JINGLE JANGLE
Got ourselves a living doll in Netflix’s festive Victorian musical.
RELEASED OUT NOW! 2020 | PG | VOD
Director David E Talbert
Cast Forest Whitaker, Keegan-michael
Key, Phylicia Rashad, Madalen Mills
A riot of colourful costumes, boisterous choreography and really rather lovely effects, this Netflix musical is perfect for bunging on the telly on Christmas Day to keep the young ’uns entertained while you’re wrestling with the turkey. Or at least it would be if it wasn’t half an hour too long to keep them in their seats.
Forest Whitaker heads an impressive, mostly black cast; director David Talbert made this after noticing his son wasn’t invested in films with white actors. He’s a Victorian-era toymaker who’s fallen on hard times after his best invention, a living tin doll (voiced by Ricky Martin, of all people) was stolen by his apprentice. Years later, his young granddaughter (impossibly sweet newcomer Madalen Mills) comes to visit; but the evil apprentice, played by Keegan Michael-key in full Greatest Showman mode, is up to no good.
Originally conceived by Talbert as a stage musical, with new songs by John Legend, Jingle Jangle does feel though it belongs in a theatre rather than your lounge – its set-pieces would rock with a live audience. Talbert drew on such classics as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Doctor Dolittle, and their charming whimsy shines through; but a good trim would have made it more enjoyable. Jayne Nelson
Filming took place in Norwich, on Elm Hill, a cobbled lane previously seen as fantasy kingdom Stormhold in Stardust.