Arnold Schwarzenegger made the comedy movie 'Twins.' Everybody loved it. The he made 'Kindergarten Cop.' Everyone loved that, too. Then he made the comedies 'Junior' and 'Jingle All the Way.' I guess the joke must have worn a bit thin as both were labelled as some of the worst films ever made. Now, I watched 'Junior' when it was released and admittedly the reviews were correct when they said it was a 'one-joke' movie. And, possibly because of this, I never got round to watching 'Jingle All the Way' until I found it on an online streaming service nearly twenty years after it had been released. And, as it was Christmas and I'd already watched 'National Lampoon's Xmas Vacation' I thought I'd give it a go. I guess because I'd heard so much negativity surrounding it I feared the worst, therefore I was actually pleasantly surprised.Now, don't get me wrong, 'Jingle All the Way' is no classic. If you're a fan of 'Predator' and 'Terminator' then you need to know that this isn't the 'action' Arnie on display here. This is definitely the 'comedy Arnie' who is doing his best to make fun of himself and the various clichés that have sprung up around his batch of movies and action films in general. He plays a harassed father of Darth Vader (well, that kid who played Anakin in the Star Wars prequels) who's always putting work over family. However, on Christmas Eve, he vows to get his son the one 'hot toy' of the year - a 'Turbo Man' action figure. And, as we parents who are annually forced to purchase that one mythical item for our children, we know you should never leave it till only a few hours before the big day to buy one.What follows is possibly every parent's (Christmas-related) nightmare where Arnie is driving round New York, visiting one toy shop after the next, desperate not to be shown up in his son's eyes by coming back empty-handed. I'd love to say that it's as funny as 'Twins' or 'Kindergarten Cop,' but it's not. However, that doesn't make it the worst film ever. The humour is pretty low brow and slapstick, but, if you're in the mood for something very silly (and it probably helps that you're a fan of Arnie) then this should keep you entertained over the festive period. Not all the jokes land and it's a bit corny in places and there are some gags that definitely feel dated, however that's due to bombs in New York not being a particularly funny subject of comedy in this 'Post 9/11 era,' but it does take a satirical swipe on consumerism and the shameless 'supply and demand' toy manufacturers employ when it comes to mass merchandising their products.It's also great to see James Bellushi reuniting with Schwarzenegger for an appearance as a 'bad' Santa. Ultimately, 'Jingle All the Way' was probably never worth paying full price for in the cinemas, so I can imagine audiences feeling short-changed with what they got. However, it's much more at home as being a film that's included in an online streaming service that you can put on in the background/ It's probably a film that children would enjoy more, due to the 'obvious' slapstick humour. Kids probably won't get the consumerism references, but at least adult will be able to get something out of it, too. It's probably worth saying that - as a fan of Arnie - the best I can say about this is that it's 'okay if you're in the mood.

The premise is silly: a busy dad forgets to buy the Christmas present for his son who wants an very specific action figure: the turbo man doll. This Dad is not the only one in town wanting the doll though and the movie follows two men trying to kill each other across town while chasing The Toy every kid wants for their children and getting progressively more manic and maniac about. It made me laugh in several scenes. It was good fun to watch even in 2017.

This movie tries too hard to be a buckle in your seat laughing film, but it struggles to, because the jokes are never well-timed. When this movie tries to be heartwarming, it instead is cringeworthy. This movie also has one of Arnold's worst acting skills. The way he tried to accomplish humour made me faceslap myself. Also, there are some really mean spirited moments in this film, like how near the end (NOT A SPOILER), someone gets beaten up just because he is dressed as a character nobody likes. A show like Family Guy or South Park could of pulled this off, because they don't then make a cheesy "heatwarming" moment three minutes after a man was assaulted by a group of kids. I don't know, but this movie definitely isn't in Christmas spirit.I laughed once...so, I guess I give it a 2.1/10.

Perhaps I was reading too much into it, but I spotted some uncommon themes, and, perhaps, hidden messages in this movie. 1. Kids are ungrateful. 2. Kids are brainwashed. 3. The grass is always greener in the neighbour's garden. 4. It's always all about money. If you work a lot to provide a good living for your family, they will complain that you don't spend enough time with them. If you spend a lot of time with them, but don't make enough money, you will be blamed for your inability to provide good quality of life. You can never win. Kids only want acceptance from their peers. They are sheep and followers. If you don't get "the" toy (or, in this day and age, - "the" gadget), you are destined to be an outcast. Why is it this way? Subtle brainwashing by merchants that's been going on since the beginning of times."I wish my Dad was more like yours". Yeah, the grass is always greener in the neighbour's yard. If he really had *that* guy for a Dad, I bet he'd be saying he wished some other guy was his Dad. People rarely appreciate what they have. So, the kid is *real* p***ed at his Dad for missing his karate class, and keeps bitching that he doesn't spend enough time with him. But as soon as you promise to *BUY* him something, all is well again. Conclusion? Anything can be fixed with money. You're a good parent as long as you have money to *BUY* stuff. And... did it bother anyone else that Arnie's character used the situation he found himself in to select his own son as the winner of the special edition toy? Another observation: if given choice, people will inevitably do what is beneficial to *them* (even if it harms others), instead of what is fair or morally correct. Like I said, maybe I'm reading too much into it, or, perhaps, the movie does, indeed, have a deeper meaning. Whatever the case may be, I did like it, and if you don't try to over-analyze it (like I did), you will be able to enjoy it for what it is - a light-hearted comedy.