Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

Film and Plot Synopsis

In the gloriously vibrant town of Cobbleton, legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle’s (Forest Whitaker) fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder. But when his trusted apprentice (Keegan-Michael Key) steals his most prized creation, it’s up to his equally bright and inventive granddaughter (Madalen Mills) –and a long-forgotten invention–to heal old wounds and reawaken the magic within. (Courtesy of Netflix)

‘Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey’ Movie Summary

Jeronicus Jangle (Justin Cornwell) is an inventor, toymaker, and the owner of the popular store Jangles and Things. As Christmas approaches, Jeronicus receives the last component that he needs to complete his latest invention, a toy that he believes will change his family’s lives forever. This component can bring toys to life which he uses first on a dancing matador, Don Juan Diego (Ricky Martin). Jeronicus leaves the store to celebrate the holiday with his family, leaving his apprentice Gustafson (Miles Barrow) to care for Diego and the store. Diego wishes to keep his uniqueness and fears being mass-produced, so he convinces Gustafson to steal both himself and Jeronicus’ book of inventions to open his own shop. Without proof of Gustafson’s actions to show the police, Jeronicus’ store begins to falter while Gustafson opens up his own successful toy factory. Not long after, Jeronicus’ wife, Joanne (Sharon Rose) dies. Jeronicus retreats into himself due to his grief and becomes estranged from his daughter Jessica (Diana Babincova) who eventually moves away.

Thirty years later, Jangles and Things is a failing pawnbroker shop. Jeronicus (Forest Whitaker) has completely lost his creative spark and has nearly withdrawn from the entire world. The local postwoman, Ms. Johnston (Lisa Davina Phillip) is attracted to him and tries to engage him in a relationship, but Jeronicus continually rejects her. With business down, the local banker, Mr. Delacroix (Hugh Bonneville), informs him that he will have to foreclose on the store unless Jeronicus pays his bills or produces a new invention.
At the same time, Jessica’s daughter, Journey (Madalen Mills), begins to show an aptitude for inventing similar to her grandfather. A letter arrives for Jessica (Anika Noni Rose) from Jeronicus, and Jessica sends Journey to stay with her grandfather until Christmas. Once in Cobbleton, Jeronicus shows little interest in Journey, but does agree to let her stay for a few days. Nearby, the wealthy Gustafson (Keegan-Michael Key) has made every invention from Jeronicus’ stolen books and is now forced to create something new on his own. He holds a party to reveal his latest invention, the Twirly Whirly, which malfunctions and attacks one of the guests. Diego convinces Gustafson to steal another invention from Jeronicus.

At Jangles and Things, Jeronicus attempts to create his next toy, the Buddy 3000; however, the toy does not work. Journey discovers that the Buddy 3000 was conceived and designed by Jessica, and she resolves to get the toy to work. Against Jeronicus’ orders, Journey sneaks into Jeronicus’ workshop at night, but is caught by Jeronicus’ young assistant, Edison (Kieron L. Dyer). The two children agree to work on the Buddy 3000. They put a mechanism that Jeronicus was working on into Buddy, and the toy comes to life. The toy allows the children to fly in the workshop. The commotion awakens Jeronicus who goes to investigate. Jeronicus’ lack of belief causes Buddy to cease working. Jeronicus chastises Journey and sends her to bed before lamenting about his estrangement from Jessica, the loss of his wife, and the memories he used to share with them both. The entire incident is secretly observed by Gustafson and Diego who sneak in and steal Buddy and Jeronicus’ plans for the toy.

Edison and Journey learn of Buddy’s theft and sneak into his factory to steal the toy back. Gustafson holds another failed public unveiling as Buddy does not work for him as well. Gustafson orders his men to destroy the Buddy prototype. Edison and Journey are able to steal the toy back. Jeronicus learns that Edison and Journey have gone missing and goes to Gustafson’s factory to find them. The kids’ proximity to Buddy causes him to work again. The toy helps facilitate Edison and Journey’s escape from the factory although Buddy is severely damaged during the attempt. Ms. Johnston arrives and takes Jeronicus, Edison, Journey, and Buddy’s pieces back to Jangles and Things before they can be captured by Gustafson and his guards.

I know about losing things. But the magic isn’t just in what you’ve lost. It’s in what you still have. Ms. Johnson (Lisa Davina Phillip)

Once at the shop, Journey reveals to her grandfather that she wrote to Jessica on his behalf because she wanted to get to know him. Jeronicus works on repairing Buddy when Jessica arrives to take Journey home. Jessica confronts her father over his neglect for her, although Jeronicus reveals that he has hundreds of unsent letters to her apologizing for his actions. Father and daughter make amends and then work together to fix Buddy.

The next morning, on Christmas Day, Gustafson, Diego, and the police arrive at the store and accuse Jeronicus of stealing Buddy from him. Gustafson shows the police the designs for Buddy that he possesses. However, Journey reveals that she used invisible ink on the stolen plans that identify the true creator of Buddy. The police arrest Gustafson instead. Jeronicus gives Gustafson a Christmas present that was supposed to be his thirty years before that contains the missing component that would make Gustafson’s Twirly Whirly work. Jeronicus also removes the life-giving component from Diego so that it can be reprogrammed to not be as selfish. Buddy begins to work again as Jeronicus’ belief is restored. Buddy begins floating Jeronicus, Jessica, and Journey in the air. Mr. Delacroix arrives at the store and sees Buddy. He promises to give Jeronicus the funding he needs for any invention that he wants to make.

To film concludes as it began with an older Journey (Phylicia Rashad) telling her grandchildren the tale. She reveals a still operating Buddy to the children. She flies them to the Jangle-owned factory where Gustafson’s factory once stood. During the end credits, a book montage shows Jangles and Things going back into business, an imprisoned Gustafson finally perfecting his Twirly Whirly, Diego’s doll finally being mass-produced, and the opening of Jangle’s factory.