Howard Langston, a dedicated workaholic played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is determined to mend his relationship with his son Jamie (Jake Lloyd) and wife Liz (Rita Wilson). Despite it being Christmas Eve and the popular Turbo-Man toy being scarce, Howard vows to secure one for Jamie. His pursuit intertwines with that of Myron (Sinbad), a fellow father in search of the coveted toy. As the clock ticks, Howard’s values are challenged, leading him to a deeper understanding of the true essence of Christmas.
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5 Fun facts about Jingle All The Way
(1) Producer Chris Columbus initially wanted Joe Pesci for the role of Myron, but Pesci’s height, 5 ft. 3 in., was considered too short next to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who stands at 6 ft. 2 in. Schwarzenegger had previously worked with Danny DeVito, who is even shorter than Pesci.
(2) Sinbad, who played the character Myron, improvised the majority of his lines in the film. Arnold Schwarzenegger also improvised many of his responses in his conversations with Sinbad.
(3) The film’s story is inspired by the 1980s shopping frenzy for Cabbage Patch dolls. Interestingly, it ended up mirroring the Tickle Me Elmo craze that swept Christmas 1996.
(4) Arnold Schwarzenegger enjoyed working on the film, drawn to playing an “ordinary” character in a family film. His own experiences with last-minute Christmas shopping added a personal touch to his role.
(5) In a nod to “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (1980), when Howard, dressed as Turbo Man, gives Jamie the limited edition Turbo Man doll at the parade, he replies to Jamie’s question about how he knows his name with “You see, Jamie, I’m your father!” This mirrors the iconic line from Star Wars, where Darth Vader reveals to Luke Skywalker, “No. I am your father!” Interestingly, Jake Lloyd, who played Jamie, would later portray young Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999).
