“Jingle Jangle” is a timely, groundbreaking, and imaginative film that reflects universal themes viewers of faith are unlikely to miss and presented in ways that young viewers will likely remember for a very long time.
“There are Bible stories all through there. Jeronicus is Job,” writer/director David E. Talbert (“Almost Christmas,” “Baggage Claim”) told Faithfully Magazine about his new Netflix film.
Jeronicus Jangle, played by a pitch-perfect Forest Whitaker, is similar to the Old Testament figure in that he, too, suffers seemingly incurable losses that test the mettle of his faith.
“You’ve had everything, you’ve lost everything and you’ve lost your faith and you’ve lost your ability to believe,” Talbert said. “How do you push past that?”
For Jangle, it’s his inquisitive granddaughter Journey, played by impressive newcomer Madalen Mills. Journey arrives in the nick of time—before a pivotal Christmas deadline—to pull the near-curmudgeon toy inventor out of his state of disbelief. In the end, she helps him to recapture his destiny and recover what was stolen.
