Bad Movie Beatdown: Deck the Halls (REVIEW)

[@FilmBrain]

This video was originally posted in December 2012, and this is an extensively re-edited version, as you've likely spotted from the run time. This new version runs a whopping 4m 12s shorter than the original, and not because any jokes have been cut: - *NEW* voiceover for 80% of the review. The narration in the opening and closing portions are intact, albeit re-edited, because they had music beneath them, but entire main body of the video is completely re-voiced. This was during the "angry" phase, and the fact that review lost so much time was simply because I wasn't dragging out every syllable speaks for itself. - Upscaled into HD for the first time! The original master was 640x360, and I've used some editing magic to enhance it up to 720p. Obviously it's not quite up to the level of a true HD master (I don't have the raw files any more), but this looks far better. Let me know what you think of this technique. - Film clips reduced, which had been something of a challenge because it kept getting detected. - Reducing the dragging of syllables during on-camera pieces. I'm really proud of this re-edit, and I hope you enjoy this festive one all over again.

[@alexanderklepp]

Film Brain I know you don’t like your angry phase but I didn’t mind it that much. I found it funny, but I understand why others didn’t. I love the review by the way; it’s funny.

[@clearspira]

Why don't you like the ''angry'' phase? It seemed to be followed by the ''puppy dog'' phase where your re-occurring joke was that you were trying to suck up to the Nostalgia Critic in the crossovers. I preferred the ''angry'' phase to that.

[@cthulhupthagn5771]

Film Brain very appreciated. I like your reviews and analysis, but your "angry" phase made it really difficult to watch sometimes (no offense )

[@MissBarker93]

Happy Belated Birthday, Matt. :D

[@LordMangudai]

Speaking as someone who has been a big fan for a long time and found the "angry/shouty/drag out words at the end of every senteeeeeennccce" phase quite difficult to sit through and disappointing, I honestly can't praise the work you're doing on these reviews enough. Really helping me to appreciate the otherwise solid content that I once found so hard to enjoy, and props for owning up to your "mistakes" and taking these steps to rectify them. Yet another reason why I'm a fan. Keep up the good work. :)

[@ExplorerDS6789]

Ironic that despite it being a Christmas film, both Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick are Jewish. And, if it's any consolation, both hated working on this movie.

[@cybertek3188]

ExplorerDS6789 That was pretty stupid casting them in this film.

[@TheNkw1984]

I think you'll find Danny DeVito is Catholic mate. Regardless this film is awful!

[@irishcountrygirl78]

Danny's wife is Jewish, but Danny was born to Italian American Catholic parents and they raised their own kids non religious, Mathew spends at least 6 weeks in Donegal, Ireland every summer and I've met him and his wife SJP in passing here, he has a non practicing Jewish mother apparently, but his dad is Irish American Catholic. So I'm sure they could play Christian parts. My kids absolutely LOVE this movie. Love love love it 😂

[@Slice2099]

Wait Ferris Bueller Is Jewish

[@Slice2099]

-Tracey - his wife was on Cheers

[@multitudeofidols]

Could have worked as a full-blown dark comedy, if they hadn't neutered it. I suspect some studio interference is how its potential got turned into a weak family comedy.

[@disappointedoptimist8659]

Can we all agree Danny devito is just playing his character from it’s always sunny?

[@GraceSavidesKeller]

Honestly, what this movie needs is to have no sympathy for his character. Then it's just this awkward nightmare comedy about two awful people destroying Christmas. Be a dark comedy or be a warm hearted story about family. You can't have it both ways.

[@rayelgatubelo]

@@GraceSavidesKeller And given that America - hell the entire Western Hemisphere loves Christmas to the point of obnoxiousness, a comedy about two guys obsessing over the holiday and ruining it for everyone shouldn't be a hard sell! That sort of frustration with Christmas creep is something we can all relate to.

[@akiameko1984]

I think that was kind of the point, and the people who came up with that idea forgot that him and Charlie are the two most likeable characters on the merit that Dennis and Dee are both dangerously mentally ill, to the point where there's fan theories she's an arsonist, and he's a serial killer, and Cricket's the only supporting character who was a decent human being at first. Even Bruce Mathis was only playing father figure to take away as much as he could from Frank, but Cricket was a genuinely decent human being at first.

[@actionstudios9502]

He is playing Frank Reynolds but just no cocaine

[@gageperuti5519]

I love the cast of this film (yes, even Matthew Broderick), but man is it terrible. In many ways, it's a lot like Christmas With The Kranks: great cast and a decent premise wrapped up in awful gags, contrivances up the wazoo, and a general mean spirited nature that's completely contrary to what Christmas is supposed to be about. Screw both movies, I'm sticking to the classics.

[@graemesmith6721]

Is there anything that can crush the joy from the holidays faster than a Hollywood Christmas comedy? Full of ridiculous cartoonish characters, tired cliches, contrived ridiculous situations, unfunny slapstick, and mean-spirited jokes, but invariably ending with a forced schmaltzy scene of everyone coming together and forgiving each other when they realize the true meaning of Christmas. RETCH!

[@raspberry_lemonade]

Fun Facts about the cast of this movie: The actress who plays Madison also plays Maeby in Arrested Development and her date is played by Cory Monteith (Finn from Glee)

[@kimifw58]

This movie looks like it was made in the 1990s. I actually thought it was until that kid mentioned Halo.

[@GatorRay]

17:48 WHY didn't they have their daughters tell them that they're participating in this show to prevent that DISGUSTING moment from happening?

[@mesousagaby740]

13:34 Hold up...the Sheriff who's wearing women's clothing...THAT'S GARRY CHALK! He's a well-known voice actor who's been in many cartoons such as Reboot, the Transformers anime series voicing Optimus Prime and LOTS of other shows. Heven appears in live-action movies every once in a while in bit parts, including the first Sonic movie. Hope he got payed well for being in this crap.

[@ColetheAero]

25:55- I honestly think it would've been better if it was all the people with their cellphones that made the house visible from space. It wouldn't make any sense, but it would at least keep the message of the movie intact.

[@floraposteschild4184]

Happy belated, Matthew! You were born on a comedian-heavy day: Bette Midler, Woody Allen, Sarah Silverman, Richard Pryor. I was just listening to a podcast about this movie; Broderick was very depressed during the filming, saying "this is the bottom". And DeVito couldn't wait to fly away every weekend on his jet.

[@captaindreadeye6264]

Eeeehhhhh maybe leave Woody Allen out of this one.

[@dalorasinum386]

Wait buddy is supposed to be the protagonist I thought he was the Villain of the story.

[@T5ComixCartoonz]

12:00 You'd be surprised how many movies largely depend on the characters being stupid. 13:30 Actually that's not completely accurate. It is possible to make a joke funny even if the audience already knows or can suspect what the punchline is going to be, but of course there is a trick to it, and it all comes down to timing and presentation. An old or predictable joke can be made funny with the right timing and delivery...unfortunately for this movie it doesn't have very good of either. 15:28 I'm pretty sure this is one of those movie plots that was written using Looney-Tunes-style logic. Who knows? If they had made this into a cartoon then it probably would have been a hit. XD

[@ryandowney8743]

I miss these Bad Movie Beatdowns.

[@T5ComixCartoonz]

I think I'll stick with "Christmas Vacation".

[@matthollands7771]

Exactly! Clark doesn't decorate his house with that many lights for any reason other than he just loves Christmas. The movie never dips into materialism and even goes as far to show them loving Christmas when everything has gone to hell and been destroyed. THAT'S how you do a great Christmas comedy. Not this shit

[@normeychiapatterson9559]

Happy birthday. Hopefully you didn't lose your sanity reviewing this movie

[@Reapermaskhybrid]

Melonie Daisy 3:56 If you look upside down, you can see that he's reading One Piece. I know, I checked.

[@Reapermaskhybrid]

Melonie Daisy I know he's reading One Piece because I could make out Luffy's grin on his wanted poster.

[@thecinematicmind]

Melonie Daisy Well he lost his sanity watching The Cavern.

[@ExplorerDS6789]

He's survived Good Luck Chuck and The Cavern. He can take ANYTHING.

[@tintinismybelgian]

12:00 Ironically, it was the Puritans who outlawed Christmas back in the mid-1600s. (*1647 in England, 1659 in Massachusetts)

[@ExplorerDS6789]

5:58- Originally he yelled "JEEP!" right here. LOL. Oh, and a big thanks for trimming down that Steven-and-Buddy-in-a-sleeping-bag scene, it makes it a lot less painful to watch.

[@Launchpad05]

4:45 A FEEEEEEEEEEAMILY PICTURE!

[@Reapermaskhybrid]

Marc Baker 3:55-3:56 If you look upside down and see close enough, you can see that the kid is reading One Piece. I know, I checked.

[@MiXVoy]

or this 05:11

[@Reapermaskhybrid]

Mixey Boy Jesus H, that's like something a creepy teenager puts on his wall.

[@nitromagilou597]

You know, for kids!

[@andrewmontgomery5621]

Loved Matthew Broderick as the voice of adult Simba in The Lion King and Danny Devito as the guest voice of Homer Simpson's long lost brother Herb

[@aussieman3021]

Danny DeVito was also the voice of Philoctetes in Disney's Hercules. You know the movie which featured Hades being memorably voiced by James Woods?

[@PhoenixRising87]

@@aussieman3021 It's sad that the literal Disney villain James Woods voiced is more likable than James Woods IRL.

[@ExplorerDS6789]

Thanks for uploading! You are right, because when comparing this version of the review to the original, you do sound MUCH calmer.

[@justdannyquinn]

The more I think about it, this movie would've worked a lot better as a highly cynical black comedy in the vein of Bad Santa. Granted, it also would've required a ton of great writing and directing, but I think the idea of a neighbourhood competing with each other for the best-decorated house at Christmas could've potentially worked, particularly if it were a South Park episode or something like that and it honestly wouldn't surprise me if that's how it was originally conceived because I do feel like you see glimpses of that in the finished film, which is just so sanitised and awkward and unfunny that it hurts to even think about.

[@roberttreacy8271]

Yeah, this is one of those movies that can’t decide its target audience, as the jokes are either too juvenile for adults or too vulgar for kids.

[@justdannyquinn]

@@roberttreacy8271 The fact that Danny DeVito is in this just makes me wish that this was an It's Always Sunny episode because quite frankly, this does seem like something that Frank Reynolds would want to do with Paddy's Pub.

[@sethmorris6803]

This is my favorite review

[@Magy09able]

I knew the movie was stupid, but not "law" stupid. In the real world the main characters could be getting big time in jail for everything they did.

[@freemantle85]

11:04 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine was able to make burning Christmas trees funny

[@IsaacWhittakerDakin]

My parents took me to see this film in the cinema when it came out in 2006, I should've called social services after that! ;-)

[@shellbacksclub]

love that "i got some beers lets drink em!" guy from Dead Man On Campus!

[@scottylewis8124]

17:50 that girls face is pretty much everyone's reaction to this movie.

[@olivermarijuanajones5041]

This reminds me of "Neighbors" that dire black comedy where Belushi and Ackroyd played against type, but it just turned out kinda creepy and boring

[@bthsr7113]

@20:52 Nobody tell Mr. Kirkman I was on fox.

[@yukiskyzero1313]

I didn't laughed at the lame jokes at the movie but I sure did have a great laugh at your review. xD

[@UnknownUnknown-mo7zg]

I'd like to point out its illegal to block off a driveway.

[@scottylewis8124]

You can tell this was festive because they released it in November.

[@jeremyusreevu237]

There are certain things Mathew Broderick should never say. "Hey, baby. Who's your daddy?" is one of them.

[@scottylewis8124]

*shudders in disgust*

[@EmilysAdventuresInHorrorland]

Scotty Lewis *joins conga line of shuddering*

[@ExplorerDS6789]

These two make Clark Griswold look mature.

[@TinaBiebe]

Belated Happy Birthday 🎂 What an godawful movie. I lucked out and had never heard of it. After seeing your review, I’m glad I hadn’t. Sorry you had to suffer thru it because you were clearly snapping at the end.

[@bloodrunsclear]

25:00 Watch as the wife almost knocks her precious vase over by backing up her chair without looking at it once!

[@scottylewis8124]

Hypocrite

[@itsalwayssunnyinpahoa7631]

Happy belated birthday, Mathew. lol

[@nightwingjosh8491]

happy birthday again, matt!

[@baffledbrandon3132]

Happy birthday, Film Brain! :)

[@MissGreenAgain]

I feel great regional embarrassment for Global BC News journalist Jill Krop (renamed "Jill Crop" for the film). Watching part of my childhood in this movie is tough to stomach.

[@jackmonaghan8477]

3:50 - I guess Alia Shawkat was the member of the 'Arrested Development' cast who drew the shortest straw between cancellation and revival.

[@bthsr7113]

As an American in the suburbs, they really don't care about fireworks. Trust me.

[@kylelee1191]

/ I noticed that the Jeep that Buddy's family owns keeps changing from Red to Blue throughout the movie . WTF....

[@Camman010]

Thought I would say the movie was shot in Cloverdale BC in the middle of a very hot summer so all the snow was fake and the actors were overheating in the winter clothing.

[@davebooshty299]

26:08 When they re show the Map of Massachusetts it Over lights up on the left instead of the far right? Where the House is.

[@SpeedyakaLeah]

Happy Birthday!

[@TheBattlesword]

I just noticed that the Halls were played by actors who were in the original AND new My Little Pony movies respectively. I can almost TASTE the brony tears

[@scottylewis8124]

Bsword640 could you give me their names and the ponies they voiced?

[@ForrestFox626]

Really?

[@MusicalSeizureGuy]

Awesome review! I’m a big fan of Danny DeVito from “Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. Was very sad when it was removed from Netflix recently... oh well. Great vid, thanks for the laughs and keep rocking!

[@thecinematicmind]

GFY Productions Always Sunny In Philadelphia is still on Netflix where I live

[@MusicalSeizureGuy]

The Cinematic Mind awesome! I’m toats jelly but not mad at YOU. Must be how Netflix works. Hope you enjoy that show;)

[@Campbellzilla]

Have you ever considered reviewing Surviving Christmas? Or is it one of the movies that's the boring kind of bad rather than the interesting kind of bad?

[@Silver-plated8]

Happy birthday film brain

[@dougbriglmen716]

When I see a Christmas tree burning I don’t laugh I just find it depressing and horrific. There is that plus, call the fucking Fire Brigade!!!!!🚨🚒

[@scottylewis8124]

26:01 low pitched Wilhelm.

[@HBarnill]

Please do Four Christmases one of these days. I know you only do requests via Patreon but this one really deserves a beating.

[@Nasser851000]

12:54 dat face doe XD

[@CheeseDudInTheOven]

Alot of Christmas movies i’ve seen are all just the same, i only know a handfull of Christmas movies that are unique and not just the same (most of those are animated), also why would the town set up a show that is basically sexualising 15 year olds

[@23daughters]

Because Hollywood.

[@ExplorerDS6789]

Burning Christmas trees? SYMBOLISM!!!

[@thing1thing2themediamaniac43]

As HORRIFFICALLY BAD as DECK THE HALLS is I can't fault Matthew Broadricks character for not wanting to see the sheriff in a thong.

[@captaindreadeye6264]

There's a bit of a solution in just turning your head and keeping your yap shut.

[@23daughters]

@@captaindreadeye6264 Or leaving, like he did. Free country and all.

[@ForrestFox626]

Especially since it's not funny

[@scottylewis8124]

From the guy who directed Malibu's Most Wanted everyone.

[@alienboy1322]

Is there any good films Matthew Broderick been in lately?

[@kimifw58]

He was in an episode of BoJack Horseman. He... was okay in that. His typical droning voice was a good match for the Stepford husband he was playing, but he didn't do anger very well.

[@suprememillipede4713]

A very small role in Manchester By The Sea

[@DreFromMaine8472]

Man, this movie has an absolutely shitty script. I didn't like any of the characters in it because they were all written so poorly and terribly. No actor could have delivered them believably or with any humor or entertainment value. And some of the cast members were going through various personal issues at the time, which made their performances even worse. It's truly one of the worst Christmas themed comedy films ever made. And I'd go so far as to say I'd rather watch the one with the Kranks than this!

[@BlackBeWhite2k7]

As someone who loves Danny Devito, just watch the Always sunny in Philadelphia Christmas special for a better black holiday comedy than this.

[@MrBird2007]

This was the first movie I came close to walking out of. The scene with the Christmas trees on fire ugh. Man was this movie hard to watch.

[@jonny5777]

How did this cost $51 million?

[@KageMaxwell]

Better late than never. Happy Birthday!

[@Dim4323]

If this movie has a satirical element like national lampoon Christmas vacation

[@vancemcdonald9462]

Happy birthday Buck!!,

[@seekingthenarrowway]

Happy Belated Birthday! :D Or, Happy Early Birthday! Your birthday, your choice.

[@JimmiPynk]

Oh Hi Hal Cooper from Riverdale. Oh Hi Maebe from Arrested Development. Oh Hi Charlotte from Sex and the City. Wow, glad everyone in this movie has better shit on their IMDb page. Happy Belated B-Day Brain!

[@PhoenixRising87]

7:25 -...nah, too easy...

[@StefanSaba]

Alia Shawkat, I was thinking more of Arrested Development fame. And not from season 4 and forward

[@jamiesiple7703]

just seen it at library two week ago

[@themastera.z5418]

Everytime I see Danny's character in this I keep on thinking this is a alternate universe where Frank Reynolds didn't married Dee and Dennis's mom. Now where the hell is Charlie??

[@nicholashurst780]

Happy birthday month Matthew. You are better than the platform hosting you

[@CultureFusionSite]

Never heard of this movie but wow. I rolled my eyes every time there was a "funny" moment and couldn't believe how...shitty it all seemed.

[@EmilysAdventuresInHorrorland]

Nice to rewatch this review! Great job with the editing and replacing V.O.; I know that stuff is pretty labour-intensive 😅

[@randalgraves6979]

That camel spit looks like what I spit up after a night of drinking rum. 😳😬

[@deathstinger13]

happy belated birthday, hope you got lots of presents

[@tylerfish2701]

13:35 OPTIMUS PRIMAL, NOOOO! NOOO! WHY ARE YOU IN THIS FILM, GARRY?! WHY!?

[@colewarnerreviews5834]

I thought this movie was decent. Not great but far from one of the worst comedies because I’ve seen some really shitty comedies like Going Overboard, Date Movie, Epic Movie, Disaster Movie, Meet The Spartans, Vampires Suck, The Starving Games, and Scary Movie 5

[@toiletghosthanako-kun2073]

Happy early birthday cause it’s the end of may when this is posted 😂

[@matrixwakeup]

I had to watch this review after the movie. I had to find out if the movie was really as bad as I thought it was, it is totally awful.

[@purpletomatocinema]

17:49 when I watched that part, I laughed my ass off because it was the only funny scene.

[@scottylewis8124]

Bruh. That's disgusting

[@condo0073]

I actually got some fun and entertainment out of this. Its not in the league of Christmas Vacation or Jingle All The Way. But Danny De Vito makes it work for me.

[@Malkmusianful]

is this what frank reynolds did before returning to dennis and dee?

[@wopjohn]

happy birthday Matt

[@nomduclavier]

So much electricity... 😨

[@devinharbert6071]

Review The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

[@spookyrosev6467]

Hell the Christmas special from It’s Always Sunny would be way less awkward family viewing compared to this crap!

[@devinharbert6071]

Review jingle all the way 2. And Santa clause 3.

[@shellbacksclub]

how Broderick gets any offers is beyond comprehension. he is the very worst.

[@tessacanterbury8935]

SHELLBACKS CLUB 🐢 Hay I liked him in Ferris Bueller and as the voice of adult Simba on The Lion King.

[@lukelichtenthal5407]

SHELLBACKS CLUB 🐢 No that’ would be Seth Macfarlane.

[@ExplorerDS6789]

Those are pretty much the only good roles Broderick has ever had.

[@scottylewis8124]

@@ExplorerDS6789 inspector gadget is a childhood guilty pleasure of mine

[@ExplorerDS6789]

Did you watch the cartoon, or was the movie your only exposure to the character?

[@dimitriwarchief301]

Having a mom that likes this movie is. Alittle sad

[@samburnham2758]

This is my Christmas movie

[@devinharbert6071]

I don’t see why u hate Batman returns, I mean that was such a great film.

[@scottylewis8124]

Damn it Gary chalk!

[@usagiwerd6664]

Happy day late bday wish

[@scottylewis8124]

How is saying Jesus considered cursing?

[@scottylewis8124]

@Dexter White oh.

[@jdzencelowcz]

Actually, I thought Deck the Halls & Fred Klaws were ok. Christmas with the Kranks, however, goes to the special he--.

[@scottylewis8124]

jdzencelowcz aah! Jesus is watching.

[@BlitzDemonGamer3032]

this movie one big lump of coal