When I was out in Los Angeles this week, some news hit my phone that was at the same instance, both exciting and disturbing. The folks at Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment had issued a press release informing writers that what is arguably both the greatest Christmas film of all-time and the greatest Arnold Schwarzenegger film of all-time is getting a sequel. JINGLE ALL THE WAY 2, a follow-up to the 1996 classic is headed our way for Christmas 2014, and the news came courtesy of an announcement that also includes the fourth installment of the MARINE franchise in partnership with WWE Studios.
Now, if you’ve read THE ROCK FATHER for a bit, you may have noticed that I mention JINGLE ALL THE WAY pretty frequently. In fact, I’ve been known to wear a TURBO MAN T-shirt a couple of times a month, even when it’s not the Holiday season. Sure, there’s great seasonal fare like WHITE CHRISTMAS, A CHRISTMAS STORY and HOME ALONE… and great Arnold films like PREDATOR and THE RUNNING MAN, but it all came to perfection when JINGLE ALL THE WAY hit screens. I’m being 100% serious. I love JINGLE ALL THE WAY.
So a sequel… 18 years later, and starring Tow Mater LARRY THE CABLE GUY? I’m conflicted, yet hopeful that it can capture a little bit of the magic that the original held. It’s important to recall that the original film wasn’t exactly a box office smash, but it did find an audience on home video, and that’s exactly where this one is headed. Director Alex Zamm is at the helm, and he has quite a bit of sequel experience, having directed INSPECTOR GADGET 2, BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA 2, TOOTH FAIRY 2, DR. DOOLITTLE: MILLION DOLLAR MUTTS, and the forthcoming THE LITTLE RASCALS SAVE THE DAY (more on that one, here).
Rock Fact: I once auditioned for the role of “Norm” in the LARRY THE CABLE GUY film, WITLESS PROTECTION.
I’ll be watching this one closely. Stay tuned…
