It’s been nearly two months that I’ve been down this festive film rabbit hole and at this point it needs to be asked – just how many characters need to be called ‘Nick’ in these things? I get the whole St Nick connection, but it’s starting to come across as pure laziness. And don’t get me started on girls called ‘Holly…’
Anyway, the next one is Twas the Night, a surprisingly solid Disney Channel effort from 2001, starring Mr Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston as a guy called - you guessed it – Nick. On the run from some dodgy criminal associates on Christmas Eve, Nick hides out at his nephew Danny (Josh Zuckerman)’s house. That night, they unwittingly knock Santa unconscious and take it upon themselves to try and Save Christmas – though dodgy Nick has secret plans to use Santa’s magic for less than noble purposes.
Following Cranston’s career resurgence in the early 2010s thanks to his unforgettable turn in the really rather serious Breaking Bad, it’s easy to forget how much of a gifted physical comedian he can be. This film is from back when he was making his name in superb irreverent sitcom Malcolm in the Middle and he easily outshines everyone else here, stealing the show. This is a fun little tale of redemption, with Cranston playing a bit of a creep who needs to learn the error of his ways. He’s a sleazy conman, but idolised by his teen nephew who doesn’t know the truth about him, seeing him as just a cool, easygoing guy who has it all figured out. But Nick’s crooked past is catching up with him as his geeky ex-colleagues hire a frightening musclebound enforcer to track him down, setting things up for a Christmas showdown.
Being a 2001 film, the internet is treated as some magical place where anything can be accomplished with a few clicks, so Nick’s adversaries are able to track him with ease, but then he uploads a ‘virus’ to stop them that somehow disables all computers for five square miles. That must’ve been an easier sell in the days of dial-up connections.
After accidentally taking Santa out, Nick and Danny discover the bearded gift-giver has a pocketful of cool gadgets that can shrink things and slow down time and stuff. It's logical to think that this is how Santa would be able to do it. Danny’s eager to get the presents delivered, Nick transparently just wants to use the magic to save his own ass and maybe make a few bucks. Cranston revels in playing a crook, using Santa’s powers to pause time and help him steal fancy cars, violins and even some champagne right out of a rich dude’s glass. He’s a lot of fun to watch, cackling and rubbing his hands with glee and his performance has a real seductive swagger about it.
There’s a decent subplot with Santa and Danny’s younger siblings on a quest to find a working PC to allow him to track his MIA sleigh, though it’s slightly baffling that they’re able to find an open electronics store so late on Christmas Eve. Santa also gets to show off some kung fu skills, which is different, I suppose.
It's all kiddie-friendly and silly, very much in the John Hughes vein. It’s also totally watchable and I’m not surprised to discover this airs every December on the Disney Channel, such is its popularity. I thoroughly enjoy it, but am also conscious that it likely wouldn’t be anywhere near as good with a lesser star – Cranston totally owns it. This film is an early sign that family TV could not contain him and, as he rocks out at the end on a vintage Hendrix guitar, I can’t help but think, “Yep, there goes a star.”
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