Monday, December 15, 2014

Jingle All the Way Review (With Guest Reviewer)









Jingle All the Way


Release Date: 21st November 1996 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
1492 Pictures

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 86 minutes


Budget: $75,000,000 

Box Office Gross: $129,832,389 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
After being hard at work
taking last-minute orders
from customers to whom
he can't say no, Howard
Langston, a high-powered
businessman, must get his
son a Turbo Man action
figure, the hottest toy
in the season! But there
is one BIG problem for
Howard. It's Christmas Eve,
and everyone has bought
all Turbo Man action
figures since Thanksgiving!

What began as Howard's
quest to find Turbo Man
has quickly turned into an
odyssey wilder than he
could have ever imagined.
During his seemingly
endless Yuletide
misadventures, he runs
into crazed mailman Myron,
another father on the same
quest. Langston's moral
code gets tested as the
clock starts ticking before
he learns Christmas's real
meaning.


Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger -
Howard Langston
Jake Lloyd - Jamie Langston
Sinbad - Myron Larabee
Rita Wilson - Liz Langston
Robert Conrad - Office Hummell
Martin Mull - D.J.
Phil Hartman - Ted Maltin
Jim Belushi - Mall Santa
E.J. De La Pena - Johnny
Laraine Newman - First Lady
Justin Chapman - Billy
Harvey Korman - President
Richard Moll - Dementor
Daniel Riordan - Turbo Man
Jeff L. Deist - T.V. Booster/Puppeteer
Nada Despotovich - Margaret
Ruth Afton Hjelmgren - Single Mother Judy
Caroline Kaiser - Single Mother Mary
Chris Parnell - Toy Store Sales Clerk
Kate McGregor Stewart - Toy Store Customer
Danny Woodburn - Tony the Elf
Bruce Bohne - Santa at Warehouse Door
Paul Wight - Huge Santa
Nick LaTour - Counterman
Peter Breitmayer - Sparky
Phil Morris - Gale Force
Amy Pietz - Liza Tisch
Curtis Armstrong - Chain Smoking Booster
Spencer Klein - Kid in Turbo Man Commercial
Danny Pritchett - Kid in Turbo Man Commercial
Verne Troyer - Mini Santa (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Brian Levant
Writer - Randy Kornfield
Associate Producers - Paula DuPré Pesmen
and Warren Zide
Executive Producer - Richard Vane
Producers - Chris Columbus,
Mark Radcliffe and Michael Barnathan
Co-Producers - Jennifer Blum and James Mulay
Casting - Judy Taylor
Production Designer - Leslie McDonald
Supervising Art Director - Tony Fanning
Art Director - Thomas Fichter
Set Decorators - John H. Anderson
and Ronald R. Reiss
Property Master - Russell Bobbitt
Costume Designer - Jay Hurley
Supervisors: Turbo Man Suit - Howard Berger,
Robert Kurtzman and Greg Nicotero
Special Makeup Artist: Cannom Creations
Inc. - Greg Cannom
Key Makeup Artist - Jeff Dawn
Makeup Artist: Second Unit - Michael Key
Makeup Effects Producer: Cannom
Creations Inc. - Keith VanderLaan
Hair Stylist - Beatrice De Alba
Key Hair Stylist - Peter Tothpal
Director of Photography - Victor J. Kemper
Camera Operator: Second Unit - Michael Ferris
First Assistant Director - George Parra
Second Assistant Directors - John G. Scotti
and Robin Solo (Uncredited)
Second Unit Director/Director of
Photography - Steve Boyum
Stunt Coordinator - Joel Kramer
Special Effects Coordinator - Jon G. Belyeu
Visual Effects Supervisors - Gregory L. McMurry
and Glenn Neufeld
Visual Effects Producers: VIFX - Josh R. Jaggars
and Scott Peterson
Digital Effects Supervisor: VIFX - Derek Spears
Effects Supervisor: Optical Illusions, Inc. -
Jeff Matakovich
Digital Producer: VisionArt Design and
Animation Inc. - Joshua D. Rose
Digital Compositing Supervisor: VIFX -
Edwin Rivera
Film Editors - Kent Beyda,
Wilt Henderson and Adam Weiss
First Assistant Editor - Mary Morrisey
Sound Effects Design - John P. Fasal
Supervising Sound Editor - John A. Larsen
Sound Effects Editors - Craig Berkeley,
Paul Urmson and David Lewis Yewdall
Re-Recording Mixers - Bob Beemer,
Bill W. Benton and Chris W. Carpenter
Foley Artists - John Roesch and
Hilda Hodges
Music - David Newman


Review (Film Guru Lad)
Now, if you're thinking about which Christmas-themed movie I will review to celebrate this festive time of the year, I have decided to review JINGLE ALL THE WAY, starring the one and only Arnie Schwarzenegger. I had seen and critiqued his previous action-oriented film roles of tough guys and killer machines. It is a downturn of what will become Arnie's second-greatest mistake, and I feel so sorry for my favourite actor. Arnie got cast alongside Sinbad in a movie that is nothing good compared to his over-the-top performance in next year's Batman & Robin. JINGLE ALL THE WAY has a comedy display in the holiday tradition with a crazy story and exceptional humour. It was a tough break for Arnold because he was an action hero and made a few films that belonged to the comedy genre. It is unable to break the mould of his preferred genre.

Arnie was miscast in this movie. I would have preferred to see Robin Williams or Steve Martin take the reins in this comedy. Also featured in this film is another notable actor who is a child by the name of Jake Lloyd. This young-talented chap would later play 9-year-old Darth Vader in The Phantom MenaceHis lacklustre acting can't save the movie from a few of its lacklustre choices.

I am displeased to be the one to criticise this film for its flaws, being that I am an Arnie fan, but I endeavour to be unbiased and honest. In closing, JINGLE ALL THE WAY was merely an average seasonal gift, and it could have been better if a comedian like Steve Martin or the late Robin Williams had put to work in this movie.

Star rating: (5/10) Average


Review (Guest Reviewer)
But if you are looking for a family-orientated and well-written funny movie that celebrates the Christmas spirit in a comedic fashion. It would be a good movie for you. I have watched this feature several times, and it seems funnier each time. The actors are well-cast. Arnold accurately portrays an overworked, stressed father who wants his son and wife to think the world of him. Sinbad, Jim Belushi and Phil Hartman fit the bill perfectly for their roles and work well together in this movie.

The scenes that stuck with me in this film are when Arnold becomes jealous that his next-door neighbour is baking cookies with his wife and yells to his neighbour, "Put that cookie down, NOW!" Also, the scene when Sinbad and Arnold have a fight and chase scene to see who will be the first to claim the infamous Turbo Man toy from the radio free giveaway offer. There are no dull moments. It flows at a pace and, at any point, never gets boring. It appeals to all ages and offers a well-written comedy with a Christmas theme unparalleled by any other movie I have seen.

This movie has an excellent re-watch value, and I recommend it to anyone who has not seen it. Also, it is nice to see Arnie cast in a different kind of role outside of his usual action-hero work. He demonstrated his versatility as a multi-skilled actor. Thanks for listening, and please feel free to leave feedback. : )

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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2 comments:

  1. So terrible, but hey, you know what? I really wanted a Turbo man doll after this, so I guess something worked out in the end. Good review.

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    Replies
    1. Well do not go trying to watch few of Arnie's pitiful attempts at comedy again except for Kindergarten Cop and thanks again for leaving me a comment at this tab!

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