Brief Summary
This YouTube video is a discussion and review of the movie "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey." The hosts share their personal experiences watching the film, discuss its background, and analyze various aspects such as its music, cinematography, and cultural impact. They also talk about the themes, characters, and performances, offering both praise and critique.
- The hosts discuss the visual richness of the film, the performances of the cast, and the afro-victorian aesthetic.
- They analyze the film's themes, including family relationships, belief, and the combination of magic and math.
- The hosts also discuss the film's cultural impact, its representation of black stories, and its connection to Christmas traditions.
Intro
The podcast episode starts with music and applause, setting a festive tone. The hosts, RJ, Rita, and Molly, introduce the episode and mention that RJ has already done a podcast about the film. They also address a lingering question from a previous episode about Rita's apartment situation, confirming that she has moved to a new, renovated loft in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, near Wrigley Field.
Weather and Christmas Plans
Molly shares that San Diego is gorgeous with 60 degrees in December, while Chicago is 39 degrees. The hosts discuss the lack of sunlight in Chicago during the winter and how it affects them. They then transition to discussing their Christmas plans, with RJ planning to go to a cabin in Northern Wisconsin near the Minnesota border.
A Christmas Carol and Muppets
The hosts discuss "A Christmas Carol" and its various film versions, with a consensus that "The Muppet Christmas Carol" is the definitive version due to Michael Caine's serious performance as Scrooge, treating the Muppets as fellow actors. They reminisce about watching "A Christmas Carol" every year and its significance in their families.
Jingle Jangle Summary Challenge
The hosts introduce "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey" and decide to do a summary challenge. Adam attempts to summarize the movie in one minute, including the main plot points such as Jeronicus Jangle's inventions, his assistant's betrayal, and the importance of belief. Molly then tries to summarize it quicker, focusing on the main plot and characters.
RJ's History with Jingle Jangle
RJ shares his history with "Jingle Jangle," mentioning that he had a positive reaction to it when he first watched it for his podcast, "The Popsicle." He found it visually appealing and thought the cast was stellar. However, his second viewing with Adam was less magical. Molly watched it for the first time with her nephews and they enjoyed it. Adam watched it alone because he was busy when RJ first watched it.
Netflix and Cultural Touchstones
The hosts discuss the Netflix algorithm and how it affects the visibility of movies. They suggest that Netflix could create a resource to help people remember good content that they might have missed. They also compare the marketing efforts for "Jingle Jangle" to those for "Christmas on the Square," noting that "Jingle Jangle" had more marketing but still didn't become a cultural touchstone.
Background of Jingle Jangle
The hosts discuss the background of "Jingle Jangle," noting that it was directed and written by David E. Talbert, who started writing it in 1998. It was produced by his wife, Lynn Sisson-Talbert, along with John Legend and others. The cast includes Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Ricky Martin. The cinematography was by Remi Adefarasin, and the music was by John Debney. The film was released on Netflix on November 13, 2020, with a running time of 122 minutes.
Conspiracy Theories and Songwriters
The hosts discuss the songwriters for "Jingle Jangle," John Legend and Philip Lawrence, who has written many Bruno Mars songs. They also mention that the choreographer is Ashley Wallen, who also choreographed "The Greatest Showman." The hosts then discuss the NAACP Awards nominations and wins for the film, including Felicia Rashad and Madeline Mills.
Jingle Jangle Discussion
The hosts begin their discussion of "Jingle Jangle," with Adam stating that he liked the movie more than "Everybody's Talking About Jamie." He praises the film's visual richness but expresses issues with the story, comparing it to "Mary Poppins" and wishing it was more sophisticated. Molly shares that her nephew cried during Forest Whitaker's song and cuddled with his mom, showing the movie's emotional impact.
Relationship Dynamics and Simplistic Storytelling
The hosts discuss the simplistic way the relationships are repaired in the film, particularly between Jessica and Jeronicus. Adam questions why Jeronicus invited Journey at all, and they discuss Jessica's confusing intentions upon arrival. They also discuss the lack of a third-party intervention, like in "Mary Poppins," to push Jeronicus to be a better father.
Make It Work Song
The hosts play the song "Make It Work" from the movie. They then compare the character development in "Jingle Jangle" to that in "Dreamgirls," noting that "Dreamgirls" gives a full storyline to each of its characters. They also discuss the expectations for Christmas movies to have everything solved and harmonious at the end.
Afro-Victorianism and Black Santa
The hosts discuss the afro-victorian aesthetic of the film and the history of Black Santa. They reference articles about bringing black iconography to Christmas and the evolution of Black Santa from racist minstrel shows to a symbol of black community and activism. They also mention the controversy surrounding Megan Kelly's comments about Santa being white.
Gustafson and Don Juan
The hosts discuss the character of Gustafson, played by Keegan-Michael Key, and his motivations as an antagonist. They express that the Don Juan character was unnecessary and that Gustafson's story was compelling enough on its own. They also praise Key's performance and the "Magic Man G" number.
Wicked and Choreography
The hosts discuss how "Wicked" has influenced media and express that "Jingle Jangle" would have been better if Gustafson was simply a villain without being swayed by Don Juan. They also criticize the character of Edison and the film's length. Adam points out a choreography issue in the "Magic Man G" number, noting that the claps don't connect. They also compare the choreography to "The Greatest Showman."
Miss Johnston and the Opening Song
The hosts discuss the character of Miss Johnston, played by Lisa Davina Philip, and her comedic performance. They also mention the three guys in the shop who contribute to the song and their nephew's reaction to them. They then transition to discussing the opening song and the film's music in general.
Square Root of Impossible
The hosts discuss the song "Square Root of Impossible" and the film's use of math as a metaphor for magic. Adam expresses his annoyance with the film's attempt to equate math with magic, arguing that it simplifies and misrepresents both concepts. Molly agrees, stating that the song doesn't connect with the problem at hand.
Snowball Fight and Score
The hosts discuss the snowball fight scene and the song "Grandpa Meaning Mini" in the background. Adam expresses that he wishes the score and songs matched better, feeling that the modern music didn't fit the Victorian setting. Molly felt that the opening song came quickly enough that it was fine for them to be setting up and they're also going to do modern music.
Critic Reviews and Black Stories
The hosts share positive critic reviews of the film, highlighting the performances, music, and visuals. They also discuss the cultural context of the film's release in 2020, during the George Floyd protests, and the importance of celebrating black stories.
Letterbox Reviews and MVP
The hosts share letterbox reviews of the film, including one that calls it "the greatest snowman." They then announce their MVPs, with Adam choosing Lynn Sisson-Talbert for her decision to go down the afro-victorianism path, and Molly and RJ choosing Madeline Mills for her talented performance.
Closer and Next Episode
Molly asks the hosts what toy they would invent if they had a magical elixir. RJ says he would make a toy plane that can really fly, and Adam says he would create an Easy Bake Oven that actually works and is safe. Molly says she would invent a toy that would put all of your toys away for you just like in Mary Poppins. The hosts then announce that their next episode will be on "Top Hat."
