|
| “ | Put that cookie down, NOW! | „ |
| ~ Howard Langston reacting to Ted |
| “ | You can Always Count on Me! | „ |
| ~ Howard/ Turdo man infamous catchphrase of proving to be a true hero. |
Howard Langston is the main protagonist of the 1996 Christmas family comedy film, Jingle All the Way.
He was portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also played Conan in Conan the Barbarian , John Matrix in Commando, Mark Kaminski in Raw Deal, Dutch in Predator, Ben Richards in The Running Man, Ivan Danko in Red Heat, John Kimble in Kindergarten Cop, Douglas Quaid in Total Recall, Trench Mauser in The Expendables, Harry Tasker in True Lies, Jack Slater in The Last Action Hero, Ray Owens in The Last Stand, Jericho Cane in End of Days, John Kruger in Eraser, Gordon Brewer in Collateral Damage, the Young OG Terminator, the Young T850 and the Old T800 from the Terminator franchise.
Biography[]
Howard is first seen working at his office job as a phone salesman, where he tells every customer, "You're my #1 customer". He receives a phone call from his wife Liz, who is wanting to know his whereabouts. His son Jamie is about to have a promotion in his karate class where the students display their skills. Howard then gets another call from a customer looking to make an expensive purchase. Howard's secretary uses cue cards to remind him of the event and to leave, which suggests that this behavior has repeated itself in the past.
Howard attempts to attend with less than 20 minutes to make it. He gets caught in traffic. When he attempts to pass on the shoulder, he gets pulled over by a policeman and given a citation for abuse of the breakdown lane, which causes him to miss his son's promotion ceremony. Howard's neighbor Ted Martin expected this, and had been there to film the ceremony for Howard. Liz thanks Ted, a single father, for being considerate of others in addition to devoted to his own kid. In actuality, Ted lusts after Liz and is looking to subterfuge her marriage to Howard by making himself look like the ideal family man in contrast to Howard's workaholism.
Howard comes home to see Ted putting up Christmas lights on his house. He talks to Liz, angry that he did not consent to Ted putting up lights on his house before he tells Liz that he got a speeding ticket and then talks to Jamie. Jamie is disappointed that his father his always late and makes promises he doesn't keep. In an attempt to cheer Jamie up, Howard decides to ask Jamie what he wants for Christmas. Jamie exclaims that he wants a Turbo-Man action figure, which is from Jamie's favorite TV show. Before he goes to bed, Liz asks if he ever bought a Turbo-Man for Jamie, as she had asked him to get one. He lies saying he got it right away, and she says "Good. Because at this point, they'd be impossible to find."
The next day, while waiting for the toy store to open, he meets Myron Larabee, a postal worker dad who is also getting a Turbo-Man action figure for his son on Christmas too. After the toy store opens, the two became rivals as they try to find a Turbo-Man action figure, but realize that they are all sold out and are mocked for their lateness. At the mall, he and Myron try to get the Turbo-Man action figure, but ultimately failed.
Howard meets a Mall Santa who tries to give him a Turbo-Man action figure, but Howard reveals to them that all of them are con men in red suits as Howard gets into a fight with them. When a police raid interrupts the fight, Howard quickly uses a toy badge to keep himself from being arrested along with the conmen, pretending to be an undercover cop.
Later, while driving, his car runs out of gas and he calls Jamie. After an argument on the phone, Howard goes to a Diner and again meets Myron, who reveals that his father never got him a popular gun as a kid, which ruined his life. After hearing a Turbo-Man competition announcement on the radio, the two continued their rivalry once again and entered the radio station to get the Turbo-Man action figure, but realize that the prize is a gift certificate and the police try to arrest them, but Howard and Myron escape before the bomb in the package exploded.
Howard arrives home after discovering that he is now unable to get the toy in time. However, Howard goes to the house of his neighbor, Ted Maltin, to steal the Turbo-Man toy that he bought for his son, but realizes that he is doing something wrong and decides to return it, but is chased by Ted's reindeer and his wife Liz and Ted catches him for stealing a present.
After Ted, Liz and Jamie leave for the parade, Howard tries to hurry for the parade, but gets chased by the police officer for drenching his coffee on him. Howard tries to hide, but accidentally joins the parade, dressed as Turbo-Man who will give a special edition Turbo-Man action figure to a child. Howard chooses Jamie and gives him the doll. However, before he can reveal his identity to him, Myron shows up as Turbo-Man's archenemy, Dementor so he can take the doll as Jamie is forced to flee and Myron goes after him. After Myron successfully takes the doll, but falls on one of the parade balloons, Howard finally saves Jamie by using his jet-pack and reveals his true-identity to him and Liz after Myron is caught by the police and take the doll away from him. However, after hearing that Myron wants the doll to give his son on Christmas, Jamie gives the doll to Myron as Jamie reveals that he has the real Turbo-Man and Howard and Myron reconcile as they finally become friends and Howard is declared a hero. That night on Christmas Eve, Howard discovers that he forgot to get a present for Liz.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Tim Allen, Kurt Russell, Steve Martin, Michael Keaton, John Travolta and the late Robin Williams were all considered for the role of Howard Langston before Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast.
- While Howard does seem to be a habitual promise breaker and often tardy, he is definitely shown to be a hard worker, as he was one of the few working at his company while most people were enjoying a Christmas party. This is further shown by the great frustration he went through on Christmas Eve to get Jamie a Turbo Man doll.
- Howard's alter ego Turbo Man is Based on Iron Man and Buzz Lightyear.
- Which later became a popular fan favorite action figure.
- Dementor's minions bear resemblance to the Power Rangers.
- During the parade scene the following heroes make a cameo:
- Santa Claus obviously.
- Cat in the Hat from the 1957 Dr. Seuss book of the same name.
- Madeline from the book series of the same name.
- Barbie from the doll line of the same name.
- Gumby from The Gumby Show.
- Snoopy from the Peanuts.
- Ernie & Bert from Sesame Street.
- Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- Sonic the Hedgehog from the video game series of the same name.
- The Tick from the animated series of the same name.
- Hello Kitty from the brand of the same name.
- Paddington Bear from Paddington books.
[]
Template:Schwarzenegger Heroes
| ||
|
Movie Howard Langston | Jamie Langston | Liz Langston | Myron Larabee | Officer Alexander Hummell | ||