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Review #316 of 365
Movie Review of Deck the Halls (2006) [PG] 95 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $8.75
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 23 November 2006
Time: 9:45 p.m.
Film's Official Website
DVD Release Date: unscheduled
Directed by: John Whitesell (Big Momma's House 2)
Written by: Matt Corman, Chris Ord, Don Rhymer (Big Momma's House 2)
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Danny DeVito (The OH in Ohio) • Matthew Broderick (Strangers with Candy) • Kristin Davis (The Shaggy Dog) • Kristin Chenoweth (Running with Scissors) • Alia Shawkat ("Arrested Development") • Dylan Blue (Just Like the Son) • Sabrina Aldridge • Kelly Aldridge
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Thanksgiving in the USA traditionally has marked the beginning of the holiday movie season as well as the last day of calm before the winter holiday shopping season. Over the past decade, however, just as famous chain stores have begun displaying winter holiday fare the day after Halloween, Hollywood has moved some of the biggest November releases toward the front end of the month. Ironically, then both groups sit and brood about why the traditional shopping season generates less income than it used to while scratching their heads. One thing, however, that has remained somewhat more constant, has been the release of a Christmas-themed film Thanksgiving weekend. This year's entry into what should be a high-stakes contest, aptly is called Deck the Halls, directed by John Whitesell, tries to teach a lesson in the drawbacks of holiday decorating excesses. The Hall Family, headed by Buddy (Danny DeVito) and Tia (Kristin Chenoweth) with twin daughters Ashley and Emily (Sabrina and Kelly Aldridge) has just moved into a tiny town in Massachusetts where, for many, many years, the Finch Family headed by Steve (Matthew Broderick) and Kelly (Kristin Davis) with daughter Madison (Alia Shawkat) and son Carter (Dylan Blue) has reigned supreme as the quintessential king family Christmas. Steve is known for his own Christmas tree plot at the Christmas tree farm where 7 years of trees are painstakingly groomed to don the Finch decorations. Steve is the chair of the town's Winter Carnival and reigning champ of the speed skating contest. Steve is known as the expert on all things Christmas from mistletoe protocols to when the town Christmas tree has been sufficiently accessorized.
"Predictable, obvious, and only mildly humorous…heavy on the clichés…"
That is, until, Buddy Hall moves in across the street and, after a life-long string of broken bulbs, gets the idea that the way for him to finally be somebody is to decorate his house for Christmas such that it will be noticeable from space on Google® earth. Yikes. His first set of glowing bulbs, brings him into the direct line of sight of Steve Finch, and shortly thereafter ensues a battle of wills between the former and current Mr. Christmas, MA. The story is not a contest as to whose house is better, which might have made for a slightly better plot; but, rather, between Buddy's determination to be seen from space by adding ever-more-elaborate light features to his house including an LED display to the roof which allows for complicated designs and Steve's determination to sabotage the show which has turned his quiet little neighborhood into a zoo. Buddy is not without his own flaws. He has run long extension cords, now buried beneath snow, across the street and plugged into the Finch's electricity for example. As they work to ensure their mutually assured destruction, their spouses bond and agree to work together on a cookbook with recipes for real families, and they grow more and more distant from the ones who love them. The moral of the story is simple—your own Christmas pride is not worth more than the love of your family. Awww!
Predictable, obvious, and only mildly humorous, the script does not afford the actors with much depth of character with which to work. Heavy on the clichés the wives are stereotypical window-dressing, while the children are borrowed from episodes of "Laguna Beach". The film caused me to reflect back onto what I still consider the Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas themed, comedy of all time, Home Alone, and why it was so much better than any film to follow in its footsteps. When you think about it, it was a pretty simple concept. A boy, home alone, forgotten by his family that is now in Paris and unable to get back home to be with him due to bad weather in Chicago, who must defend his house from robbers who prey on houses whose occupants are away for the holidays. Right? Easy enough, and yet hilarious good fun, cartoonish violence only, and a wonderfully warm Christmas message about the importance of being with family. Home Alone proves it is possible to make simple and rewarding family entertainment with the spirit of the season at heart. Unfortunately, no one said it would be easy as has proven out this year with the far, far from great Deck the Halls.
Predictable, obvious, and only mildly humorous, the script does not afford the actors with much depth of character with which to work. Heavy on the clichés the wives are stereotypical window-dressing, while the children are borrowed from episodes of "Laguna Beach". The film caused me to reflect back onto what I still consider the Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas themed, comedy of all time, Home Alone, and why it was so much better than any film to follow in its footsteps. When you think about it, it was a pretty simple concept. A boy, home alone, forgotten by his family that is now in Paris and unable to get back home to be with him due to bad weather in Chicago, who must defend his house from robbers who prey on houses whose occupants are away for the holidays. Right? Easy enough, and yet hilarious good fun, cartoonish violence only, and a wonderfully warm Christmas message about the importance of being with family. Home Alone proves it is possible to make simple and rewarding family entertainment with the spirit of the season at heart. Unfortunately, no one said it would be easy as has proven out this year with the far, far from great Deck the Halls.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Deck the Halls (2006)
Cast Members
Danny DeVito
• Matthew Broderick • Kristin DavisKristin Chenoweth
• Alia Shawkat • Dylan BlueDirector
John Whitesell
Co-Writer
Don Rhymer
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Deck the Halls (2006) Review-lite [150-word cap]
This year's winter holiday movie, Deck the Halls, directed by John Whitesell, tries to teach a lesson in the drawbacks of holiday decorating excesses. The Hall Family, headed by Buddy (Danny DeVito) has just moved into a tiny town in Massachusetts where, for many years, the Finch Family headed by Steve (Matthew Broderick) has reigned supreme as king family Christmas. That was until Buddy Hall moved in across the street and, after a life-long string of broken bulbs, got the idea that the way for him to finally be somebody would be to decorate his house such that it can be seen from space. The moral of the story is simple—your own Christmas pride is not worth more than the love of your family. Predictable, obvious, heavy on the clichés, and only mildly humorous, the script doesn't offer the actors much depth of character. Unfortunately, this is no Home Alone.
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