Jingle All the Way vs. Small Soldiers

Attribute	Jingle All the Way	Small Soldiers
Release Year	1996	1998
Genre	Comedy	Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director	Brian Levant	Joe Dante
Lead Actor	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Kirsten Dunst
Plot	A father tries to buy a popular toy for his son on Christmas Eve	Toy soldiers come to life and wreak havoc

Plot

Jingle All the Way follows the story of a father, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is on a quest to find the popular Turbo-Man action figure for his son on Christmas Eve. The film is a comedy that explores the lengths parents will go to in order to make their children happy during the holiday season. On the other hand, Small Soldiers tells the tale of a group of action figures that come to life due to a military microchip. The toys, led by the Commando Elite and the Gorgonites, engage in a battle that spills over into the real world. Both films center around the theme of toys coming to life, but in very different ways.

Characters

In Jingle All the Way, Arnold Schwarzenegger's character, Howard, is a workaholic father who realizes the importance of spending time with his son. Sinbad plays a rival father also searching for the Turbo-Man doll, adding a comedic element to the film. On the other hand, Small Soldiers features a diverse cast of characters, including the heroic Gorgonites and the villainous Commando Elite. The toys in Small Soldiers have distinct personalities and motivations, making them more complex than the characters in Jingle All the Way.

Themes

Jingle All the Way explores themes of consumerism and the pressure to fulfill societal expectations during the holiday season. The film also touches on the importance of family and the value of spending time with loved ones. In contrast, Small Soldiers delves into themes of technology, warfare, and the consequences of playing with dangerous toys. The film raises questions about the ethics of creating toys with military capabilities and the impact of violence on children's play.

Humor

Jingle All the Way relies heavily on slapstick humor and physical comedy, with Arnold Schwarzenegger's character getting into all sorts of ridiculous situations in his quest for the Turbo-Man doll. The film also features witty one-liners and humorous interactions between Howard and Sinbad's character. Small Soldiers, on the other hand, incorporates more dark humor and satire, poking fun at the military-industrial complex and the toy industry. The film's humor is more subtle and satirical, appealing to a slightly older audience.

Visual Effects

Jingle All the Way features practical effects and stunts, with elaborate set pieces and action sequences that showcase Arnold Schwarzenegger's physicality. The film also includes some CGI effects, particularly during the scenes involving the Turbo-Man doll. Small Soldiers, on the other hand, relies heavily on CGI to bring the toy characters to life. The film's visual effects were groundbreaking for the time, seamlessly blending live-action and computer-generated elements to create a believable world where toys can interact with humans.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jingle All the Way and Small Soldiers are both entertaining films that explore the concept of toys coming to life in unique ways. While Jingle All the Way focuses on the comedic aspects of a father's quest for the perfect Christmas gift, Small Soldiers takes a darker and more satirical approach to the idea of sentient toys. Both films have their own strengths and weaknesses, appealing to different audiences with their humor, themes, and visual effects. Whether you prefer a heartwarming holiday comedy or a darkly humorous action-adventure, both Jingle All the Way and Small Soldiers offer something for everyone.