Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey Spoiler-Free Review
Christmas is here!
I love Christmas’s that are Merry and Bright, and full of magic. Some of the ways we do this in our house is by decorating for the Holidays, baking, and watching Christmas movies. There are a few Christmas movies I watch every year and this year I have added another movie to that short list. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey starts streaming on Netflix on November 13, 2020, and it is a Christmas movie you will not want to miss. Here is my spoiler-free review!
My Review
Christmas movies help to get you into the Holiday Spirit. They are supposed to fill you with wonder and excitement. When you are a kid your eyes are filled with the magic of the season and you believe. As we grow older, sometimes this magic disappears, but when you watch a really good Christmas movie you can find that magic again. This is exactly what Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey does, and it helps remind us to believe. I watched Jingle Jangle with my 5-year-old and as we watched the movie her eyes sparkled, and she smiled the whole time. Afterward, Jingle Jangle was all she could talk about. I think it is a Christmas movie we will be watching every year from now on. There are a couple of reasons I really love Jingle Jangle so lets dive into them.
Music
The first is I am a sucker for musicals. (If you aren’t a fan of musicals I still think Jingle Jangle is worth seeing.) I have loved musicals for as long as I can remember. But not all musicals are created equal. If a musical also contains dance sequences/choreography it can be tricky sometimes to marry the two together. But with Jingle Jangle not only is the choreography spectacular, but the music is exceptional and they pair together so well. I could put the soundtrack on repeat, and listen to it forever. (John Legend is one of the Producers so I 100% understand why the music is so good.) Madalen Mills as Journey sings and nails one of my most favorite songs from the movie. I cannot wait for the soundtrack to come out! The music also ties into the story perfectly.
Story
Jingle Jangle was written and directed by David E. Talbert who is an American Playwriter. Because of this Jingle Jangle does come across as a play. In all actuality, Jingle Jangle would make an AMAZING Broadway Musical. (Who do I need to petition to make this happen? Haha!) I personally love this type of movie because it focuses the story on the characters. You feel more things when a movie is focused more on the characters than say the huge sets or special effects. Don’t get me wrong. Jingle Jangle’s sets and costumes are beautifully vibrant and stunning but, to me, the story is what is important. Jingle Jangle’s story takes you through a roller coaster of emotions, but even through all of those emotions of loss and wonder, you never stop believing.
Cast
The cast of Jingle Jangle is phenomenal. Some of my favorite actors from the movie are Forest Whitaker as Jeronicus and Madalen Mills as Journey. Both of these actors bring their characters to life and draw you in. But Lisa Davina Phillip as Ms. Johnston makes the movie for me. (I do not know what it is, but her character just speaks to me.) Her character’s journey parallels Jeronicus’s journey in so many ways but shows the other side of what happens when you choose not to lose hope, stay strong, and continue to believe.
My Rating
I give Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey an A+. It really is the perfect Christmas movie that teaches you to never give up and to always believe. It is a Christmas movie the whole family can watch, and I feel an instant classic.
Synopsis
A musical adventure and a visual spectacle for the ages, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a wholly fresh and spirited family holiday event. Set in the gloriously vibrant town of Cobbleton, the film follows legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle (Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker) whose fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder. But when his trusted apprentice (Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key) steals his most prized creation, it’s up to his equally bright and inventive granddaughter (newcomer Madalen Mills) — and a long-forgotten invention — to heal old wounds and reawaken the magic within. From the imagination of writer-director David E. Talbert and featuring original songs by John Legend, Philip Lawrence, Davy Nathan, and “This Day” performed by Usher and Kiana Ledé, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey reminds us of the strength of family and the power of possibility. Â
