Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

"Zwei Weihnachtsmänner" also known as "Jingle All the Way" is a German movie from 2008, so it will have its 10th anniversary soon. It was released during the holidays back then and as the title ("Two Santas") already tells you this film is one for the season. And you better bring some time as it was aired as 2 episodes of 90 minutes each. The director is Tobi Baumann and the writer is Tommy Jaud and these two have worked together on other occasions as well, pretty much exclusively in terms of comedy. And it is of course fitting that lead actors Herbst and Pastewka who basically share the screen for the entire three hours, are among Germany's comedy acting elite as well. Minor performances include Buchrieser, von Kessel and Daniel and a pretty entertaining cameo by Armin Rohde playing Santa which means the film also could have been titled "Three Santas". Then again Pastewka is a more of a snowman towards the ending when they are in their costumes.I may be a bit biased that I enjoyed the watch here as I like Herbst and Pastewka a lot, but there is also stuff by Herbst especially that I did not like in terms of some of the more recent movies he starred in, so I think I am quite a neutral observer here nonetheless. Yes the film does have moments where it is all not too fluent and dragging, but that's the case in pretty much every three-hour movie. It does not have too many lengths and the two lead actors carry it nicely most of the time. The script also adds a lot in terms of how the film really never gets boring. Yes there may be some moments when it is a bit on the absurd side, but the supporting characters make it worth seeing too: the pimp, Santa (Rohde), the police officer, the loved ones, the drug dealer etc. And still with all that, it becomes never gimmicky and they still managed to get in serious issues like drugs, prostitution and even death in a playful manned, which was certainly quite a challenge and they succeeded with it.I myself recommend checking this one out. It's probably not too easy anymore to get a hand on a copy if you live abroad but if you manage then you won't be disappointed I am sure. And after all, the film also proves that there are indeed really funny German comedy films out there, you just have to look closely. Anyway, I would still say that this film is probably not really a good watch in spring or summer as you have to be in the Christmas spirit somehow to really appreciate the action, preferably even with snow outside your house. I know Christmas 2016 is already gone as we are having New Year's Eve now that I finally got to see this one, but it's still tolerable. Finally, I would like to say that this was the second time (maybe third, I'm not sure, but I think second) I saw these 180 minutes and it was about as good of a watch as the first. It is one of the best Christmas road movies I know of and I suggest you give it a chance. You will not be disappointed.