This film has taken a great many knocks over the years and I'll be the first to admit that it does have flaws. The conclusion, especially, is so sickly sweet that it sends your eyes rolling like slot machine spinners. Some of the things that Arnie does as he gets more and more desperate to track down a Turbo man doll for his son are cringe-worthy (I'm thinking particularly of when he stalks a little girl in the ball room at the mall) but they ultimately do function within the larger scope of the film.
Arnold plays a father who was supposed to take care of getting a toy for his son. He's forgotten and has to go out on Christmas Eve to try and track one down. When he realizes that it is the hottest selling toy of all-time, High-jinx ensue.
The thing with Arnie is that you're either going to take him or leave him. If you find his accent aggravating, or his acting wooden, then stay away from this film because you're just not going to like it anyway. I don't think he's that bad in this and I would go so far as to say that it is probably his second most successful comedy ("Kindergarden Cop" being my first choice -- "IT'S NOT A TOOMAH!!!" CLassic! Ha!). He's got an excellent supporting cast in this one: Jim Belushi as a seedy shopping mall Santa, Rita Wilson as Arnie's long suffering wife, Phil Hartman as the sugary sweet sleaze of a neighbour and of course the inimitable Sinbad. I would argue that the unlikely pairing of Sinbad and Arnie works extremely well and is probably the key to the film's success. Neither really has the acting chops to make the other look bad or out of place and so they are each able to hold their own when on screen at the same time.
There is a tendency to take this film too seriously. It has a great satirical viewpoint. Who among the retail warriors can watch this film and not throw their hands up in the air saying "Idiots! You've left it to the last minute and you're getting exactly what you deserve!" Who among the legion of over-stressed and unlucky parents can't feel some sympathy for the plight of a man just trying to do right by his kid, even if it is a little too late? Jingle All The Way is a Christmas cure. It's a sharp point to puncture the over commercialism we get caught up in. This film is a chance to chuckle at ourselves and the insanity we leap into with enthusiasm annually. It is a ninety minute reality check and a chance to sit back, relax, and not take things so seriously. This isn't 'Scrooged,' or 'It's a Wonderful Life,' or 'A Christmas Carol.' It isn't the best of comedies or the best of Christmas films. But it is very honest about itself and not a bad way to spend the holiday.
Arnold plays a father who was supposed to take care of getting a toy for his son. He's forgotten and has to go out on Christmas Eve to try and track one down. When he realizes that it is the hottest selling toy of all-time, High-jinx ensue.
The thing with Arnie is that you're either going to take him or leave him. If you find his accent aggravating, or his acting wooden, then stay away from this film because you're just not going to like it anyway. I don't think he's that bad in this and I would go so far as to say that it is probably his second most successful comedy ("Kindergarden Cop" being my first choice -- "IT'S NOT A TOOMAH!!!" CLassic! Ha!). He's got an excellent supporting cast in this one: Jim Belushi as a seedy shopping mall Santa, Rita Wilson as Arnie's long suffering wife, Phil Hartman as the sugary sweet sleaze of a neighbour and of course the inimitable Sinbad. I would argue that the unlikely pairing of Sinbad and Arnie works extremely well and is probably the key to the film's success. Neither really has the acting chops to make the other look bad or out of place and so they are each able to hold their own when on screen at the same time.
There is a tendency to take this film too seriously. It has a great satirical viewpoint. Who among the retail warriors can watch this film and not throw their hands up in the air saying "Idiots! You've left it to the last minute and you're getting exactly what you deserve!" Who among the legion of over-stressed and unlucky parents can't feel some sympathy for the plight of a man just trying to do right by his kid, even if it is a little too late? Jingle All The Way is a Christmas cure. It's a sharp point to puncture the over commercialism we get caught up in. This film is a chance to chuckle at ourselves and the insanity we leap into with enthusiasm annually. It is a ninety minute reality check and a chance to sit back, relax, and not take things so seriously. This isn't 'Scrooged,' or 'It's a Wonderful Life,' or 'A Christmas Carol.' It isn't the best of comedies or the best of Christmas films. But it is very honest about itself and not a bad way to spend the holiday.