The latest Christmas flick, “Deck The Halls,” deals more with the mid-life crises shared by quarreling neighbours Steve Finch and Buddy Hall than the actual holiday itself.

The town’s reliable eye doctor, Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) surmises a plan to be the king of Christmas after wallowing in Christmas’ lost as a child with his father.

His ambitious agenda is threatened when Buddy – an omnipotent salesman (he sold a car to the owner within the first five minutes on his first day) played by Danny Devito moves in across the street.

After a successful day on his new job, Buddy feels there’s a void that must be filled.

So he aims to create the brightest house…how bright you ask? So bright that it can be seen from outer space.

As soon as Finch catches on, the attempts in guessing who is acting like the bigger idiot begins.

Finch’s wife Kelly, played by former “Sex in the City” star Kristin Davis, and Hall’s spouse Tia (Kristin Chenowith) fail in appeasing their husbands’ behaviour as their inflated egos get in the way.

The illuminating lights and tacky Christmas accessories were visually pleasing (as any viewer should expect in a Hollywood film) and the sentimentality about the true meaning of Christmas really did shine through.

Though, “Deck the Halls” failed to display anything avant-garde to the holiday film roster. But maybe that’s what many Christmas traditionalists want. That, however, doesn’t trigger any need to recommend it to anyone unless it’s the kind of thing you like to see.

If it is…then go watch it. Merry Christmas.

2.5*/5*






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