Just in time for Christmas, and starring the Governator himself, we have Jingle All the Way with Arnold Swartzenegger. The story follows Arnold’s relentless pursuit to get a Turbo Man action figure for his son. This obsessive quest brings a lot of complications for our hero, from kidnapping, to stealing another kid’s toy, to a manic riot for numbered balls. Arnold even assumes the persona of Turbo Man at a parade and rockets around the city on a real turbo pack (Turbo rocket packs are real?). This all sound… like crazy fun and, for the most part, it is.
The cast is rounded out by Sinbad, as Arnie’s mailman nemesis in this quest, and Phil Hartman, as a sensitive dude putting the moves on Arnie’s wife (played by Rita Wilson). Swartzenegger gives his usual mugging comic performance. The movie climaxes with a lot of action, so it’s entertaining from that respect. But the message about the materialism of the holidays gets a little lost. Who needs a toy when you have your dad, right? But only if he dresses up as Turbo Man.
Audio
Great track. For a non-special edition DVD, the audio mix really rocks your Christmas bells. In Dolby Digital 2.0 or 5.1 Surround, the music and action (particularly the rocket pack) make their mark in a BIG way on your speakers. The opening sequence (the Turbo Man TV show) really opened my eyes to the possibilities of this audio track. I wasn’t disappointed.
Video
Colors are vibrant, but not too eye popping. Arnie looks good in his Turbo Man costume. A few signs of speckling and print damage, but they’re minor. There’s also a general feeling of grain throughout the entire movie. But this is good transfer, nothing like the sound. You can watch the movie in 1.33:1 full screen or 1:85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen. Given the choice, I always prefer the widescreen. But maybe that’s just me.
Special Features
Just a trailer and some cast bios. Santa wasn’t kind to the extras department.
Final Thoughts
Jingle All the Way is a minor entertainment. It has a lot of action, but nothing really substantial in the “message” department. If you like that, then this movie is for you. Is it appropriate for your family? There’s some mild language like “pervert” (good luck explaining that to your kids) and some mild violence (some punching and a swift kick to the Christmas nuts). Other than that, Jingle All the Way could make for a fun night around the hearth. I think the movie is just “okay”, but the sound is definitely worth a sleigh ride on your speakers.
Special Features List
- Trailer
- Cast bios
