If there’s one thing that Jingle All the Way 2 could have done better, it’s to stay true to the original’s spirit of chaotic yet earnest holiday fun. While the sequel did feature some interesting plot points and no shortage of comedic moments, it fell short in its attempt to capture the same level of joy as its predecessor. Instead, it seems to focus more on being a kid-friendly adventure movie without any real stakes or heart.
The biggest improvement could have been the introduction of a greater sense of stakes. What kind of conflict would arise when a father and son race around town to buy the same toy? Who would win, or who would get the better of their opponent? Even though a physical fight would not have been appropriate, there could have been more emotional moments to make viewers root for either character.
Another suggestion would have been to include more heart-warming moments. While Jingle All the Way 2 did contain a few touching family moments, it failed to replicate the strong emotional subtext of the original. While it would've been difficult for the sequel to perfectly recreate the heartwarming nostalgia of the original, it could have done better to insert more poignant moments to give the characters more depth.
The characters in Jingle All the Way 2 lacked any real charm or relatability that the original film had. With a slightly better look at their personalities, the sequel could have allowed viewers to become more invested in their stories as they attempted to get the Twisty Turbo Remote Control Car.
Finally, the movie could have capitalized on its Christmas setting. Taking advantage of its December setting, the movie could have made full use of Christmas traditions and holiday decorations to help build a better atmosphere. It could have been something as simple as featuring classic holiday music or even having the characters sing carols at certain points throughout the movie.
Overall, Jingle All the Way 2 missed some opportunities to be an even better holiday movie. By adding more meaningful stakes, emotional moments, and holiday cheer, it could have done a lot better to live up to its predecessor.