Certificate: PG
Running time: 122 minutes
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Madalen Mills, Keegan Michael-Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose
Directed by: David E. Talbert
The story: Years after his apprentice betrays him, a toymaker's life is turned around when his young granddaughter appears on his doorstep.
The verdict: I love films and I love Christmas, so it can only follow on that I am extremely predisposed to enjoying Christmas themed films - I even enjoy the cheesy, always utterly predictable television Christmas films that are on at two o'clock in the afternoon and always have the exact same ending.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey has been compared to The Greatest Showman and that is a fair comparison. The musical numbers immediately give the film a theatrical feel, a feeling which is enhanced by the sets, costumes and production design. Director David Talbert originally conceived the film as a stage production and that certainly shines through in every frame.
The film is very effective at transporting its audience into the fantastical world of Jeronicus Jangle, a world which is a mixture of the Victorian and Steampunk and has an explosion of colours. I found this world very engaging, there is lots to draw the audiences eye and of course the well choreographed musical numbers are a treat to watch as well.
The plot of Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey does at times feel a bit stretched, at its heart it is a simple story and there are some superfluous parts. I did feel that at a little over two hours that the film was too long and could have been cut down slightly. However, many may disagree and enjoy that they get to spend even more time in the magical, Christmas world.
One aspect of the plot that I thoroughly enjoyed was the strength and determination of the character Journey, who is the granddaughter of Jeronicus Jangle. She shows throughout that girls are tough, intelligent and not to be underestimated - indeed she sings a song in which she declares "The square root of impossible is me!" Seeing a strong, young female character was great and I can imagine that this would resonate with a lot of audiences.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is not a subtle film, but that is what makes it so brilliant. It is an explosion of Christmas and colour, brought to life with music and wonderful production design. I think it is actually a bit of a shame that it was not possible to see this at the cinema - on a big screen the film would have been even more impressive.
The rating: ★★★★
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