Deck the Halls

DVD Reviews | Nov 12th, 2007

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Starring Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito, Kristin Davis, Kristin Chenoweth
Written By: Matt Corman, Chris Ord, and Don Rhymer
Directed By: John Whitesell
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Buy on Amazon.com link

Being a fan of Matthew Broderick since the ever famous Ferris Bueller, I decided to give this one a go. Can Matthew Broderick still have the same boyish charm and sarcastic humor? Unfortunately not in this movie.

Broderick plays Steve Finch, an uptight optometrist in a Norman Rockwell type Massachusetts town. He manages to get the uptight part down pat; for most of the movie, it looks like he is walking with a stick up his ass! He has the perfect house and wife with the typical’ teenage movie kids. A moody sarcastic teenage daughter and a mini Alex P. Keaton type son. Steve is a Christmas enthusiast who plans everything down to the last detail (something I can relate too!), with the help of the Finch Family Christmas Calendar starting on December 1st. Oh should I mention he is known as “The Christmas Guy” in town.

Then in comes Danny DeVito’s character Buddy Hall, a noisy, boisterous, hapless schlep of a car salesman who moves in across the street. Buddy has big dreams and schemes but never seems to deliver. His latest dream is to create the biggest light display ever, so large in fact, he wants it to be seen from outer space. You can see where this is going already. Buddy’s light display becomes the talk of the town and neighborhood. Buddy becomes the new “Christmas Guy” and Steve can’t take it. He begins to snap and will do anything to make sure that he doesn’t loose his title.

The movie becomes an endless and predictable cookie cutter “feel good’ holiday movie. Some of the predicable scenes include a Christmas tree fire, lights exploding, a runaway sleigh, etc. Some scenes are reminiscent of Christmas Vacation and a few other 80’s holiday movies.

Overall not a bad movie if you have an hour and half to just kill. Not something that you need to break any doors down to go see though.

The deleted scenes and bloopers leave little to be desired as well.

Features:
Audio Commentary by Danny DeVito and Director John Whitesell
Dylan Blue Cast Interviews
Deleted Scenes
Bloopers
Construction of the Homes Featurette
Lighting Design Featurette
Winterizing/Shooting a Christmas Movie in July Featurette

Audio:
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 CC
SPANISH: Dolby Digital Surround
FRENCH: Dolby Digital Surround

Video:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Standard 1.33:1

Subtitles:
English, Spanish

Favorite Scenes:
Rating: PG
Running Time: 93 minutes
Extras Rating:
Overall Rating: