfamiliar to EVERY father on Christmas.And that's why people like toassociate themselves with Arnie's character.There are a lot ofmisadventures(you wont remember every after ending i promise),but theyactually work out pretty entertaining,sometimes even laughably funny(Santa's gang scene). Also contains good soundtrack,that includes ChuckBerry's "Run Rudolf,Run". i also like casting choice for Ted.I don'tlike this type of sleazy scumbags,thats why he is so realisticallyannoying.Not much else to say,WATCH IT NOW.

DaRick89 2012-05-18 06:13:36

Struggles to jingle any of the way, but the ending is the real nail in the coffin

Let me start this review by saying that I actually liked Jingle All TheWay as a little kid. Shows how discriminating I was back then, huh? Butsomething happened - I grew older. I saw this again back in 2002 andthen 2005 (both times on Christmas Eve, coincidentally) and both timesI hated it. I hated the little kid, and I hated the implied moral that:"Your kid will only love you if you give him stuff." But the worstpart, I felt, was the ending. I still feel, a few months after seeingit, that it was a cop-out, where all is forgiven and everyone goes homehappy. I would have at least told my kid off for yelling at me over thephone, but no, this kid gets off scot-free and that put me off.The story is about a man called Howard Langston, who rushes to get hiskid a toy for Christmas after letting him down too many times. Whatfollows are slapstick antics and a insipid battle with a postman (don'task).The acting is OK, I guess, but nothing special. Arnold Schwarzeneggertries but is often reduced to smiling and mugging for the camera, whileSinbad presents his character as obnoxious and unlikeable, to the pointwhere we don't care when he gets the toy. Jake Lloyd's character is anunlikeable brat and judging by his performance here, we end upwondering how he ever got to play Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars. PhilHartman and James Belushi come and go without really managing to makean impression.All in all, this is one to avoid, even if you are a fan ofSchwarzenegger. As for me, I felt like I was robbed of time I couldhave spent doing something more worthwhile.1/5 stars

2012-05-13 01:50:10

Great holiday movie...

This review is from: Jingle All the Way (DVD) Highly recommend this movie. I purchased it for my two year old and he watches it constantly. The movie is funny, entertaining and it keeps my husband and I quite interested although we've seen it about 5 times.

farnum 2012-05-12 17:27:03

Ho Ho Ho!

I love this movie! It's so funny because it's true! I took my kids to seeit way back in '96, and they were just like the kids in the movie. It'sgood to see Schwarzenegger finally film a movie in Minnesota. Our familyused to live in St. Peter, MN, and we were really proud when we saw the St.Paul Hollidazzle shown in the movie. This is the best thing Sinbad has beenin since "Houseguest".

2012-05-10 17:49:52

An underrated Christmas gem!

Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a working father who always breaks promises sometimes but this time after trying to make it to his son Jamie's (Jake Lloyd) karate class he blew it. He appologizes to his son for his stupidity and wants to make it up to Jamie by getting him his one true christmas gift that he wants known as the TurboMan action figure. Little does he know that the Turbo Man doll is the hottest selling toy of the christmas holiday as on Christmas Eve day he looks around the city for one and during his quest, he runs into a manic mailman named Miron (Sinbad) who is also in search of the doll but could that stop Howard?Co-starring John Belushi, Rita Howard and Phil Hartman this is a delightful and exciting Christmas comedy caper. Sure the acting is kind of medicore and can have corny unrealistic situations but the film is a very underrated and enchanting comedy that plays as a metaphore about commercialism around the holidays, the kid whom you know as young Vader from "Star Wars Episode I" isn't annoying as some folks say but i think he's a likable kid here. There's some good non-tough action here, laughs and a nice little message near the end of the film, this is one of my annual holiday movies that i watch ever year.This Family Fun edition DVD contains the theatrical cut and the never before seen Extended Director's Cut which i think improves on the film itself! there's some fine extras like Games, a mockumentary on Turbo Man, A featuette on what kids would grow up to be and the making of the Turbo Man character.

Special-K88 2012-05-10 06:20:00

pushes its premise a bit too far

Wildly uneven comedy stars Schwarzenegger as a hardworking butneglectful father who goes on a frantic, last minute search to try andfind his son a popular Christmas toy. What starts off as a routinesearch soon escalates into an all-out war when he finds an unexpectedrival in the form of deeply disgruntled and unstable mailman Sinbad. Anengaging cast, with some clever and funny moments make the filmwatchable, but eventually it goes overboard and too often resorts tobrutal, Home Alone-style slapstick that is more desperate than funny.Not that bad per se, but derivative and not really suitable for thetarget audience. **½

Chris Horry 2012-05-01 19:43:30

Better for older kids

Fun, if a little far-fetched at times, romp with Arnie trying to find hiskid the ultimate Christmas present. Very much a movie of it's time: theBuzz Lightyear toy had been released the year before with similarresults.Definitely not for younger kids as there is some violence, but older kidswill love it. For adults, definitely a sit down, relax, and turn yourbrainoff movie.

diac228 2012-05-01 02:02:23

Did the final product mean to age so well and stand as the true meaning of Christmas? Was it satire or all a very lucky accident? Either way, its fun

Satires are hard to come by. Good satires are much more rare. Satiresthat fooled everyone, from the audience to the actors playing in thefilm are toughest to find. Jingle All The Way achieves just that. Bythrowing a social commentary joke over the heads of audiences insteadof into their minds, and then by delivering a biting message thatstands just as true today as it did when it first came out, Jingle AllThe Way went from disappointment to one of the most realistic holidayfilms ever, despite its lack of realism. The hypocritical statementsare flying in this first paragraph, but the truth is almost everyonemissed the joke, the main picture. What looks like pure family funturns into commentary with an attack on commercialism and the Americanpublic buying into the scheme. Even if you don't want to look into thedeeper details, why skip out on Sinbad and The Terminator going at it?Jingle All The Way follows a workaholic dad by the name of Howard whodisappoints his wife and son year after year. After missing anotherkarate practice, Howard promises to not only show up at the parade thenext day, but also get his son the TurboMan doll that is based offJamie's favorite television show, favorite cereal, and favorite hero.The catch is simple: it is impossible to find the doll since it's amassive hit. Not only that, but most shipments are not arriving onChristmas Eve (notice the setting getting a bit dangerous), thereforeincreasing the supply-and-demand. Howard is still determined to findthe doll and not disappoint again. Christmas Eve turns into D-Day onthe shores of stores across the nation.This sort of idea has always been present in television showseverywhere, but to take a simple concept and stretch it into afull-length motion picture is a challenge to the utmost level.Thankfully, we have good writing by Randy Kornfield, decent directionby Brian Levant, and the supervision of Chris Columbus (Home Alone,Harry Potter, Mrs. Doubtfire, Adventures in Babysitting). Looking pastthe seemingly heavy dosage of criticism against American society andBig Business, we see the cast throw our victim fathers into everypossible awful and unfortunate scenario possible, and the range ofideas presented are amazing.Arnold Schwarzenegger must have a sense of humor, because he isn'tafraid of embarrassing himself by getting beat up and pulverized by theholiday rush, a bitter mailman, and a Santa Claus that can scare blindchildren. His performance by no means is Oscar-worthy, but we see himwith his determination like in his usual action films, but in a wholenew arena, a totally different atmosphere, and that just adds a dosageof humor to the entire film. To see an action star have to claw his wayout of a melee of people trying to get bouncy balls is priceless.Almost as rare as Schwarzenegger looking wimpy is Sinbad in a superbfilm. His performance as the disgruntled mailman just matches himperfectly, and his determination to get the doll is just as bad.Rounding out the cast is a bunch of underrated and/or B-list stars likethe brilliant Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Robert Conrad, and JamesBelushi.Why in the world would anyone want to skip a movie in which we see arumble involving an angry dad and a bunch of Santa Claus frauds runningan illegal toy-manufacturing/distributing operation (Best scene of themovie for sure)? Why miss out on The Terminator take on a ragingreindeer? Why skip out on a mailman posing as TurboMan's villain andflipping the bird to spectators during a family parade? With an endlessamount of silly, over-the-top, brilliant moments in which representChristmas at its truest, Jingle All The Way stands as the mostrealistic holiday movie ever, since it really shows what its all about.Forget the sappy messages you see in Christmas movies, it doesn'tmatter what you did, what illegal things you performed, how manyassaults you have committed, as long as you get that gosh-darn toy foryour child in Christmas, it will all be forgiven.Everything in this film, whether unintended or intentional, downplaysthe meaning of Christmas and all that goes on. There isn't a singledecent Santa Claus in the film; they are all corrupt human beings witha different agenda. The stores are not trying to please anyone; theyjust want money for themselves and enjoy seeing people scrap forchances of earning a doll like starving dogs fighting over a hunk ofmeat. The main child doesn't say he wants his dad to stay home forChristmas, he says he wants a certain doll, and even recites the entirecommercial, including the final words "Batteries Not Included." Nobodyis helping each other; everyone is fighting, pushing people towardsaisles and toy displays. While the entire thing is comical, it trulydoes happen in the real world. There was even one pivotal scene inwhich Byron the mailman discusses the importance of getting thatspecial gift; he compares himself to another child that got the hotitem on a certain year. Byron is disappointed, grows up to become aloser; neighbor that gets the doll becomes a multi-millionaire.Can a Christmas without material possessions scar you and turn you intoa loser? Or is it Commercial America making it seem that way? Is thisfilm a perfect satire or did it accidentally become that way? While theclues are pointing towards lampoon, Levant looks like he really aimedfor the heartfelt, emotional Christmas movie with the bittersweetending. Instead, we get a film that predates (and apparently predicts)the Tickle Me Elmo, Pokemon, Playstation, and Furby holiday horrorstories. From the campy introduction to the hysterical final showdown,it's a great movie for what it is, and after aging like fine wine,becomes something more—accidental or not.

VIPMafia 2012-04-26 10:18:20

Great Christmas Movie

Jingle All The Way, one of my all-time favourite Christmas movies. Itsfunny, its chaotic, its exciting; its Jingle All The Way! Theunforgettable mail-man who always has something to complain about, andthere is that big "suck-up" Ted. A movie I always get to watch throughthe holiday season, and one I'm never sick of. The characters arerather plain, the dialog is rather plain, but its the excitement,competitiveness, and joy that makes this movie so fun to watch. ArnoldSchwarzenegger most likely known for his "Terminator" roll, takes ofthe glasses and the leather jacket and turns into one workaholic dadwho forgets to buy his son's hottest-selling Christmas toy, and needsto on a cold, icy Christmas eve. A fun movie, who I recommend to anyonein the festive season.

2012-04-25 18:39:39

Yuck.

A family member loved this movie, and would watch it on a regular basis. It got more unbearable every time. Horrible, horrible, horrible. Don't wait those precious moments of your life watching this.

2012-04-24 13:24:01

"Put that cookie down!!!!!!!!!"

What can I say, It's a great, funny , family Christmas film and "Ahnuld" and Sinbad have such great chemistry in this film and well as the late great Phil Hartman who was really funny in this. You can't go wrong with this one.

2012-04-24 00:15:38

Christms Movie Buff

This review is from: Jingle All the Way (DVD) We love Christmas time movies and this one is really good. Arnold is great at comedy. Good for the whole family.

2012-04-23 11:30:45

"Jingle All The Way" Is An All-Time Classic....

In 1996, "Jingle All The Way" became another Christmas classic. The movie is a perfect choice for the whole family to watch. Arnold Schwarzenegger has done it again. He has done thrillers, action films, comedies and now even family movies. No matter what kind of movie he has done in the past he has always made it a MASTERPIECE!The movie starts out with Howard (Schwarzenegger) as a distracted businessman who hasn't paid much attention to his son lately. His son Jamie (Lloyd) is really excited about Christmas coming up and desperately along with every kid in the city wants one thing for Christmas: A Turbo Man doll. Every child has been begging their parents to buy it. Even though his wife Liz (Watson) told him to buy it a month ago, he FORGOT!! Now it's Christmas Eve and he decides then to go buy the most popular toy on the market. Luckily so he don't look stupid, dozens of of other parents are doing the same thing. Now at the first store, they are SOLD OUT! Then one store after the other and the other and NOTHING!! Then he finds out that one store just got a late delivery of Turbo Man dolls and they are having a lottery to see who gets one first. So they whole crowd goes crazy after all the number balls are thrown in the air. He fights a mailmain (Sinbad) for number 2. He loses his ball. Then a mall Santa Claus convinces him that they have Turbo Man dolls to sell him. He follows the guy to his secret facility. He actually pays $300 for a doll and opens the box and it is all broken. They ARE CONARTISTS!! After all the trouble he's been through he starts punching everyone. He fights migit Santa's and even 7' giants. Finally, after being chased my a cop, he accidenlty hides in the dressing room for the people in the parade. They think he is the replacement for the Turbo Man actor that goes on the parade float. So he finally gets his hand on a turbo man and now see what happens next. Will Jamie get this Turbo Man doll or NOT?If you are a big Christmas fan, this is the next piece to add to your Christmas collection. Merry Christmas!! Ho, Ho, Ho!! Jingle All The Way!!

Noel Bailey 2012-04-23 01:21:51

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the city, most every film showing made this seem a pity!

Long had I condemned JUNIOR as being the low spot of Schwarzenegger'scinematic career. Then along came JINGLE ALL THE WAY - what can only bedescribed as the low spot of EVERYONE's career! Par for the course fordirector Levant, former writer for Mork 'n Mindy who gave the world suchgems as PROBLEM CHILD 2, and the two excrescent FLINTSTONEmovies!Whoever advised Schwarzenegger to get involved with this flick is an idiotalthough what does that make Arnie for taking up the option? If to get a fewlaughs we have to see Arnie chasing toddlers through a department store,stealing a present from beneath the tree of his next door neighbor, punchingout Santas Clauses and even a reindeer can you believe it? things are badthis particular yuletide!One totally unseasonal and (as many have mentioned) highlymean-spiritedflick with few redeeming features. (I didn't even like TurboMan!)At the session I sat in on in 1996 it was a really SilentNight!

sarcasticmrjack 2012-04-16 22:19:35

An excellent "Bad Movie"

If you're renting this movie alone, or because you enjoy Arnold for isaction movies, you're going to be disappointed. However, wrangle upyour most sarcastic friends, rent this movie and enjoy. Everythingabout this movie is done poorly, but to the point that it is hilariousrather than taxing. Arnold Schwarzenegger's role is highly laughable,the role of the middle American dimwitted dad being comedicallyaugmented by the choice of the Austrian strongman who seems to havegotten his accent in full swing. Sinbad's acting is pathetic, and hisgoofy facial expressions seem oddly placed, even for a children's film.Phil Hartman gives a pecuilar and bizarre performance as the creepysingle dad next-door. This movie is not about good acting, greatwriting or excellent cinematography. However, the congregation of somuch awful writing propelled by so much awful acting is definitelychock full of laughs for you and your friends.

TheFiendsThatPlagueThee 2012-04-16 10:52:03

Very funny and entertaining family holiday fun

Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzeneggar) is a workaholic salesman who isconstantly missing his son's activities and neglecting his wife. MyronLarabee is an overworked mail carrier. Both of them are looking for aTurbo Man action figure for their sons on Christmas Eve. The onlyproblem is that this particular toy is the hottest selling Christmaspresent ever and has been sold out for a long time in every store inthe area. Their search for these toys leads them into all kinds ofcrazy misadventures including Howard's various run ins with the law("I'm sorry about the bike, the coffee, and the bus and the bomb")culminating in a wonderful action packed climax at the Wintertainmentparade.Arnold Schwarzeneggar is at his best here, as is Sinbad as the mailman.Phil Hartman shines too as Howard's divorced neighbor who has eyes forhis wife and Rita Wilson is great as Howard's wife. Even Jake Lloyd isgreat as Howard's son. The chemistry and relationships between theLangston family in this movie are touching.It is full of action which helps carry the plot and full of humor thatkeeps my children and I smiling and laughing throughout. And one can'tmiss the social message about the importance of family and against thecommercialism of the holiday season.Overall, this is a highly entertaining movie that is a standard in myhouse year after year.

Joe-290 2012-04-16 15:09:51

A remake of a remake of another remake

Jingle all the way has a story that is definatley not new. The idea of afather not attending his childs special ocasion at either work or schoolbecause of working late. Then trying to make up for that fault. Jingle allthe way has its moments but really is quite bad. Arnold Schwarzenegger wascast very well for this part because for some of his actions in the filmbecome hilarious for the fact that he looks funny doing that sort of thing.Of course he really is not in a realistic part but since the films scriptand story are so bad this piece is interesting.Only in certain parts is this film entertaining but it really is only gearedto young viewers. It would do great as double feature with Star Wars for thesame age group of 5 - 10 years.However, the film does show the goodness of a father and only if all fatherswere this kind and generous to their children the world would be great. Thefilm is pathetic but this fact can be notcied easy. A parent doing theirbest to be a good one.The film goes on about a man looking for the best toy for his son but theyare all sold out and he searches with competition all the toy shops he canfind. The film gets very sad and annoying and boreing but the scene with theSanta Claus con men and James Belushi as one of them is slightlyfunny.If there is nothing on TV and you want to watch a christmas movie. This willbe ok. Not terrific and not a good idea but still its better than Star Wars.

2012-04-16 00:28:06

Holiday Mood Movie For Sure

This review is from: Jingle All the Way (DVD) I always love watching this movie around Christmas time.Recently I've noticed how great the selection of Christmas music has been to accompany the scenes, like the scene in the mall when he is chasing the girl to get the bounce ball back. I think the biggest draw for me to this movie is how well it makes fun of the insanity that goes on around Christmas. The rampage at the first toy store, the price gouging and of course the annual "got-to-have" toy that nobody can find. It takes what we've all done to a certain degree and just turns the volume all the way up, which of course, is so funny to watch. One of the keys to a great movie, touch on something familiar to most people and then turn it up to an outrageous level. LOVE IT!