Today’s quick review: Deck the Halls. Christmas becomes a war when Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito) moves in across the street from Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) and sets up the most obnoxious display of Christmas lights in town. Much to the chagrin of Buddy’s wife Tia (Kristin Chenoweth) and Steve’s wife Kelly (Kristin Davis), their husbands’ argument escalates into a rivalry that threatens to ruin the holiday for both families.
Deck the Halls is a Christmas comedy starring Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick. Steve is the king of Christmas in his Massachusetts town, but his role is threatened when Buddy gets carried away putting up Christmas lights and becomes the town favorite. This setup leads to some decent slapstick as the two men try one-up each other. However, basic jokes and a thin story keep the movie from accomplishing much.
Deck the Halls skimps on what it needs the most: humor and heart. The movie gets off to a slow start with its comedy. The jokes only really kick in once the rivalry between Steve and Buddy is underway. Even then, Deck the Halls does not have much to offer. The slapstick works well enough for a family film, but the verbal humor is thin, the conflict is predictable, and the resolution does not feel earned.
If you are in the mood for a Christmas movie and just want something light, Deck the Halls is a passable pick. DeVito and Broderick fit their roles well, and the premise does feed into some nice mayhem. But the script leaves plenty to be desired, and none of the jokes land well enough to justify the movie to a more skeptical viewer. Most viewers will have better luck elsewhere.
For a Christmas comedy in a similar vein, check out Christmas with the Kranks. For a more action-oriented comedy set at Christmas, check out Jingle All the Way. For Danny DeVito in a similar role in a darker comedy, try Throw Momma from the Train.
[5.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790604/). I give it a 5.5 for middling humor without much to back it up.