
“Clown in a Cornfield finds” a good balance of slasher and comedy
After an eight-year hiatus, cult director Eli Craig returns to the horror-comedy genre with his latest film, “Clown in a Cornfield,” from RLJE Films.
Director David E. Talbert brings Christmas magic to the comfort of your own home in Netflix’s Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. The film begins as a grandmother (Phylicia Rashad) is telling a story to her grandchildren. She is telling the children a story set in the gloriously vibrant town of Cobbleton. The hero of the story is legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker), who has lost his way. You see, when Jeroncius was a younger man (portrayed by Justin Cornwell), his fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder. Jeronicus also had the love of a trusted wife and a doting daughter.
Sadly when his trusted apprentice Gustafson (Miles Barrow) steals his most prized creation, a talking doll named Don Juan Diego (Ricky Martin), Jeronicus, also loses his mojo. Years later, Gustafson (Keegan-Michael Key) is quite successful, while Jeronicus is facing financial ruin. When Jeroncius’s equally bright and inventive granddaughter (Madalen Mills) pays a holiday visit, she discovers a long-forgotten invention. Hoping to heal old wounds and reawaken the magic within her grandfather and save the day.
I’ve been aware of David E. Talbert’s work since his days as a playwright. The director’s first two films, First Sunday and Baggage Claim catered to his core audience, Talbert’s third and fourth films as a director were Christmas themed. The director seems to have found a comfortable niche with the genre. Unlike his previous Christmas films Almost Christmas and El Camino Christmas, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a delightful musical the entire family can enjoy.
One of the first things you’ll notice about the film is there aren’t any sexual innuendos, foul language and everyone in the town gets along. The cast is first-rate, with Forrest Whitaker and Keegan-Michael Key delivering show-stopping musical numbers. Simultaneously, newcomer Madalen Mills has a beautiful singing voice and is as cute as a button in her role.
While there have been Christmas movies that featured people of color in the lead roles, I can’t think of anything on the scale of Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. From the costume design, catchy soundtrack, I either had a smile on my face or a snap in my fingers through the film’s duration. In hindsight, my one issue with the film was the lack of screen time for one of my favorite actresses Anika Noni Rose. While she has a significant musical number, I wished she had more chances to show off her acting chops.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a welcome addition to Netflix’s already impressive Christmas movie catalog. Filled with top-notch acting, glorious singing, and Christmas joy, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is well worth the viewing.
Final Grade A –
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is streaming on Netflix now.
After an eight-year hiatus, cult director Eli Craig returns to the horror-comedy genre with his latest film, “Clown in a Cornfield,” from RLJE Films.
First-time director Felipe Vargas explores the consequences of forgetting one’s roots in the chilling horror film “Rosario,” produced by Highland Film Group and Muchio Mass Media. Alan Trezza wrote the screenplay, which begins with our titular character, a Mexican immigrant, receiving her first communion. After a spooky incident involving her eerie grandmother, it becomes evident that Rosario is destined to move on when she grows older.
Director Duncan Skiles taps into the buddy pic genre for his feature debut in “Neighborhood Watch” from RJLE Films. Simon (Jack Quaid) is a young man grappling with mental illness who becomes convinced that he has witnessed an abduction. When he reports it to the police, and they refuse to believe him, he reluctantly seeks the help of his neighbor Ed (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a jaded, retired security guard with a troubled past. As the unlikely duo delves deeper into the mystery, their pursuit of the truth forces them to confront the disappearance’s dark secrets and the unspoken wounds that haunt them.
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