It didn't really feel like a real movie. But still, I enjoyed it. Since I am a Christmas freak, this is very Christmasy, thats what I looked for, and it delivers.

Overall, I thought it was kinda cute. It had some nice chuckles. Kinda reminded me of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

Grade: B

[font=century gothic]I kind of liked it. I think it's smarter than the TV spots give it credit for (Though not by much). It's not really a kid's movie, even though it's PG and has some of the sight gags of a kid's film. Besides a character who's 10 years old (Yet seems to be at least 13 in the way he acts), there is not a character a little kid could relate to. That in a way is the film's fault and yet is why it is as good as it is. Don't get me wrong, this isn't high art or anything, even when it comes to Christmas films, but it's better than what it should've been.

Although they are advertising the over the top physical gags - the scene in the manger, the sleigh, etc. A lot of the laughs though come from the smaller moments. For instance, there is a scene in the film where DeVito and Broderick's character's get turned on from girl's dancing in Santa outfits, with Broderick shouting out "Who's your daddy!". When you see the film, you can see the upcoming twist coming from miles away, and that it's not just random dancers, but it's their daughters dancing on stage. In most of these kind of films, the character's would make a funny face and that would be the end of the scene. Here, it goes one step further to showing the two fathers in a church, washing their eyes with Holy Water. I'm not saying it's the best gag I've ever seen (I liked it), but at least the film tries.

My basic problems ......

**(Despite the fact that we are supposed to believe Buddy put up all the lights buy himself, and constructed a video display on the roof - and another scene involving DeVito and Broderick putting up a light display as a gesture to their wives to show they care, that apparently covers most of the town, and we're supposed to believe this happens in a couple of hours) **

with the film are that it runs a little too long (It says 93 minutes on Yahoo, but I don't buy it) and that's it's way too sentimental at the end of the film, even for a Christmas film. When everyone started holding up their cell phones in the air to give off light after Buddy's light's went out and then begin singing a Christmas carol - give me a break.

Okay, I've spent too much time overanalyzing this.

C+

** Two small notes **

It gets bonus points for being set in Massachusetts, although it's in a fictional town.

And what the hell was Kal Penn doing in this film?[/font]

Yeah, the film drags alot for a film that is only 93 minutes and that ending is awful. Sort of reminded me of the ending to 'Pay It Forward' even though they're two completely different types of films.

And Kal Penn is in everything these days He played one of Lex Luthor's henchman in Superman too, another role in which he serves little purpose.

DECK THE HALLS - 7/10 ( B )

A shockingly enjoyable holiday themed comedy. I wasn't planning on ever watching it, but am glad I ended up doing so. It's not something great, but it's perfectly watchable. It's much better than the pathetic Christmas With The Kranks, which I was reminded of from the previews. Anyone who liked that (I can't imagine who could have) will surely enjoy this.

It loses its way in the final quarter, gets a bit soppy, but on the whole it is an enjoyable Christmas film. It has that same levity, charm, and warmth as Jingle All the Way, but it's basically a lighter and Christmasier version of The Cable Guy, with Danny DeVito as Matthew Broderick's pest replacing Jim Carrey. Broderick is made to play boring, straight-laced, losers that strangely end up with the hottest girl in town.

It is a nice film, though. And DeVito's family are gorgeous. In fact, both the wives in this film are top totty. The film could have exploited that a bit more.