Synopsis
Howard Langston, a salesman for a mattress company, is constantly kept busy at his job, disappointing his son. After he misses his son's karate exposition, Howard vows to make it up to him by buying an action figure of his son's favorite television hero for Christmas. Unfortunately for Howard, it is Christmas Eve, and every store is sold out of Turbo Man. Now, Howard must travel all over town and compete with everybody else to find a Turbo Man action figure.
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Cast
- Arnold SchwarzeneggerHoward Langston
- SinbadMyron Larabee
- Phil HartmanTed Maltin
- Rita WilsonLiz Langston
- Robert ConradOfficer Hummell
- Martin MullD.J.
- Jake LloydJamie Langston
- Jim BelushiMall Santa
- E.J. De la PenaJohnny
- Laraine NewmanFirst Lady
Recommendations
- 63
Chicago Sun-Times
I liked a lot of the movie, which is genial and has a lot of energy, but I was sort of depressed by its relentlessly materialistic view of Christmas, and by the choice to go with action and (mild) violence over dialogue and plot. - 58
Entertainment Weekly
For all its garishness, though, the film is punchy and fast, and it has an engagingly preposterous cheeseball climax, with Schwarzenegger, in full Turbo Man regalia, zooming through the skies like a consumer-king Rocketeer. - 50
ReelViews
Jingle All the Way is forgettable, and that, more than anything else, is why I recommend passing up this holiday offering. - 50
Variety
Based on an idea similar to the premise of Home Alone, though not nearly as accomplished or entertaining, and produced by that film's director, Chris Columbus, this family comedy-adventure is decidedly not a vintage Schwarzenegger kidpic on the order of Kindergarten Cop. - 50
San Francisco Chronicle
Jingle wants to warm our hearts and establish Schwarzenegger as a family man -- but devotes so much time to goony violence and broad physical comedy that the last-reel schmaltz feels hollow and tacked-on. - 40
The Telegraph
The film is very loud, and festooned with the sort of comic violence far more disturbing than anything in an 18-rated movie. - 38
San Francisco Examiner
Not even his gap-toothed charm and willingness to make fun of his usual take-no-prisoners persona made it easier to swallow the mess of pottage that is Jingle All the Way. - 20
Empire
The one saving grace is Lloyd, who gives a terrific and lively portrayal despite some horribly sentimental lines. He is the movie's guiding star, a lone bright light in a string of dud bulbs. Otherwise, beware.
