Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»1587. Deck The Halls (2006)

    1587. Deck The Halls (2006)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on December 18, 2016 2006, 6 - 7.9, 90-99 mins, Christmas, Comedy, Dec 16, Movies Of 2016, Review, United States
    6.5 Dumb but watchable
    • Acting 6.8
    • Directing 6.7
    • Story 6.0
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito, Kristin Davis

    Director: John Whitesell

    Running Time: 93 mins


    Deck The Halls is an American film about two neighbours who enter into a rivalry after one of them decides to cover his house in enough lights to make it visible from space, whilst the other attempts to save his perfect vision of Christmas.

    There are some really scathing reviews for this movie around and about, and whilst it’s definitely not a work of art, and features a totally predictable and at times sickly story, a lot of Deck The Halls is actually pretty bearable. I realise that’s not the world’s greatest compliment, but it’s a film full of okay performances and comedy that manage to lighten what is in truth a completely unoriginal and brainless film.

    But again, it’s Christmas, and sometimes that sort of movie is just what you need. There are of course better holiday films out there, but I’m going to start off by defending some of Deck The Halls.

    If there’s one thing that I was surprised by here, then it was the comedy. It’s not hilarious, but I had a good few chuckles from start to finish, and (with the exception of the ghastly first act), there’s nothing particularly offensive or painful that tries to make you laugh, paving the way for a very simple and light-hearted Christmas flick that, whilst it won’t have you laughing your socks off, is perfectly adequate and enjoyable for a lot of its runtime.

    Also, the performances aren’t all that bad either. Matthew Broderick gets a lot of stick for being dull and boring (which is only used in comparison to Ferris Bueller), but in this film, he manages to use that style to his advantage. He gives a convincing and entertaining turn as a highly-strung man who is pushed to the edge by his obnoxious neighbour, also very well-played by Danny DeVito, and it was his performance that helped me get angry with DeVito’s character, making the subsequent rivalry between the two a lot more entertaining.

    However, whilst there are a few things that the film does well, it is a mostly unoriginal and often dull affair. The first act is the worst culprit of this, using awful comedy and a completely generic set-up to begin with, however the story, one of a man hating another yet everyone else telling him ‘he’s not so bad/lighten up!’, is completely predictable throughout, meaning that the only real opportunity for great entertainment comes from the humour.

    Overall, it’s not a particularly enthralling film, and although the fact that it’s perfectly braindead and predictable occasionally gives it a bearable light-hearted atmosphere (save for the painfully cheesy ending), Deck The Halls isn’t a great movie. It’s watchable, and a fair way to spend 90 minutes of Christmas, but don’t expect anything more, which is why I’m giving it a 6.5.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.4
    Review
    December 14, 20210

    3579. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

    8.1
    Review
    July 12, 20170

    1821. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

    8.6
    Review
    May 9, 20170

    1750. The Grey (2012)

    8.7
    Review
    February 6, 20170

    1647. Alphaville (1965)

    8.0
    Review
    July 9, 20150

    1019. Ted 2 (2015)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.