Deck the Halls (2006)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

John Whitesell

Writers (WGA):

Matt Corman (written by) &
Chris Ord (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Tagline:

There glows the neighborhood

Plot:

Two neighbors have it out after one of them decorates his house for the holidays so brightly that it can be seen from space.

Plot Keywords:

Winter | Holiday | Sleigh | Battle | Christmas

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Oct. 12	3:15 PM	HBO
Sat. Oct. 18	10:30 AM	HBO
Fri. Oct. 24	6:40 AM	HBO

Cast

Danny DeVito	...	Buddy Hall
Matthew Broderick	...	Steve Finch
Kristin Davis	...	Kelly Finch
Kristin Chenoweth	...	Tia Hall
Alia Shawkat	...	Madison Finch
Dylan Blue	...	Carter Finch
Kelly Aldridge	...	Ashley Hall
Sabrina Aldridge	...	Emily Hall
Jorge Garcia	...	Wallace
Fred Armisen	...	Gustave
Gillian Vigman	...	Gerta
Ryan Devlin	...	Bob Murray
Sean O'Bryan	...	Mayor Young
SuChin Pak	...	Herself
Jackie Burroughs	...	Mrs. Ryor
Gary Chalk	...	Sheriff Dave (as Garry Chalk)
Nicola Peltz	...	Mackenzie
Zak Santiago	...	Fireworks Guy
David Lewis	...	Ted
Daniel Bacon	...	Ed
Ken Kramer	...	Mr. Murray
Jill Morrison	...	Gail
Alf Humphreys	...	Hardware Store Employee. (as Alfred E. Humphreys)
Brenda Crichlow	...	News Reporter #1 (as Brenda M. Crichlow)
Jill Krop	...	Reporter #2
Agam Darshi	...	News Producer
David Stuart	...	Oblivious Dad
Quinn Lord	...	Santa Kid
Nathaniel DeVeaux	...	Main Street Passerby #1
Fulvio Cecere	...	Town Passerby
Eliza Norbury	...	Mary in the Manger
Randi Lynne	...	Caroler #1
Dan Joffre	...	Caroler #2
Aurora Faulkner-Killam	...	Caroler
Melissa Howell	...	Caroler
Lori Johnson	...	Caroler
David Shaw	...	Caroler
Myles Wolfe	...	Caroler
Ty Olsson	...	Trucker
Stephen Holmes	...	UPS Guy
Andrew Hedge	...	City Employee
Cory Monteith	...	Madison’s Date
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aaron Craven	...	Businessman Dad (uncredited)
Lochlyn Munro	...	Ted (uncredited)
Kal Penn	...	Amit Sayid - Satellite Computer Tech (uncredited)
Arden Rhine	...	Background Performer (uncredited)
Calum Worthy	...	Boy On Bike (uncredited)

Directed by
John Whitesell

Writing credits (WGA)
Matt Corman		(written by) &
Chris Ord		(written by) and
Don Rhymer		(written by)

Produced by
Michael Costigan	....	producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer
Jeremiah Samuels	....	executive producer
John Whitesell	....	producer

Original Music by
George S. Clinton

Cinematography by
Mark Irwin

Film Editing by
Paul Hirsch

Casting by
Heike Brandstatter
Donna DeSeta
Richard Hicks
Coreen Mayrs
David Rubin

Production Design by
Bill Brzeski

Art Direction by
Dan Hermansen

Set Decoration by
Tedd Kuchera

Costume Design by
Carol Ramsey

Makeup Department
Anji Bemben	....	hair stylist
Emanuela Daus	....	first assistant makeup artist
Linda Jones	....	assistant hair stylist
Lisa Love	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Steve Barnett	....	post-production supervisor
Wendy Williams	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Croughwell	....	second unit director
Brent Crowell	....	first assistant director: second unit
Kathy Houghton	....	second assistant director
Michael Neumann	....	first assistant director
Rhonda Taylor	....	key third assistant director

Art Department
Martin P. Blaine	....	lead carpenter
Maureen Carey	....	construction buyer
Jean-Paul Costaz	....	paint coordinator
Juliane Crump	....	art assistant
Nancy Ford	....	assistant art director
Doug Girling	....	set designer
Paul Goodwin	....	set dresser
David Hadaway	....	set designer
Geoff Hilliard	....	carpenter
Janis Lee	....	scenic artist
Keli Manson	....	graphic designer
Victor James Martinez	....	conceptual designer
Marta McLaughlin	....	assistant property master
Wayne McLaughlin	....	property master
Dale Menzies	....	lead carpenter
Hamish Purdy	....	assistant set decorator
Daniel Scarcello	....	sculptor
Brian Shell	....	construction coordinator
Adam Tankell	....	graphics pre vis

Sound Department
Keith Bilderbeck	....	sound effects editor
Vincent Cirilli	....	ProTools engineer
Kevin Globerman	....	digital recordist
Dave Griffiths	....	boom operator
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Jon Johnson	....	supervising sound editor
Andy Koyama	....	sound re-recording mixer
Val Kuklowsky	....	dialogue editor
Bill Meadows	....	sound recordist
Angelo Palazzo	....	sound effects editor
Patrick Ramsay	....	sound mixer
Miguel Rivera	....	foley supervisor
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Brad Sokol	....	first assistant sound editor
Bruce Stubblefield	....	adr supervisor
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Darryl Anka	....	miniatures
Douglas W. Beard	....	special effects assistant
Chris Bignell	....	special effects technician
Chris Flemington	....	on set special effects supervisor
Chris Hatchwell	....	special effects assistant
Ian Korver	....	special effects assistant
Tony Lazarowich	....	special effects coordinator
Vance Vegas Salvalaggio	....	special effects technician
Dale Shippam	....	special effects technician
Chris Sturges	....	special effects supervisor
Robert Yeager	....	special effects snow foreman

Visual Effects by
Tim Angulo	....	director of photography: visual effects unit
Victor DiMichina	....	digital imaging supervisor
Richard Ewan	....	model painter
Thomas F. Ford IV	....	visual effects producer: New Regency/Twentieth Century Fox
Shannon Blake Gans	....	visual effects executive producer: New Deal Studios Inc
Jim Gorman	....	digital compositor
Matthew Gratzner	....	visual effects supervisor: New Deal Studios, Inc.
Scott Gregory	....	digital film colorist
James David Hattin	....	digital compositor: Pixel Magic
Lubo Hristov	....	visual effects: Christov Effects and Design
Bob Hurrie	....	visual effects producer: Cinema Production Services
Christopher Johnson	....	visual effects: Cinema Production Services
John Joyce	....	visual effects coordinator: Cinema Production Services
Michael Joyce	....	visual effects supervisor: Cinema Production Services
Bonnie Kanner	....	visual effects executive producer: Pixel Magic
Taryn P. Kelly	....	model/miniature coordinator: New Deal Studios
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital
John R. McConnell	....	2D Compositor: Pixel Magic
Dennis McHugh	....	visual effects director of photography: Cinema Production Services
Ray McIntyre Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor
Jennifer Middleton	....	model maker: New Deal Studios Inc
Jim O'Hagan	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title
Reid Paul	....	senior digital effects supervisor
Reid Paul	....	visual effects producer
David Sanger	....	visual effects producer: New Deal Studios
Neal Sopata	....	digital artist
John K. Stirber	....	visual effects: Cinema Production Services
Ken Swenson	....	visual effects: Cinema Production Services
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration
Antonio Torres	....	digital artist: Pacific Title
Juan Carlos Vargas	....	digital effects artist (as Juan Vargas)
Adam Walls	....	visual effects: Cinema Production Services
Everette Webber	....	digital intermediate editor
Ryan Zuttermeister	....	visual effects coordinator: Lola Visual Effects
Enrico Altmann	....	model maker (uncredited)
Thomas Nittmann	....	visual effects producer: Lola Visual Effects (uncredited)
Edson Williams	....	visual effects supervisor: Lola VFX (uncredited)

Stunts
Nick Allen	....	stunts
Krista Bell	....	stunts
Simon Burnett	....	stunt double
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt coordinator
Duane Dickinson	....	stunts
Jon Kralt	....	stunts
Aieisha Li	....	stunt performer
Michael Munoz	....	stunt double: Danny Devito
Jennifer Mylrea	....	stunt double: Gillian Vigman
Gerald Paetz	....	stunts
Eli Zagoudakis	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Dan Bennett	....	key grip
Cliff Cenerini	....	dolly grip
Brent Gies	....	best boy rigger
Doane Gregory	....	still photographer
Rod Haney	....	rigging grip
Gaetan Jalbert	....	rigging gaffer
Nina Jones	....	lighting technician
Josh Lovig	....	rigging grip
Jason McKinnon	....	lighting designer
Stephen J. McKnight	....	additional first assistant camera
Saubrie Mohamed	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Zane Mohamed	....	lighting technician
Craig Nix	....	crane operator: Technocrane
Brandi Rose Pagani	....	assistant camera (2006)
Rob Parisien	....	digital video assist operator
Peter Ronan	....	electrician
Roger Vernon	....	director of photography: second unit
Roger Wells	....	rigging best boy
Michael Woolaway	....	effects gaffer
Jay W. Yowler	....	gaffer

Animation Department
Corey Bramall	....	digital artist

Casting Department
Stephanie Boeke	....	extras casting
Andrea Brown	....	extras casting
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting
Kate Hubbell	....	casting associate
Matthew Lessall	....	casting executive
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting
Jeremy Rich	....	casting associate
Trica Thompson	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marisa Aboitiz	....	costume supervisor
Alison Fraser	....	costumer (as Alison Penhall)
Jennifer Grossman	....	costume coordinator
Lizz Wolf	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Thomas Calderon	....	assistant editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Jon Schwartz	....	assistant editor
Devin Sterling	....	digital intermediate producer
Leroy Wolf	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Mike Flicker	....	supervising music editor
Matt Friedman	....	music editor
J.J. George	....	supervising music editor
Rick Giovinazzo	....	orchestrator
Greg Hamilton	....	additional music preparer
Greg Hayes	....	score recordist
Patrick Houlihan	....	music supervisor
Steve Kempster	....	score mixer
Bryon Rickerson	....	music editor
Steven A. Saltzman	....	music editor (as Steven Saltzman)
Gina Zimmitti	....	music contractor
Scott McRae	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Larry Tardif	....	driver: cast

Other crew
Murray Barker	....	production assistant
Paul Becker	....	choreographer: Canada
Jackie Bissley	....	unit publicist
Jane Bulmer	....	assistant: Arnon Milchan
Jennifer Bydwell	....	clearances and product placement
Jeff Chan	....	production assistant
Jeffrey Chan	....	production assistant
Errin Clutton	....	assistant to producer
Brad Combs	....	assistant: Arnon Milchan (as Michael Bradley Combs)
Cary Cooper	....	scorpio head technician
Paul O. Davis	....	assistant: Jeremiah Samuels (as Paul Davis)
Hanelize de Beer	....	office production assistant
Michael DeSantis	....	financial controller
Amanda Dragon	....	assistant: Danny DeVito
Pat Foster	....	production coordinator
Patricia Foster	....	production coordinator
Tracey Gardhouse	....	animal trainer
Tony Gonzalez	....	choreographer
Melanie Hansen	....	assistant: Matthew Broderick (as Mel Hansen)
Michelle Harris	....	trainee assistant location manager
Kimball Jansma	....	second assistant production coordinator
Jina Johnson	....	assistant location manager
Maya Kazan	....	production assistant
Doug Kerr	....	production assistant
Susan Lambie	....	script supervisor
Craig J. Lane	....	first assistant production coordinator
Willan Leung	....	production assistant
Grant Lutz	....	production assistant
Shaun Moskie	....	key production assistant
Phil Parks	....	unit publicist
Holly Pinder	....	key production assistant
Maresa Pullman	....	assistant: Michael Costigan
Andrew Rhymer	....	production assistant
Melena Rounis	....	assistant choreographer
Connie Rusgen	....	animal trainer
Nina Saxon	....	title designer
Scott Shaffer	....	consultant: product placement
Linda Sheehy-Brownstein	....	production coordinator
Michelle Stevens	....	production accountant: USA
Kelly Young	....	assistant: John Whitesell (as Kelly E. Young)
Beverly Jusi	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Elisha Schaff	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Scott Steyns	....	playback coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• All Lit Up Productions
• New Regency Pictures
• Regency Enterprises
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2006) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2007) (Argentina) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title and Art Studio (opticals)
• Pixel Magic (visual effects)
• New Deal Studios (model build and miniature photography)

Other Companies

• Nina Saxon Film Design  title design
• C L Enterprises  LensLight
• Color Kinetics  LED lights
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Packair Airfreight  international logistics
• Runway  post-production
• Video Split Productions  video assist equipment

Also Known As:

All Lit Up (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some crude and suggestive humor, and for language.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:PG | Singapore:PG | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Australia:PG | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG (certificate #42974) | Portugal:M/6 | Germany:o.Al. | Finland:K-3 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Holy Trinity Cathedral - 514 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

All Lit Up Productions

Trivia:

In a 22 November 2006 interview on ABC's "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (1989), Kristin Davis confessed she had been nervous being cast as the wife of Matthew Broderick, the real-life husband of close friend Sarah Jessica Parker. She said she received approval via email from Parker, however not before a re-write of the script added what Davis termed a playful kissing scene between herself and Broderick. Apparently, according to Davis, in her opinion, the scene as filmed was too steamy for the film to keep a PG rating and would have been cut from the final print.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In several scenes it is apparently cold enough to be snowing, but when characters are outside speaking, there is no steam vapor from their mouths.

Quotes:

Buddy Hall: I want my house to be seen from space!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-11-25)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

The Holly and the Ivy

It wasn't bad...It has REDEEMING qualities

Deck The Halls really isn't as bad as critics/users are saying it is...

I'll bet half of you didn't even SEE the movie, you just wanna trash it b/c it's cliché and not Oscar-worthy...If you're going to complain about or refuse to see an average holiday movie for having clichés in it, then you must hate every movie made after 1988.

Well I saw this movie today with low expectations (due to the negative comments everywhere)and it wasn't half bad.

Is it original?...Not really...I keep hearing how the jokes were taken from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation..Maybe that's true but I haven't seen the ripped-off film in question so I don't know what jokes were taken/stolen.

Th plot is pretty much this : Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) is this suburban dad who goes into obsessive-compulsive mode during Christmas time b/c he never had a memorable cheerful Christmas as a child.

The new neighboor Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito) is this old guy who just can't seem to stay interested in ONE thing..He apparently wants some trait or calling that makes him stand out & be special....His latest interest is he wants his house to be seen from space from his Christmas lights.

This LITERALLY makes Steve Finch crazy. Up until now he was the town's "Christmas Guy"....Now Hall is upstaging Steve's festive spirit & throughout the movie Steve trys to sabotage Hall.

This movie would be nothing if it weren't for the talents of DeVito & Broderick...DeVito plays a variation of the "lovable awkward sleaze ball" he's played before.

Broderick appears to be this harmless wimpy family man (at first) until someone trys to challenge his holiday showmanship, then he just snaps like a twig...Like the anal-retentive passive-aggressive characters he's played to a t in Election and You Can Count On Me.

The "nice guy" whose a little devious and unstable behind closed doors....Love that character.

The biggest problem with this movie is the fact that it isn't PG-13...The humor looks like it would be too much for a kid who isn't in sixth grade yet.

There's this run-on gag about the town's cross-dresser, the "Whose Your Daddy" scene, the phallic jokes....The scene where all the trees are burned is arguably iconoclastic.

If you want to see something silly and a little bit dark/cynical around the holidays then you could give Deck The Halls a chance.

If you can sit through 2 hours of musical CGI penguins or 120 jokes about farting reindeer puppets in the Santa Claus movies, I don't see why Deck The Halls is so bad.

7/10