Starring Madalen Mills, Forrest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Anika Noni Rose
Directed by David E. Talbert
Music and Lyrics by various
Jingle Jangle was one of the major Netflix releases for the mixed-up holiday season of 2020, when home media was often the only way anyone could see a new film. It seems to have fallen through the cracks somewhat on the website since then. Should it be ignored, or does it deserve a second chance to soar? Let's begin with a grandmother (Phylicia Rashad) reading a very unique pop-up book to her imaginative grandchildren and find out...
The Story: Jeronicus Jangle (Justin Cornwell) is an inventor and toy maker who is adored by his wife Joanne (Sharon Rose) and daughter Jessica (Diana Babincova). His shop Jangles and Things is known for its amazing toys and magic seemingly around every corner. He creates a matador doll, Diego (Ricky Martin), that can walk and talk and think on its own. Unfortunately, that ability also gives it a very large ego. Horrified at the idea of being mass-produced, Diego convinces Jeronicus' assistant Gustafson (Key) to steal him and his boss' book of inventions.
Unable to prove the theft and heartbroken when Joanne dies, Jeronicus falls into despair and loses his magic and creative spark. He also grows distant from Jessica (Rose), who walks out. She eventually has a daughter, Journey (Mills), who shares her grandfather's curiosity and love of inventing. Journey goes to her grandfather's to spend the holidays with him, only to find that Jangles and Things is now a pawnshop.
She and his assistant Edison (Kieron L. Dyer) discover a robot Jessica had worked on, the Buddy 3000, hidden in the attic. Having exhausted the inventions in the book, Gustafason steals Buddy. The kids follow him, and Jeronicus follows them. After Buddy's damaged, it'll take all three Jangles to repair him, and learn about faith, hope, and healing in the process.
The Song and Dance: What a lovely, joyous movie! There are delights bursting from every overstuffed frame, from the mechanical steampunk playthings in Jangles and Things in the opening to the gears and eerie green tunnels of Gustafson's factory. The entire production glows like a Technicolor MGM musical of the 1950's. Special mention to the colorful and historically accurate costumes that nicely reflect the mid-late 19th century, including the most use of plaid I've seen in a production not set in Scotland.
Some terrific performances here, too. Mills is an energetic wonder as Journey, who is delighted to meet people who have the same spark of creativity as her. Whitaker more than matches her as her grandfather, especially in the first half, when he's still angry and avoiding her. Rose radiates strength and sorrow as Jessica, and Key nearly steals the film as the frustrated inventor who would rather feed off someone else's creativity. I also appreciate how magic and science aren't mutually exclusive here. Here, science IS magic, and it's actually explained in a way that makes it understandable and real.
Favorite Number: The movie opens with the rousing R&B chorus number "This Day" as the young Jeronicus, his family, and all of his customers celebrate the arrival of that one special part that could revolutionize his store. Diego encourages Gustafson to steal him...er, "Borrow Indefinitely" in his big solo. Mailwoman Ms. Johnson (Lisa Davina Phillip) eagerly claims she travels "Miles and Miles," but her only real interest is Jeronicus. Journey is thrilled that she's "Not the Only One" when she hopes he'll be a kindred spirit. Gustafson unveils his latest toy as he revels in being "Magic Man G" in the other big chorus number...at least until his Twirly Whirly attacks the crowd.
"Square Root of Possible" is Journey's other big solo after she finds her grandfather's inventions and revels in everything they can create together. Jeronicus sadly recalls "Over and Over" how he lost his family and business and regrets that he can't change the past and be something more. He and Jessica get a strong duet, "Make It Work," when she arrives and they start to understand the damage his pushing her away did.
What I Don't Like: At almost 2 hours, the movie is way too long. There's too many subplots and way too much going on. A lot of the middle section where he rescues the kids from the factory feels like it was added to give the movie more typical action and pad things out and really could have been trimmed. It also takes a while to get where its going. Journey doesn't even turn up until nearly 20 minutes in. Also, I will admit that it doesn't really feel all that Christmas-y. It probably could have been set at any time of the year without missing a beat.
The Big Finale: An absolute delight from start to finish, this may be one of the best musicals on Netflix, and certainly one of the better holiday movies made in the last decade. A must for musical and R&B lovers and families with Netflix looking for something different to watch during the holidays.
Home Media: At this writing, this is a Netflix exclusive.
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