JINGLE JANGLE

Jingle Jangle is a 2020 American Christmas Musical Fantasy Comedy written and directed by David E. Talbert.

The film begins with a grandmother (Phylicia Rashad) reading her grandchildren a tale from a mystical looking book.

The tale is about a talented and successful inventor and toymaker, Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker) who is betrayed by his ambitious apprentice, Gustafson (Keegan-Michael Key) and things pretty much go downhill for him from there. When the apprentice steals his amazing and promising new invention – a conscious matador doll, Don Juan Diego (voice by Ricky Martin), as well as his book of inventions, thereby using it to become successful himself, the toymaker loses all hope and his creative, magical spark. As a result, Jeronicus experiences financial difficulty, and not long after, losses his wife. Unfortunately, he then becomes mentally and emotionally distant from his only daughter, Jessica who eventually moves away when she becomes old enough. Over the next 30 years, we see Jeronicus become an unhappy and uninspired pawnbroker as his once beautiful store, Jangle and Things, turns into a struggling pawn shop.

Life looks bleak for Jeronicus. This is evident when Mr Delacroix (Hugh Bonneville) from the bank informs him that he needs to pay up his debt, come up with a new invention to show to the bank as collateral or risk losing his shop. Sadly, the attempts of the boisterous postwoman, Mrs Johnston (Lisa Davina Phillip), who is clearly smitten by him, to snap him out of his melancholy, keeps proving futile as he shows no interest in her or in having his spirits lifted.

When Jeronicus’ daughter, Jessica (Anika Noni Rose) allows her own daughter, Journey (Madalen Mills), to go and spend Christmas with Jeronicus, the grandfather she has never met, things were set to take an unexpected turn. Jeronicus is unwelcoming, but he couldn’t help noticing that young Journey has the soul of an inventor and the familiar creative, magical spark…..

The film is truly magical and is brought to life, not only by the wonderful cast, but also the fantastical set, beautiful and bright costumes, colours, and the lovely musical compositions and sounds; some written and performed by the likes of John Legend and Usher.

Everything about this film was creative, the dancing, the singing, even the credits. I especially like the complimentary clash between the period setting and the high and futuristic technology on display. The Christmas message couldn’t be clearer – love, give and believe in the impossible! It truly embodies the Christmas spirit and is worthy of watching now as we round off the last days of the festive season. Based on the total package, I would rate it 8 out of 10.

Currently available to watch on Netflix.

Further Information:

Ricky Martin:

Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. In 1999 he released the popular Livin’ la Vida Loca

Phylicia Rashad:

American actress, stage director and singer. She starred as Clair Huxtable on the long airing NBC sitcom, The Cosby Show. She also starred in the American psychological teen TV series, 13 Reasons Why - Season 4, the American musical-drama TV series, Empire, the American sports drama film, Creed 1(2015) & 2(2018)

Forest Whitaker:

American actor, producer, and director. He starred in 2002’s American Thriller, Phone Booth, 2002’s American Thriller, Panic Room, as Idi Amin in the 2006 political thriller The Last King of Scotland.

Anika Noni Rose:

American actor and singer. She is the voice of Tiana, Disney’s first African-American princess in 2009’s The Princess and the Frog. She starred in 2013’s Anglo-Nigerian historical fiction, Half of a Yellow Sun, 2006’s American musical drama, Dreamgirls.

Keegan-Michael Key:

American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Starred in 2014’s American comedy, Horrible Bosses 2, 2015’s American musical comedy, Pitch Perfect 2, 2015’s American science-fiction mystery-adventure, Tomorrowland. He had voice roles in American computer animated comedies: The Lego Movie (2014), Hotel Transylvania 2(2015) & 3(2018), The Angry Birds Movie (2016), Toy Story 4 (2019) and 2019’s American computer animation musical-drama, The Lion King.

Lisa Davina Phillip: British actress and singer. Appeared in popular BBC programmes like the soap opera, Doctors, the hot Sunday night drama, Call the Midwife.

Hugh Bonneville: British film and television actor. He plays Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham in the popular ITV historical drama series, Downton Abbey and has starred in a host of other famous tv series and films: EastEnders, Murder Most Horrid, Midsummer Murders, The Vicar of Dibley, 1994’s science-fiction horror, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, 1997’s James Bond spy film, Tomorrow Never Dies, 1999 British romantic-comedy, Notting Hill, 1999 British romantic-comedy drama, Mansfield Park.