Jingle All the Way never attempts to be serious, but it does hold a sharp dissection of the commercialisation of Christmas, which, in retrospect, is rather bold for a mid-’90s commercial film.
Brian Levant’s Jingle All the Way is often overshadowed by Home Alone and The Muppet Christmas Carol as a memorable ’90s Christmas family film. Yet it has everything we could ask for in a festive movie while also reflecting the biggest nightmare for most parents: finding that elusive Christmas toy that’s become so popular it’s rare. Jingle All the Way reflected the Toy Story mania of Christmas 1995 (I am sure you all remember the clamour for a Buzz Lightyear figure) and the horror of the fight for “Cabbage Patch Kids” in 1983. It represents everything that many claim is wrong with Christmas: indulgent consumerism.
Workaholic mattress salesman Howard (Arnold Schwarzenegger) feels guilty for not spending enough time with his son, Jamie (Jake Lloyd), and promises to get him a much-sought-after “Turbo Man” action figure for Christmas. However, the toy is so popular that it’s become unavailable, and Howard’s fight to claim one soon escalates into a competition with a fellow dad, Myron (Sinbad).
Jingle All the Way was never going to be part of any academic discussion on cinema, nor was it destined to go down in film history as a masterpiece. But does that mean it’s a bad movie? Of course not! Levant’s film is an enjoyable and ridiculous comedy with a dark edge.
Like the delightfully odd Kindergarten Cop, Schwarzenegger feels entirely out of place, yet his presence makes the film work. Jingle All the Way also brings us the big-screen debut of Jake Lloyd, who would later become Anakin Skywalker, with countless figures of him lining shop windows, only adding to the fascinating themes at play.
Jingle All the Way never attempts to be serious, but it does hold a sharp dissection of the commercialisation of Christmas, which, in retrospect, is rather bold for a mid-’90s commercial film.
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