The Christmas season just got a little louder — and brighter. Deck the Halls, the 2006 holiday comedy starring Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick, is officially streaming again on Paramount+. The film may have been roasted by critics upon release, but it’s since earned a reputation as a “so-bad-it’s-good” holiday cult classic. And trust us, it’s really bad.
Directed by John Whitesell (Big Momma’s House 2), Deck the Halls follows uptight optometrist Dr. Steve Finch (Broderick), the self-appointed Christmas authority in the small town of Cloverdale, Massachusetts. Everything changes when his new neighbor Buddy Hall (DeVito) moves in across the street — and decides to cover his entire house in enough lights to make it visible from space.
Is ‘Deck the Halls’ Any Good?
Well, no, it isn’t. Despite the movie’s box office pull — grossing $47 million worldwide — Deck the Halls was met with almost universal critical disdain at the time, with a lot of the criticism directed at the awkward pacing, flat dialogue, and missed comedic potential given its talented cast. Broderick and DeVito, both veterans of physical and situational comedy, never quite find their rhythm.
“It’s impossible to watch the film without thinking to yourself, ‘Wow, that really should have been funny,’” one review noted, pointing out that Deck the Halls wastes the chemistry and charm both actors are known for.
The film also co-stars Kristin Chenoweth and Kristin Davis as the long-suffering wives of DeVito and Broderick, respectively. Both actresses deliver solid performances despite being saddled with underwritten roles that mostly revolve around smoothing over their husbands’ escalating antics.
While most of Deck the Halls is a messy montage of slapstick gone awry, even its harshest critics admit that its final act hits surprisingly close to the heart. As the neighborhood feud fizzles out and the two families reconnect over the meaning of the season, the film manages to deliver a few genuinely touching moments — ones that almost redeem the 80 minutes that came before.
Over time, Deck the Halls has found its place among the guilty pleasures of holiday viewing — joining the ranks of Christmas With the Kranks and Surviving Christmas as films people love to hate, and hate to admit they rewatch every year. Its ridiculous, suburban warfare feud, cartoonish gags, and unabashed Christmas kitsch make it an oddly comforting staple in December marathons.
Deck the Halls is streaming now on Paramount+.
Release Date
November 22, 2006
Runtime
93 Minutes
Director
John Whitesell
