I watched Deck the Halls and I didn’t like it. 2/5
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Deck the Halls tries to capture the chaotic charm of a Christmas comedy but instead feels like a tired, slapstick-filled mess that lacks the holiday spirit it desperately wants to deliver. Starring Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito as feuding neighbors in a suburban Christmas showdown, the film has the makings of a lighthearted, festive romp but ends up falling flat thanks to weak humor, clichéd storytelling, and an overall lack of charm.
The premise is simple enough: Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) is a mild-mannered optometrist who takes pride in his perfect, meticulously organized holiday traditions. Enter Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito), a brash and over-the-top car salesman who moves in next door with an ambitious goal—to decorate his house with so many Christmas lights that it can be seen from space. Naturally, this pits the two neighbors against each other in a holiday battle of one-upmanship, as Buddy’s antics disrupt Steve’s carefully controlled world.
While this could have been a recipe for laughs, Deck the Halls relies far too heavily on cheap gags, slapstick humor, and tired sight jokes. Watching Broderick’s character fume and DeVito’s character bumble through increasingly ridiculous stunts grows exhausting rather than funny. There’s an endless string of forced mishaps—falling off roofs, sabotaging Christmas displays, and outlandish physical comedy—but very little that lands with any wit or originality.
The leads, while talented, are let down by the material. Matthew Broderick plays his usual uptight, straight-man routine, but his character comes off more cranky than sympathetic. Danny DeVito does his best to bring energy and mischief to the film, but even his comedic timing can’t save Buddy from feeling like an unlikable caricature. The chemistry between the two actors is inconsistent, and their constant bickering starts to wear thin long before the film reaches its predictable, heartwarming conclusion.
The supporting cast doesn’t fare much better. Kristin Davis and Kristin Chenoweth play the long-suffering wives who, unfortunately, are sidelined for most of the runtime. Their characters exist primarily to mediate between their husbands and serve as moral compasses, but they’re given little to work with beyond some generic holiday platitudes. The film’s attempts to sprinkle in family bonding and messages about the true meaning of Christmas feel tacked on and unearned.
Visually, Deck the Halls does manage to capture some of the over-the-top spectacle of Buddy’s light show obsession. The Christmas decorations are dazzling in their excess, and there’s a certain kitschy charm to seeing a house blanketed in twinkling lights. But the visual gags wear thin, and the sheer absurdity of Buddy’s quest—like trying to light up an entire town—makes it hard to take the story seriously, even as a farce.
What really sinks Deck the Halls is its lack of heart. The best Christmas movies are funny, sure, but they also tap into the warmth, nostalgia, and joy of the season. This film feels hollow, with characters who act selfishly, jokes that feel lazy, and a story that stumbles through its paces without any real emotional payoff. Even its attempts at redemption and reconciliation in the final act come off as rushed and insincere, making it hard to care about the characters’ holiday happiness.
In the crowded genre of holiday movies, Deck the Halls doesn’t stand out. It lacks the charm of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the wit of Elf, or the heartfelt sincerity of Home Alone. Instead, it’s a loud, disjointed film that struggles to balance its slapstick comedy with genuine Christmas spirit. While there might be a chuckle or two to be found, it’s ultimately a forgettable holiday misfire that feels more like a chore than a treat.