10 Best Jingle All the Way Moments
It’s Christmastime and every kid wants a TurboMan action figure, including Jamie Langston (Jake Lloyd). Like all 90s film dads, Jamie’s father, Howard (Arnold Schwarzenegger), is very busy in his very important job; too busy to remember silly things like his son’s karate graduation and buying Christmas presents that’s for sure.
After one too many let downs, Howard makes a promise that he will do better and vows to get Jamie the Christmas present he is desperate for. But you’ll never guess what? He forgets.
About three minutes after the promise, Howard’s long-suffering wife reminds him of how she told him to buy the action figure weeks ago (because it’s always a good idea to leave the vital Christmas jobs to the person who never leaves the office). No problem, Howard thinks. He can just pop out and get one; shops are always calm and fully stocked on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately for Howard, Myron Larabee (Sinbad) has also got some dad points to win and, wouldn’t you know, there’s only one TurboMan toy left in the whole of Minneapolis. Comedy ensues.
Jingle All the Way (1996) is essentially an advert for a toy that flopped. It’s 90 minutes of questionable acting, terrible parenting, and conmen Santas. It doesn’t take itself too seriously – even the moralistic ending that children don’t really want presents, they just want time with their dads, is cut short…. because, obviously, they do actually just want TurboMan dolls and jetpacks.
Grab your ribon and scissors as we wrap up the most ridiculous, hard-to-believe, and goofy scenes of this seasonal favourite in this, The Film Magazine’s 10 Best Jingle All the Way Moments.
10. ‘Lizzie’ Has Had Quite Enough
As if Howard didn’t have enough to deal with, Ted (Phil Hartman) is making moves on his wife. Howard sees, and is gearing up for something dramatic – and who knows what a man who’s already knocked out a reindeer is capable of?
Luckily though, Liz (Rita Wilson) is quick on her feet and smacks Ted around the face with a large thermos that is presumably filled with egg nog (hopefully). In true nineties fashion, this moment of questionable behaviour is a moment of comedy. Classic.
While Myron is the obvious bad guy of the piece, it is satisfying to see creepy Ted get some comeuppance.
Recommended for you: So Bad It’s Good: Jingle All the Way (1996)
9. Jamie Gives Myron the TurboMan Doll
It is easily argued that Jingle All The Way is a rather cynical movie, where the main themes are consumerism, one-upmanship and bomb threats. It is also a Christmas film completely devoid of Christmas Day.
So, as there aren’t many (if any) of the trademark Christmas morning or “sentimental music rising as loved ones learn valuable life lessons” scenes, it seems appropriate to include the moment that gets closest to this.
Jamie hands Myron the TurboMan toy for his son, because he has learned that, really, it’s quality time with his dad that he wanted all along. This touching moment also teaches kids that you can blow up a police chief, kidnap, lie, cheat and steal, and you can still get what you want. Such a cockle-warming sentiment.
