November 30, 1996 -- "Jingle All The Way" is a pleasant diversion for the holiday season. It's not inspired film making, but it's passable entertainment.

Unless you've been living in a cave, you probably know the plot. A father who is too busy for his son, Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) promises his son "Turbo Man" the most popular gift of the season. He finds out too late that it is almost impossible to obtain one.

While fighting a crazed mob of last-minute shoppers, he meets another father, Myron Larabee (Sinbad) trying to get a Turbo Man for son. The two become bitter enemies, willing to do anything to get the gift.

While these two are competing for what seems to be the last Turbo Man in the world, Langston's smarmy neighbor, Ted Maltin (Phil Hartman) is trying to put the moves on Langston's wife, Liz (Rita Wilson).

Along the way, Langston runs into a warehouse full of bizarre Santa con men, including a truly strange kung-fu Santa. The ending is way over the top with several impossible super hero stunts. Despite the film's admittedly dark undercurrents, it is mostly in good fun. It rates a C+.

Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 1996 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.