Jingle All the Way (1996)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Brian Levant

Writer (WGA):

Randy Kornfield (written by)

Release Date:

22 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Family | Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

Two Dads, One Toy, No Prisoners.

Plot:

A harried father decides to dream the impossible dream, to get that year's hot toy for his son just before Christmas Day.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Toy | Neighbor | Family Relationships | Surprise After End Credits

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Howard Langston
Sinbad	...	Myron Larabee
Phil Hartman	...	Ted Maltin
Rita Wilson	...	Liz Langston
Robert Conrad	...	Officer Hummell
Martin Mull	...	D.J.
Jake Lloyd	...	Jamie Langston
James Belushi	...	Mall Santa
E.J. De La Pena	...	Johnny (as E.J. de la Pena)
Laraine Newman	...	First Lady
Justin Chapman	...	Billy
Harvey Korman	...	President
Richard Moll	...	Dementor
Daniel Riordan	...	Turbo Man
Jeff L. Deist	...	T.V. Booster / Puppeteer (as Jeff Deist)

MPAA:

Rated PG for action violence, mild language and some thematic elements.

Runtime:

89 min | USA:94 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #34908) | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:All | Philippines:G | Canada:G (British Columbia) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Sweden:7 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Germany:6 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T

Filming Locations:

7th Place Mall - St. Peter & Wabasha Streets, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Company:

1492 Pictures

Trivia:

Minneapolis does have a winter parade every year during the Christmas season. It's known as the Holidazzle parade, but it is held in the evening, not during the day as shown in the movie.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: There are references to radio/TV stations beginning with both "W" and "K" but the Mississippi river flows through the area, and there are stations on both sides.

Quotes:

Howard: This can't happen. It's just a doll. It's just a stupid little plastic doll.
Myron: Ah ah, that's "action figure".

Movie Connections:

Referenced in All the Rage (1999)

Soundtrack:

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Despite its problems, I thought it was funny

'Jingle All The Way' is a Christmas story about merchandising and family. A lot of people seemed to really hate this movie, but I did not think it was all that bad. Sure, some of the action and the story was not the best, but I thought it did provoke a lot of laughter. The scenes with Arnie at the warehouse filled with Santas and elves was funny, and it had a good ending with the father becoming the hero after all. It does represent the bad of the holiday season with all the merchandising and the over-emphasis on that one particular toy that kids must get for Christmas, and if they do not receive it, then they are outcasts. Despite its problems, I did find it a funny and worthwhile film.