Nov 14

Nov 14 Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

An inventor who loses his spark
Left hopeless, alone, future stark
Finds fresh inspiration
From a new generation
Whose belief leads him out of the dark

Our Thoughts

If you’re one of our Very Merry regulars and know our usual review formula, you probably noticed the lack of clichés listed for this review. (And if you didn’t notice, don’t worry. Google Analytics tells us we have terrible retention rates for visitors. We know how to hook ya, but we don’t know how to keep ya!)

It didn’t seem right to use our rigorous, well-researched review formula of heart-tugging clichés on a movie we knew was a family-friendly musical. We could hope for a Cute, Precocious Child, an Evil Corporation, or even a hint of Mistletoe, all which were present, but we couldn’t unfairly rate this film using them.

That’s why we called Netflix’s “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” an Honorable Mention in our 2020 Premieres list and sat down to watch knowing CCB wouldn’t show up…probably.

Sullen inventor, Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker, who steals the movie) is a Widower with no relationship with his daughter, no inspiration for a new toy, and no hope to save his toy shop-turned-pawn shop. Thankfully, his creative granddaughter, Journey (Madalen Mills, wait—she steals the movie), tricks her way into a visit and tricks her grandfather into sharing his calculations for excellence and possibility, which she can magically visualize, too.

Cute, precocious scenes between Journey and Edison, Jeronicus’s assistant, result in the discovery of Buddy 3000, a magical robot invented by Journey’s mother. If they can get him to work, they could save the store! Too bad Jeronicus’s old apprentice, Gustafson (Keegan-Michael Key, we’ll get to him later) wants to steal the plans, just like he stole every other invention of Jeronicus’s. That betrayal led to the Rage vs. Sage Grandpa Figure that is current Jeronicus.

The movie’s a little slow to start. Young Jeronicus and Gustafson have a few catchy tunes and know how to dance, but the movie picks up with Journey’s energy and innocent beliefs. Her “Square Root of Possible” is a showstopper. And even though Buddy 3000 is a mashup of E.T. and Wall-E, so much so there’s the potential for some intellectual property lawsuits (seriously—the voice is Wall-E and the scream is E.T.), you will smile during all of his scenes.

If you don’t smile and tear up for a robot who runs on belief…do you even like Christmas movies?

What keeps this one from genre perfection is the unfortunate character of Don Juan (Ricky Martin, who does what he can). This gorgeously animated doll is just annoying. He’s supposed to be the foil/villain to Jeronicus, and is the reason Gustafson goes bad, but he’s not needed! His flailing limbs and poking at Gustafson’s failures lack reason. Don Juan was probably an early idea that was too loved to be cut.

And this review doesn’t even get to the gorgeous costumes, the catchy tunes, or the animated sequences that rival Pixar. Plus, if you’re a “The Greatest Showman” fan, you’ll notice familiar, energetic choreography from the townspeople.

A movie of high-highs and angering lows. If anyone knows where we can get a Don Juan-less edit, send it our way.

Regardless, add it to your yearly Christmas movie rotation or face our wrath.