50 God-Tier Acting Moments Buried in Bad Movies

Most Christmas movies are terrible, and Jingle All the Way - in which workaholic Howard (Arnold Schwarzenegger) tries to repair his relationship with his son (The Phantom Menace's Jake Lloyd) by getting him an almost unobtainable toy - is no exception. 

There are some inspired moments of comedic mayhem, but this is otherwise a muddled, poorly structured, and endlessly annoying affair that's also filled with subpar acting. A chronically miscast Schwarzenegger looks uncomfortable to be on-screen, stand-up comedian Sinbad overacts his way through the film, Rita Wilson gets nothing to do... but one person really does bring his A-game, and that's Phil Hartman.

Playing A-hole neighbour Ted, who's trying to get off with Howard's wife, Hartman is the one truly funny element in this whole ill-judged affair. The beloved comedian, still remembered even now as one of the all-time great Saturday Night Live alums, shows off his impeccable comedic timing, and even though Ted is a douche, Hartman almost tricks you into rooting for him. Such were his charms. 

This case is especially poignant as this was the last film of his to be released while he was alive. Hartman was murdered by his wife not long after this Jingle All the Way came out, and so, as bad as this movie largely is, it remains a lovely testament to the gifts of a comedic legend.