It’ll be tough to string together connections with all the movies on this list in a “Six Degress of Separation” kind of way but I’m going to try to use some loose logic to tie it all together. Since the first two films on the list were among the upper echelon of 80s action flicks, it feels right to pass the baton to the biggest high-octane icon.
While Arnold Schwarzenneger is undoubtedly best known as an action-movie superstar who hands out one-liners like Halloween candy, he’s actually a pretty good actor with a sarcastic sense of humor and a penchant for physical comedy. That’s what brings us to 1996’s Jingle All the Way. Workaholic salesman Howard Langston is constantly letting down his son. After yet another broken promise, his only path to redemption is to secure the coveted Turbo Man action figure for Christmas. The problem is, it’s Christmas Eve and the toy is sold out everywhere. So, Howard must race against the clock as he competes with another desperate dad (Sinbad) and plenty of other crazed last-minute shoppers in a desperate attempt to find it.
This wasn’t Schwarzenneger’s first foray into comedy as a leading man (Twins) but it’s definitely the most slapstick. Director Brian Levant never lets things get too serious even though the ultimate story arc of Randy Kornfield’s screenplay is about redemption for a father who’s repeatedly put his job ahead of his family. The script is pretty wild as the frantic adventures bounce all over town and even sees Arnie get into a fight with an army of mall Santas.
The cast is very solid for a movie that isn’t particularly well rated. We get Sinbad at the height of his fame and he’s the perfect complement to Schwarzenneger’s rigid hero brand. With both characters on the same mission, we get invested in watching their competition. The late Phil Hartman also has a great role as the needling neighbor who constantly reminds Howard of his failures while low-key creeping on his wife, who’s played by Rita Wilson. We’re also treated to Jim Belushi as the head of the mall Santas.
This is one of the more “traditional” Xmas movies on my list but it’s plenty of fun and probably wouldn’t make the cut for a lot of people. It successfully blends family-friendly comedy with some mild action and plenty of holiday spirit. You can watch Jingle All the Way streaming on Hulu and Sling TV with premium subscription packages and available for rent through video on demand.
Happy Holidays! It’s Turbo Time!