JINGLE ALL THE WAY

"JINGLE ALL THE WAY "
(1996) (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Mild	None	Moderate	Minor	Mild

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	Minor	None	Minor

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Minor	Minor	Mild	Mild	Moderate

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: On Christmas Eve a father must find his son a popular toy that no store has in stock.

PLOT:: Howard Langston (ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER) is a busy executive with little time for his company's holiday party, let alone his family. When he misses his son's karate exhibition, little Jamie (JAKE LLOYD) won't speak to him until Howard promises he'll do anything to make it up to him. Jamie takes him up on his offer and says that he wants a Turbo Man action figure toy for Christmas. Howard doesn't think that's a problem, but doesn't realize the odds stacked against him: It's Christmas Eve, Turbo man is the most popular and best-selling toy ever, and no store has any in stock. To make matters worse, his wife Liz (RITA WILSON) thinks he's already bought one, and their neighbor, and "perfect dad," Ted Maltin (PHIL HARTMAN), already has a Turbo Man toy for his son. So Howard sets off to find the toy and repeatedly encounters postal worker and fellow dad, Myron Larabee (SINBAD), who's also looking for a Turbo Man toy. He also runs into Officer Hummell (ROBERT CONRAD) who is usually in the wrong place during Howard's frantic steps to find the toy.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Definitely. With Schwarzenneger, Sinbad, and a Christmas story about finding a toy included in the mix, kids will be begging to see this one.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For action violence, mild language and some thematic elements.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER plays a father who puts his work ahead of his family and forgets about his son’s Christmas gift until the last minute. He then does anything (including breaking the law) to find a toy to make up for his family absences.
SINBAD plays a postal worker who will also do anything for that same toy, including behavior that endangers a small boy.
PHIL HARTMAN plays the overzealous, "perfect dad" who is also divorced and lusts after the neighborhood women, including Howard’s wife.; SINBAD plays a postal worker who will also do anything for that same toy, including behavior that endangers a small boy.
PHIL HARTMAN plays the overzealous, "perfect dad" who is also divorced and lusts after the neighborhood women, including Howard’s wife.; PHIL HARTMAN plays the overzealous, "perfect dad" who is also divorced and lusts after the neighborhood women, including Howard’s wife.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

OUR TAKE: 6 out of 10: In this essentially one joke plot, it’s a pleasure to see Arnold so lost in a world that we’re so used to seeing him command. While his size and awkwardness aren’t poked at as much as in his past comedies ("Kindergarten Cop," "Twins"), which does provide for most of the fun of the movie. Kids will definitely enjoy this film as it employs the "Home Alone" slapstick quotient. As in that film, people are bonked in the head and bashed here and there, but it’s all done cartoon style where no one is hurt and none of it’s done with really mean intentions. That doesn’t come as a surprise as director/producer Chris Columbus was involved in making both films. If you like your comedy in that non-sophisticated style, you’ll enjoy this film. You will however, have to sit through one of the more blatant "deus ex machina" endings of recent times. Arnie’s character essentially has the solution he’s searching for dropped into his lap from above. While it’s all nice and sentimental, you’ll feel somewhat cheated by the film makers' easy way out of the story. Still, if you're looking for a lightweight comedy, you probably won't miss by seeing this one. We give it a 6 out of 10.

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:: As said above, this is a film filled with slapstick violence and depending on your stance on that, it’s either harmless fun or unnecessary violence. Other than Howard being oblivious to his family's needs and then doing anything to find that toy (including breaking and entering, hitting people, etc...) the other categories are rather devoid of objectionable material. There isn’t much drinking or smoking and profanity is limited and isn’t any worse than what one would hear on regular TV shows. Since your kids will probably want to see this, however, we suggest that you read through the category listings before allowing them to do so.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Champagne is consumed at a holiday party.
Myron pours "Old Homestead" (some sort of liquor) into his and Howard's coffee. Later he takes a swig right from the bottle, and then Howard images Jamie sitting there doing the same.
Howard drinks a beer and pours some of it into a reindeer's drinking bowl.
Wine is seen on a family's dining room table.

BLOOD/GORE: None.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Both Howard and Myron go to extreme measures just to find the toy (granted this is a comedy and their actions are intended for laughs -- but taken at face value they are somewhat severe).
Howard drives on the shoulder of the road to get around stopped traffic, but is pulled over by the police.
Howard lies to Liz by telling her that he already bought the Turbo Man toy when, in fact, he hasn't.
A store owner doubles the price of his remaining Turbo Man toys (knowing that his eager customers are willing to pay anything).
Several black market Santas try to sell Howard a "hot" and defective Turbo Man doll.
Howard acts like a cop to get out of being arrested for trying to buy a "hot" Turbo Man doll from black marketeers.
Howard breaks into Ted's house to steal the Turbo Man doll intended for Ted's son and is caught red handed by Ted and Liz.
Myron, dressed up as Dementor, Turbo Man's archenemy, is booed by the crowd at a holiday parade. In return he gives them the gesture for "f" you (raising a bent arm at the elbow) and then "kiss my ass" (thumb to nose with waving fingers).

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Ted's pet reindeer chases Howard through Ted's house and in the process a small fire breaks out in the living room. While not intended to be tense, it may come across that way to very young viewers.
Myron chases Jamie up a fire escape, across a roof top and then up the outline structure of a Christmas tree on top of a building. The tree falls over from the weight and both Jamie and Myron dangle from the tree. Myron still tries to get the Turbo Man doll, but a well-placed throw of a boomerang from Howard knocks Myron to the street below.
Jamie then loses his grip from the Christmas tree and falls toward the street, but Howard (dressed as Turbo Man) catches and saves him.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Nunchackus (a martial arts weapon): Used by a black marketeer to threaten Howard.
Stun gun: Used by another black marketeer to zap Howard with an electrical charge.
Mail bomb: Used by Myron to bluff his way out of being arrested by the police, and later an explosion is heard and Hummell is seen all charred and smoking, implying that it really was a bomb.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Loser," "Shut up," "Screw it up," "Idiot," and "Jeez."
Howard drives on the shoulder of the road to get around stopped traffic, but is pulled over by the police.
Howard lies to Liz by telling her that he already bought the Turbo Man toy when, in fact, he hasn't.
Myron, dressed up as Dementor, Turbo Man's archenemy, is booed by the crowd at a holiday parade. In return he gives them the gesture for "f" you (raising a bent arm at the elbow) and then "kiss my ass" (thumb to nose with waving fingers).

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): There is minor tense music in just a few scenes during the movie.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: 1 ass, 3 hells, 2 damns, 1 incomplete "Son of a..." and 1 incomplete "What the...." are used as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: Howard tells Jamie over the phone, "Let me talk to your mother." Jamie replies that she's not there, but instead is "...next door petting Ted" (the reindeer named after Ted the neighbor).
All of the ladies in the neighborhood like having Ted come over to their houses to "fix things."
Ted makes unwelcome advances to Liz on several occasions (groping hugs, arm around the shoulder, etc...), and tells her "We can't hide our feelings anymore."

SMOKING: A guy dressed up like Santa Claus smokes a cigar.
A man dressed up like Booster, Turbo Man's pet, smokes a cigarette.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Jamie's upset that Howard missed his karate exhibition and all of the other family activities throughout the years.
Ted's son tells Jamie that his dad is divorced and since then he's been the best dad around. He then tells Jamie that maybe that's what his parents should do (get divorced).
Liz isn't happy about Howard's lying and not paying attention to her or Jamie.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: That much of the slapstick violence would actually hurt someone.
Not waiting until the last minute to do something that needs to be done.

VIOLENCE: Jamie watches the Turbo Man TV show and sees live action cartoon violence that includes laser guns being fired and Turbo Man fighting with the bad guys. It ends with the bad guy holding a boy out over the edge of a cliff and then dropping him. The boy falls toward the ground but Turbo Man catches and saves him.
Myron grabs a woman standing in line and begins to shake her during his tirade about the "toy cartel" and how much he hates them. Once he sees what he's doing to her, he stops.
A store employee is knocked down and run over by customers as a toy store opens. Other people and toy filled shelves are also seen being knocked down.
Myron hits Howard with his mailbag and knocks him down while trying to find a Turbo Man toy. Howard responds by grabbing a remote control car and sending it under Myron's feet, tripping him.
Howard punches and then wrestles with a life size cut out of Turbo Man after he can't find any of the action figure toys.
Howard backs his truck over Officer Hummell's police motorcycle.
Toy store customers wrestle over numbered lottery balls that are to be used to win a chance at buying the last remaining Turbo man dolls.
A woman bites Howard on the hand for his lottery ball.
Myron sprays Mace into Howard's eyes to get his lottery ball.
Customers pile onto Myron when it's heard that he has two lottery balls.
There are many slapstick scenes where characters slip and fall or hit their heads on low overpasses.
Howard tries to get his lottery ball back from a little girl whose mother hits him with her handbag. The other ladies in the mall then join in beating Howard with their handbags.
Howard gets into a fight with many black marketeers all dressed like Santa Claus. He pulls back on one of their beards and then lets it go which snaps the man's head backwards into a pole. Another Santa then shows up with nunchackus (a martial arts weapon), but Howard hits him and then others with an oversized candy cane. A huge Santa shows up and hits Howard who falls backwards, only to have a "small person" Santa jump on his back. The huge Santa then throws another punch that hits the "small person" Santa, sending him sailing across the room. Howard punches the huge Santa, but is then shocked by a stun gun. Finally, the police arrive and the scene ends.
Howard closes a phone booth door, slamming Myron's arm in it. He then takes the handset and bashes Myron over the head. The two wrestle until the handset is pulled from the phone. Howard then begins to strangle Myron.
Myron throws a mail package at Howard as they race toward a radio station.
Howard kicks open a locked glass door to the DJ booth at a radio station and the door shatters.
Myron acts like he has a mail bomb in the DJ booth, but it turns out he was bluffing.
After the police have captured Myron and Howard, Myron again acts like he has a mail bomb that fools the police into letting them go. Once outside, they hear the blast from inside, and moments later we see Officer Hummell charred and smoking from the explosion.
Howard gets out to his truck only to find that it's been stripped.
Howard punches Ted's pet reindeer that's been chasing him.
Howard accidentally runs into Officer Hummell who then spills hot coffee onto himself.
Liz smashes a thermos against Ted's head after he makes advances to her in his van.
Myron hits Booster, Turbo Man's pet, and knocks him to the ground where kids then begin hitting the costumed man.
Myron knocks down Howard (dressed asTurbo Man) and then grabs Jamie who in turn kicks Myron in the crotch.
Other bad guys attack Howard who fights them off while Myron chases Jamie who's carrying a Turbo Man doll.
Turbo Man flies through a family's living room, breaking windows on either side as he zips through.
Myron chases Jamie up a fire escape, across a roof top and then up the outline structure of a Christmas tree on top of a building. The tree falls over from the weight and both Jamie and Myron dangle from the tree. Myron still tries to get the Turbo Man doll, but a well-placed throw of a boomerang from Howard knocks Myron to the street below. Jamie then loses his grip from the Christmas tree and falls toward the street, but Howard (dressed as Turbo Man) catches and saves him.

Reviewed November 19, 1996

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.