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A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR26086  (2006), PG [13-PG*] (1hr 28min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1100 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): All Lit Up Productions, 20th Century Fox, New Regency Pictures, Regency Enterprises Distribution (US): 20th Century Fox, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation Director(s): John Whitesell Written by: Matt Corman, Chris Ord, Don Rhymer Cinematography/Camera: Mark Irwin Music: George S. Clinton Film Editing: Paul Hirsch Casting: Heike Brandstatter, Donna De Seta, Richard Hicks, Coreen Mayrs, David Rubin Production Design: Bill Brzeski Art Direction: Dan Hermansen Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 I always note when a Christmas time movie portrays Christmas without Jesus. I cannot do that with this Christmas time film. Not only is the film complete with a manger scene it uses O' Holy Night plus Joy to the World without one "politically sensitive" word chopped or counterfeited. "It is the night of our dear Savior's Birth" is there. And "Let Earth receive her King" is, too. Though the only time "Jesus" is used is in vain, the song phrases "our dear Savior's Birth" and "her King" are unmistakably about Jesus. There is also one scene in a church with the Cross in the background as the two lead actors splash their eyes with Holy water to cleanse their eyes of the sin of lust. Be advised, however. Deck the Halls is a PG film which earned a PG-13 equivalent score of 63 out of 100 (a 13-PG film), largely due to sexually immoral behavior and talk. Though some of the issues of sexually immoral matters may be considered by some as no more than conversational snippets, they are of the sexually immoral nature nonetheless. [Eph. 5:4] An example is of a comment made by Tia as she stood scantly dressed in front of Finch and looked at him below his waste line while in his underwear as he closed his housecoat: "We have a visitor! Don't put the little guy away on my account." All for the PG age stratum. What else might one expect of a film starring DeVito? Optometrist Dr. Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) is "Mr. Christmas" for Cloverdale, MA. Every year Finch did Christmas things for the town. Steve and his wife Kelly (Kristin Davis), 15 year old daughter Madison (Alia Shawkat) and 10 year old son Carter (Dylan Blue) live in a comfortable middle class home in a lovely suburb of Cloverdale. But all too often with the comfortable lifestyle comes boredom, expressed most strongly by 15 year old Madison with her "It ain't good enough, no matter what 'it' is" attitude. Each year the Finches celebrate the Christmas season using their Christmas calendar which names a special activity or deed for each of the 24 days before Christmas. Each year. Rigorously. Reluctantly the family goes along with Steve's Christmas calendar again this year. Steve even has his own lot in the local Christmas tree farm with a new tree growing for each of five new Christmases ... until this year. This Christmas season for the Finches is different. The house across the street has been vacant ... until Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito) noisily moves into the house late one night with his family; spilling-out wife Tia (Kristin Chenoweth) and sparsely clad twin teen daughters Ashley (Sabrina Aldridge) and Emily (Kelly Aldridge). "There glows the neighborhood!" Buddy, who had felt worthless and unimportant most of his life, soon decided to be something for a change. He decided to make war on "Mr. Christmas" to steal the title. One of the ways he tried to do so was to make his house visible from space ... with lots of decorative lights, thus "Deck the Halls." Buddy made a bad first impression on the Finches. And kept making bad "first impressions" -- every night -- as Buddy stole the Finches' sleep with his light show. Now comes getting the traditional Christmas tree for the house. While Steve uses the traditional axe to fell a tree, Buddy brought his chainsaw along with a can of gasoline which "accidentally" gets spilled. Where? Right next to Finch's trees. Soon the river of gas that flowed unnoticed between Finch's trees gets ignited and up go Finch's trees in smoke. While the warfare for the "Mr. Christmas" badge continues, the wives and children grow close. And whether Hollywood realized it or not, the writers portrayed peer pressure influencing a young lady to do less than wholesome things. The Hall girls seem to express little to no concern for the body parts we should treat with modesty [1Cor. 12:23 - 24] but rather dress to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure, just like their mother. It was not long before Madison did likewise. Later in the film Madison performs a sensuous dance routine in a very short Santa jacket and fishnet hosiery, obviously choreographed to entice or arouse. To further the sexual inappropriateness of the matter, Steve and Buddy drool over the performance and Steve blurts "Who's your daddy" as the three as yet unknown young ladies wriggle about. After that being said, Steve notices that Madison is one of the performers and gulps his words into "I'M her daddy", darts off to a church and splashes Holy water in his eyes to atone for his sin of lust. [1John 2:16, Matt. 5:28, 1Ths. 4:1-5] Strange that Steve did not think it sinful until he found it was his daughter up there. While it was noble of Steve to seek Holy forgiveness, remember that a noble destination does not excuse an ignoble path. Another portrayal might be envisioned from the characters of the Hall girls in contrast with that of Madison: that the sexually liberal lifestyle is always happy, fulfilling and desirable as well as acceptable while the one who lives the conservative lifestyle is bitter and forever miserable, more a victim than a willing participant. [Col. 2:8] "Of the world" anyone? One of the shenanigans of the warfare leads Steve onto an ice-covered pond that breaks under his weight. With Steve suffering hypothermia, Buddy transports Steve to the hospital. On the way Buddy implements a technique he had heard about to help the victim of hypothermia. Buddy stripped Steve and himself then got into a sleeping bag with Steve. And your kids will watch this if they see this film. While no genitals are seen and though it takes a certain amount of experiential maturity to fathom what is being portrayed as Steve screams while "Trust Me" Buddy smiles and snuggles with Steve, the behavioral template implant is made regardless of age or experiential maturity. There is more, but the point is made. Deck the Halls is a slightly entertaining film with a lion's share of assaults on morality and decency, most of them sexual in nature, hence the lowest of six investigation area scores as shown in the CAP thermometers for this film. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section provides all the observed details while below are summary comments about the film content by investigation area. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Not a very violent film at all, but slapstick violence and the use of illegal fireworks take their toll on this investigation area score. Impudence/Hate (I) Deck the Halls uses the three/four letter word vocabulary [Col. 3:8] plus the Hollywood typical adolescent arrogance against a parent or any other form of authority [Heb. 13:17, Prov. 1:7, 2Pet. 2:10]. These matters plus a few lies [Prov. 19:5] make up the impudence content. Sexual Immorality (S) In addition to the sexual ignominy revealed above, there are numerous examples of other instances of the sexual nature such as cross dressing, innuendo regarding sexual favor, gross anatomical reference and exposure of below navel skin. Drugs/Alcohol (D) This film contains drinking of an alcoholic beverage, drunkenness, whiskey mini-bottles as Christmas tree ornaments and a neon beer ad sign as a neck lanyard. This matter is also of significant importance to mom and dad since the American College of Physicians (ACP) found an undeniable link between alcohol in and as entertainment and abuse of it by adolescents. Even the University of Connecticut corroborates the ACP finding. [Eph. 5:18] Offense to God (O) The CAP model found things in this investigation area to cause it to be the second lowest scoring area -- eleven uses of God's name in vain [Deut 5:11] though without the four letter expletive plus gambling. Murder/Suicide (M) There was nothing noted to even hint of murder or suicide in the entire 88 minutes of the film. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our more than eight years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
| In the name of Jesus: Thank you for visiting us and may God bless you. Prayerfully, we will provide you with some of the most revealing commentary and investigative reporting you have ever read. Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |
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