Deck the Halls | 
 enlarge | Director: John Whitesell
Actors: Danny Devito, Matthew Broderick, Kristin Davis, Kristin Chenoweth, Alia Shawkat
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $1.95
You Save: $18.03 (90%)
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Rating:  55 reviews
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: FOXD2247482D
UPC: 024543474821
EAN: 0024543474821
Theatrical Release Date: November 22, 2006
Release Date: November 6, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
Good neighbors can be hard to come by and when the flighty Buddy Hall (Danny Devito) moves in across the street from the conservative Dr. Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick), it quickly becomes apparent that the two men are complete opposites. While Finch methodically plans out every minute of the coming Christmas season for his family, Buddy craves freshness and excitement and is seized by an impulsive desire to decorate his house so brightly that it can be seen from space. While the men's wives Kelly (Kristin Davis) and Tia (Kristin Chenoweth) and their children revel in one another's differences and form solid friendships, a rivalry of personalities and Christmas spirit ensues between the two men that will wind up testing the patience and love of every member of both families. This is fun, comical holiday entertainment for the entire family ages 9 and older. --Tami Horiuchi
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Product Description
Two neighbors have it out after one of them decorates his house for the holidays so brightly that it can be seen from space. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 10/14/2008 Starring: Danny Divito Matthew Broderick Run time: 93 minutes Rating: Pg Director: John Whitesell
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| Customer Reviews: Read 50 more reviews...
 Another miss November 25, 2008
Bradley Poole (Lawrenceburg, KY USA)
Again, I'm constantly searching for Christmas movies because I can watch them from November through December. I love them. However, this is one that I did not love. There is no real plot. It's just something about how one neighbor can get so jealous over another and Danny Devito is his usual hateful self. There was plenty of cleavage but not much movie. Who would believe that a man has his Christmas trees planted for the next five years and who didn't see that something awful was going to happen to them? Don't waste your money.
 clipped together from other movies November 25, 2008
D. K. Stokes
Haven't I seen this movie before? The obnoxious new neighbor, the feud between neighbors, the neighbor with so many Christmas lights you can't sleep, the guy who ends up destroying his own house in his fight against someone else, etc., etc.
Deck the Halls takes a tried-and-true plot (or rather, a combination of elements from tried-and-true plots) and adds absolutely nothing new. The performances were fine, and it had funny moments, but it was also absolutely predictable, which was a huge distraction from the comedy. It's hard to be amused when you know exactly what's coming next.
There's a bit of an attempt to make the movie about both men trying to find meaning in their lives, but there's nothing really character-specific in it, and it gets lost among the cliches.
I love holiday movies, but this one won't make it into my collection.
 I thought it was a pretty good movie November 20, 2008
G.G.
I got this movie previously viewed for $4 from a Hollywood Video that was going out of business. I thought it was pretty good and there were some funny moments. I'll most likely watch it every Christmas.
At least it was a Green X-ma$ for Broderick and DeVito! October 28, 2008
Hammock Rider (Chicago, IL)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I really like watching Christmas movies. In part because I like Christmas, but also because I like to see how Christmas and our celebration of it is portrayed over time. It's gone from a reverential celebration of religion and family to a funny(or not) analysis of modern obsessive behavior and over-consumption. Then there are movies like these, which are just time killers. This is Christmas as Product.
It has a few watchable moments. Kristin Chenowith is plenty hot as always and gets to sing a teeny little bit and Kristin Davis is the most adorable lil mannequin come-to-life since her SATC partner originated that act years ago. There is one bit in particular which made me laugh. It's horrible and if you're a father you should hope it never happens to you. I won't ruin it for you but I will say in the next scene DeVito and Broderick are in a church washing their eyes out with holy water, with good reason. It's one of the few scenes that show any signs of life, which is too bad because this thing could have used many more.
Mostly though the movie is lackluster. It doesn't have the manic energy of a Christmas Vacation or the heart warming nostalgia of Christmas Story or the black, outrageous humor of Bad Santa or the child-like joy and goofiness of Elf. It has a few badly paced jokes and more than its share of sleep walking actors. The pace and performances were so slow and half hearted that I felt like I was watching the entire movie through a Valium induced haze.
The movie has no real heart or message, or insight and it's not very funny. It's a place holder, the studio needed to put out something for the Christmas movie-going audience so they cranked up the Eszterhas 3000, set it for "HOLIDAY" and extruded this....."movie". Pretend it's a Christmas stocking folks, and STUFF IT!
 A cute movie, but not much else. October 27, 2008
Shoyu
The plot to movie leads one to believe that Deck the Halls is as droll a Christmas movie as they come....but not so fast, there are some really funny scenes in the movie and hopefully by the end of my review you might decide to make this movie a rental.
Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito) moves in like a meth lab next to Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick). From the beginning the Napoleonic complex that Buddy has is apparent and upon doing a search on the Internet to see his house from space (and discovering it's not visible) sets out to build the grandest light display in the history of man. There is one problem, however. Mr. Christmas (Steve Finch) notices that his neighbor's light display grows larger each day and has become a public nuisance. So, taking the law into his own hands, Steve, attempts to sabotage his neighbor.....his plans not only backfire, but now a war between the two neighbors ensues.
The film does fail to capitalize on developing either character which leaves the viewer with a sense of unsatisfaction. The best part of the movie happens when the two feuding neighbors attempt a truce and remember the true meaning of Christmas.....nearly an hour into the film. So, have you decided to give it a view? If not, you're not missing much.
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