Deck the Halls

Great storyline, good looking ladies, veteran actors, all add up to an enjoyable movie. The conflict between DeVito's Buddy Hall, and Broderick's Steve Finch is played excellently from two of Hollywood's veteran actors. Buddy Hall is one of those guys who is always looking for special meaning in his life. When he moves next door to Steve Finch, he thinks he's found it when he decides that he would like for his Christmas lighting to be able to be viewed from space. Unfortunately, Steve just happens to be the "chief" of Christmas lights in his little hamlet, and he develops a quick dislike for all things Buddy. The movie is chock full of pranks that they pull on each other, while their beautiful, and understanding wives tolerate them at best. In the end, the challenge for them both is to discover the true meaning of Christmas in time to save their holidays, and maybe even their marriages. If you like a good sentimental Christmas film, then you'll probably like this one. Lots of funny scenes with plenty of drama mixed in. I give it a solid 8 out of 10 for a Christmas themed film.

Local eye doctor and Christmas expert Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) wants an nice simple Christmas with his wife Kelly (Kristen Davis), his daughter Madison (Alia Shawkat) and his son Carter (Dylan Blue). When the Finch family has new neighbors during the holidays, which they are the Hall family. Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito), his wife Tia (Kristen Chenoweth) and their twin daughters, Ashley (Emily Aldridge) and Emily (Kelly Aldridge). Buddy is a pro salesman in a Car Dealership department but he quickly get bored with the previous jobs, he had. Buddy wants to do something totally different for Christmas, he has the idea to have many colorful Christmas lights on his house that they can be seen from Space! Soon enough, it truly annoys Steve and he feels that Buddy will ruined his Christmas spirit. He decides to do whatever it takes to ruined Buddy's Christmas. Especially they competed against each other during the holidays.

Directed by John Whitesell (Big Momma's House 2, Malibu's Most Wanted, See Spot Run) made an decent Christmas movie with some low-brow laughs and an few moments of mean-spirited gags. Broderick and DeVito are certainly good in their roles. But the script could have been much better, sometimes i wonder if the movie was meant to be darker at times. Perphas the dirtiest joke in the movie, when Broderick and DeVito are amused (and probably turned-on) by watching live performance of "Santa Baby", not realized in these short Christmas skirts and Christmas costumes is their daughters. But the worst thing about the movie is the Christmas lights, especially in DeVito's home in the picture. After watching the movie, it kinda made me sick watching these different colors Christmas lights. Overall, "Deck the Halls" is fairly amusing two-thirds of the way but the movie always goes overkill. Too bad with a brighter script, this feature could have been really good. Watchable but nothing memorable. (***/*****).

While this movie is not laugh out loud funny, I still found it cute and entertaining. I especially liked the unique and bright light display. I don't know if most of those lights were just computer generated or if they decorated a real house, but it sure looked amazing.

In the movie, Buddy hall and his family moves across the street from the Finch's. He comes up with the idea of making his house bright enough to be seen from outer space. All the lights and traffic begin to aggravate Steve Finch. He makes an attempt to sabotage Buddy's lights, but his attempt isn't very successful. He competes with Buddy in the town speed skating contest. Steve's wife gets along with Buddy's and she and kids begin doing things different. Steve wants everything done the same as in the same "family traditions." Buddy and Steve learn a lesson in the end and what it means to be good neighbors.

FINAL VERDICT: Entertaining. 12 year olds should like this as well as adults.

Film Review: Deck the Halls Cast: Danny DeVito, Mathew Broderick, Kristin Davis and Kristin Chenoweth

It's the festive season and there's a new neighbour in town. Danny DeVito plays the part of Buddy Hall, a cunning family man desperately in need of settling down. It's not easy establishing a home in a new neighbourhood as the Hall family soon finds out, especially with a neighbour like Steve Finch, played by Mathew Broderick.

Finch is a man set in his ways. His desire to control everything around him borders on obsessive-compulsive. At best he is anally retentive; at worst seriously unstable. As the self proclaimed chairman of the Town's Christmas celebrations, Finch feels completely threatened by the arrival of Hall.

Their families get along like a house on fire, but these two alpha males can't see eye to eye on anything. They become fiercely competitive and unwittingly puerile, as each tries to outdo the other. Buddy Hall gets a bizarre notion into his head about adorning his house with sufficient lighting so that it can be viewed from space. He is prepared to do this even if it means arousing the wrath of the Finch family.

This is a weird and wacky tale about Christmas cheer and reconciliation. Naturally there is that inevitable chemistry between DeVito and Broderick. From rivalry to cooperation, this is their story told in the true spirit of the festive season.

The reviews and the comments were quite harsh, so I decided to take the gamble and go see it. Glad I made that decision. I laughed and so did my wife and 13 year old daughter. The 11 year old boy didn't spend nearly as much time laughing.

Some of the funniest scenes are in the trailers, as with the majority of movies, but there were a number of surprises.

It starts out great and does slide downhill just a bit. Maybe they ran out of good material towards the end... Or possibly they wanted to actually make a statement, about the seriousness of Christmas. Either way, I would not pay to see it again, but I would rent it or watch it on TV.

Merry Christmas...