Deck the halls (2006)
Possibly the only good thing this film has going for it is that it does not feature Adam Sandler. Or Vince Vaughn. It does however feature Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick, who really should both have known better. It’s a timeless tale of the Christmas spirit crumbling under the assault of petty neighbourhood rivalry and childish one-upmanship in a time when such things should be relegated to a place of much less importance. Or, as IMDB puts it:
Two neighbors have it out after one of them decorates his house for the holidays so brightly that it can be seen from space.
Rather like their egos, I would imagine. Oh yes, it’s one of those movies I remember being introduced with the annoying phrase “This holiday season”. This ****ing holiday season? What’s with that? What’s wrong with “this Christmas”?! Okay, so not every culture celebrates Christmas, but I think that’s going too far. What’s next? Holiday Season cards? Merry Holiday Season? Oh wait, you guys already say “Happy Holidays”, don’t you? I rest my case.
But wait just one moment! Did I notice the name of Garry Chalk there? Yeah, so what you say. Ah, shows what you know! Let me just check my files… YES! He also took part in that Rudolph movie, where he was the voice both of Blitzen and Rudolph’s father (unless they’re both the same reindeer? THAT would be weird!); not only that, but he seems to have featured in a good many other Christmas movies, as well as a whole slew of, er, Barbie stuff. Hmmm….