This film should be as much a part of the Christmas TV experience as It's A Wonderful Life, White Christmas and A Christmas Carol. Jingle All The Way is one of the few times (along with Scrooged and The Santa Clause) when a Christmas movie made in the last two decades has tried and (more importantly) succeeded in bringing a heartwarming modern update to the traditional movies of the past. Unfortunately, whenever this movie is shown on TV, the critics really lash out at it and I cannot find one good reason why anybody would find this movie that bad - and the other good reviews on here back me up. Let's get one thing straight - when Arnold Schwarzenegger does comedy, his performances are hammier than a double decker bus crammed full of pigs...but that's what makes him so watchable in this film! Sure, if you watch this film in the middle of June it probably wouldn't be that good (maybe that's when the critics all wrote their reviews)but this is the DVD that I always put on when it's about 4 days until Christmas and I really want to get into the festive spirit.
On the surface, Jingle All The Way is about a dad who promises his son that he can have a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas...unfortunately, it happens to be the most wanted present that Christmas and Arnie has left it until Christmas Eve to buy it. A lot of great comedy moments are achieved from this premise alone (especially when Arnie and Sinbad are in scenes together - they make a great double act) but the film is so much deeper than that. This is a movie about the lengths a parent will go to give their child the perfect Christmas, it's a film about the importance of making (and keeping) promises and above all, it's a film that shows that imperfection is actually perfection - Arnie's annoyingly wholesome, "perfect" father (played superbly by Phil Hartman) is the ultimate loser of the movie whilst Arnie eventually shows that he isn't the bad father that his family may sometimes think he is. On top of all this, there's a great spoof of superhero movies at the end as Arnie and Sinbad go head to head - in superhero outfits - for one last battle for glory. It really is great stuff and one that both adults and kids will enjoy together - a perfect Christmas movie. As if that wasn't enough, there are also superb cameo appearances from James Belushi and (for WWE fans) The Big Show (billed under his real name of Paul Wight).
A funny twist at the end of the film is the perfect set up for a sequel that was never made, and at the end of 80 minutes you are left with a warm feeling, safe in the knowledge that everybody experiences the hectic build up to Christmas but that it all comes together for the big day!
You won't get this DVD in time for Christmas 2003 so order it for next Christmas and make it part of your festive traditions. Merry Christmas!