A Christmas musical that embraces its musicality to the fullest. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a very simple, yet heartwarming story that suits the holiday season perfectly.
I'll start with the musical numbers since they are easily the best part of this film. These musical numbers are the likes that shouldn't be in a movie. They should be on stage. Everything from the dancing to the singing to all the other choreography is wonderfully over the top and look like something directly from Broadway. The musical numbers are just the right amount of ridiculous to make you smile. The songs are great as well. They are catchy enough to pull you in and touching enough to keep you there. I suppose my only complaint in regards to the music is that there isn't anything even remotely Christmasy. Since the movie is advertised as a holiday movie and takes place during Christmas, I was hoping that it would've been slightly more in line with that theme.
As far as the story goes, there isn't much to say. It's a simple story with a predictable direction. However, I do think that kids will really like it. After all, the film is directed at them. But, the story is charming and heartwarming enough to make adults like it as well. The musical numbers certainly add their own flavour and charm, and I think that that's where most adults are going to find their enjoyment.The middle of the movie does feel a little slow, though. That's where the story is the most predictable, and that's also where the musical numbers are the furthest apart.
To tell you the truth, I was positively surprised by Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. A film like this could've easily been overly cheesy and so heavily oriented towards kids that adults would've really struggled with it. Fortunately, the film manages to walk that thin line where the orientation is clearly towards kids, but adults can, and will, enjoy it too. The ending certainly plays a big part in that. Although it's exactly what you would expect, it still manages to make you happy and leaves you with a smile. Precisely what films like this, are supposed to do.
To enjoy this movie, you certainly have to like musicals. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey takes full advantage of the musical genre and is everything but shy with its performances. If that's something that you like, then this movie will be a great addition to any holiday movie list.