an Arnold Schwarzenegger Christmas movie (Jingle All The Way (DVD))

Member Name: brsesw

Product:	Jingle All The Way (DVD)
Date:	30/08/09 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good family film

Disadvantages: some predictable clichés

Jingle All the Way (1996)

Genre: family/action/comedy

Writer: Randy Kornfield
Director: Brian Levant

Cast:
Arnold Schwarzenegger - Howard Langston
Sinbad - Myron Larabee
Phil Hartman - Ted Maltin
Rita Wilson - Liz Langston
Robert Conrad - Ofc. Hummel
Jake Lloyd - Jamie Langston
James Belushi - mall Santa

Plot:
A harried mattress salesman and father, Harry Langston, disappoints his son, Jamie, but promises to make it up to him by buying him the hottest Christmas gift this year, a Turbo Man action figure. However, he forgets about it until Christmas Eve. Of course, by then they're all sold out and a Turbo Man is nowhere to be found.
In his search he gets tangled up with a disgruntled mailman, Myron, who is also in search of a Turbo Man.
While sitting in a diner together Harry and Myron hear on the radio a contest to win a Turbo Man. The race to the radio station where the DJ, thinking he's in danger, calls the police. Both men are able to get away, but now, along with each other, they must also deal with the police chasing them.
Harry, who had promised Jamie he would take him to the Christmas parade, arrived home dejected only to find his neighbor, Ted, who has always had a thing for Harry's wife, Liz, in his home helping decorate his Christmas tree.
Harry, to take his revenge on Ted, breaks into his house to steal the Turbo Man that he got his son for Christmas. But he is caught by Ted and his wife.
Disappointed, Liz asks Ted to take she and Jamie to the parade, instead of Harry.
Harry, after some self reflection, decides it is not going to disappoint his son again and he hurries to the parade. However, at the parade, a police officer recognizes him from the radio station and gives chase. Harry hides in a warehouse where he is mistaken for the actor playing Turbo Man in the parade. He is quickly dressed as Turbo Man, given his instructions and sent out on a float before he can explain.
Turbo Man is to ride on the float and select the child from the audience to receive a special edition Turbo Man action figure. Then, he is to battle his arch nemesis, Dementor.
Of course, Harry chooses Jamie to receive the special Turbo Man and brings him up on the float. However, they are interrupted by Myron, who is dressed as Dementor.
Myron, wanting Jamie's Turbo Man, chases him onto a nearby roof.
Harry tries to help Jamie, but is having a hard time figuring out how the Turbo Man suit works. Fortunately, he gets the hang of it just in time, as Jamie falls from the roof and Harry is able to fly in and catch him.
Myron falls onto one of the floats and is taken into custody by the police.
Harry reveals to Jamie and Liz that he is Turbo Man.
Jamie, having the real Turbo Man at home, decides to give the Turbo Man action figure to Myron after all for his kid.

My thoughts:
After achieving great success as an action star Arnold Schwarzenegger tried his hand at several family and comedy movies such as "Twins", which was pretty good, "Kindergarten Cop", which was okay and "Junior", which was awful. This film was Arnold's attempt at a Christmas movie, which actually turned out pretty well. It's pretty funny and pretty entertaining. But, it also has parts that are pretty predictable and pretty clichéd.
The late great Phil Hartman was also perfectly cast as the coveting and annoying neighbor.
Sinbad was also quite funny in this movie as the disgruntled mailman and rival of Arnold's character.
All in all, I did enjoy this movie, and I would recommend it if you're looking for a good family film.

Summary: a father in search of the perfect Christmas gift for his son