It's hard to believe that tonight is our 4th Christmas movie for 2012! And we're not in Advent yet. Tonight, we move away from the 'made for TV' offerings of recent weeks and attempt to watch a 'proper' festive film. This week we look to;
Deck The Halls
It sometimes gets really hard to write originally and enthusiastically about films, especially festive feelgood movies. You know that it will be the same format regardless of storyline. Set the scene. Establish the plot. Is it good versus evil. Or miserly versus giving? Build the rivalry, build the tension. Hit the point where they cannot go on and then repent and live happily ever after.
It's no different with Deck The Halls.
Danny de Vito stars as Buddy Hall, who moves into the neighbourhood, alongside Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick). After some initial banter, the rivalry between the two begins, with Buddy intent on stealing Christmas, with a huge display of lights on his house.
Finch is your more traditionalist, when it come to the festive season and was always the one who admired Christmas the most, enjoyed it the most and made the most effort. However, Buddy seems to be moving in on the act and starts the process of decorating his house with more lights than everyone else.
So we have the Christmas rivalry, the somewhat evil Buddy Hall against the hapless Steve Finch. You all know that it will go the full course, with bigger, better, brighter lights. More antagonistic behaviour etc. etc.
However, it is a funny film. There are quite a lot of laughs on the way. De Vito and Broderick make an ideal partnership in their feuding and are ably supported by their wives played by Kristin Davis (Kelly Finch) and Kristin Chenoweth (Tia Hall).
The story is reminiscent of a TV series called Christmas Lights, starring Robson Green and Mark Benton. I would say the TV series is slightly better than the film, but that doesn't take away the fact that Deck The Halls is a worthy Christmas movie and one to watch should it be on.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas.
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