Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a festive season movie offering from Netflix — here's a quick breakdown of the Jingle Jangle cast and characters. Written and directed by David E. Talbert, Jingle Jangle was first greenlit back in 2017. Following other offerings like Holidate and the Kurt Russell-led sequel, The Chrismas Chronicles 2, the new musical fantasy film continues the streaming service's early surge into embracing the holiday season and getting into the festive mood.
Blending CGI animation and stop-motion, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey brings an imaginary world full of wishes and wonders to life. The official synopsis reads: Decades after a painful betrayal and an even more painful loss, a once joyful toymaker finds new hope when his bright, young granddaughter appears on his doorstep. Ahead of filming the Christmas movie in Norwich, England, musician John Legend signed on as a producer. Legend also produced music for the film alongside Philip Lawrence, including an original song performed by Usher.
The Jingle Jangle cast provides a great soundtrack, and the movie intentionally harkens back to classics like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and such characters as Willy Wonka. It was Talbert's aim to create a Christmas film for all families. Likewise, Talbert wanted Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story to give children of all races a chance to see themselves as magical. As such, the director amassed an extraordinarily diverse and talented group for the Jingle Jangle cast, to bring the ambitious and imaginative story to life. Here's a quick rundown of the leading players involved.
Forest Whitaker as Jeronicus Jangle
First up on the Jingle Jangle cast is Jeronicus — a reclusive, genius inventor and toymaker whose sunny disposition has been worn down after years of defeats and personal losses. An Academy Award-winning actor, Whitaker recently enjoyed roles in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and the seminal Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure, Black Panther.
Madalen Mills as Journey Jangle
Madalen Mills plays Jeronicus' little-known granddaughter, Journey Jangle in Jingle Jangle's cast. She seeks to recover his latest stolen invention, Buddy (voiced by Sitara Attaie), and restore her grandfather's lost spirit. Jingle Jangle is the young actress's first starring role.
Keegan-Michael Key as Gustafson
Keegan-Michael Key plays Jeronicus' former apprentice, Gustafson, who ultimately stole his boss's work and became his nemesis. As well as being one half of the popular sketch-duo, Key & Peele, the actor's eclectic career has included roles in fellow Netflix film The Prom.
Anika Noni Rose as Jessica Jangle
Jeronicus' estranged, independent daughter and Journey's mother, Jessica, is played by Anika Noni Rose in the Jingle Jangle cast. Rose is best known for voicing Tiana in Disney's The Princess and the Frog and more recently appeared on multiple episodes of the acclaimed miniseries Little Fires Everywhere.
Phylicia Rashad as Grandmother Journey
Phylicia Rashad plays an older version of Journey and narrator of the film's story in the Jingle Jangle cast. Rashad became a household name courtesy of The Cosby Show, and recently starred alongside Michael B. Jordan in each installment of the Creed franchise.
No movie is complete without a stellar supporting cast, and the Netflix Christmas movie Jingle Jangle is no exception. The following Jingle Jangle cast members have been in several different things that you may recognize them from. From Downton Abbey to American Crime Story, here is the Jingle Jangle supporting cast and what else they have been in.
Justin Cornwell as Young Jeronicus
Justin Cornwell plays a Young Jeronicus, a youthful incarnation of the genius inventor glimpsed in flashbacks. Cornwell recently starred opposite Chris Pine in the real-life tale, I Am The Night.
Hugh Bonneville as Mr. Delacroix
The veteran actor Hugh Bonneville joins the Jingle Jangle cast as Mr. Delacroix — a kind but firm banker with a stake in Jeronicus' floundering business. Bonneville is best known for his work on Downton Abbey and the recent Paddington movies.
Kieron L. Dyer as Edison Latimer
The next supporting member of the Jingle Jangle cast is Kieron L. Dyer as Edison Latimer. He plays a fan of Jeronicus and friend to Journey. Jingle Jangle marks the young performer's acting debut.
Ricky Martin as Don Juan Diego
The singing sensation Ricky Martin appears in the Jingle Jangle cast as Don Juan Diego — a sentient toy with an egomaniacal personality. Martin is best known for his music career. After transitioning to acting, he recently starred in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
Lisa Davina Phillip as Ms. Johnston
Lisa Davina Phillip joins the Jingle Jangle cast as Ms. Johnston. She's the local postwoman with a crush on the oblivious Jeronicus. Phillip most recently guest-starred on BBC's Call the Midwife.
All Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey Songs
- This Day - sung by Justin Cornwell and Sharon Rose. The musical number "This Day" is the opening sequence of Jingle Jangle, and is performed by a young Jeronicus as he introduces people to his magical world of invention.
- Borrow Indefinitely - performed by Ricky Martin. "Borrow Indefinitely" is belted out by none other than Ricky Martin in his role as the nefarious toy, Don Juan. He sings to Gustafson about stealing ideas to make himself famous.
- Miles and Miles - sung by Marisha Wallace. The singer Marisha Wallace plays the singing voice of Lisa Davina Philips' Ms. Johnston in the non-traditional Christmas movie. The uplifting ballad is about never giving up and raising the spirits during times of sadness.
- Not the Only One - performed by Madalen Mills. The young and talented Madalen Mills sings the tearjerker "Not the Only One." The song occurs when Journey Jangle becomes frustrated over the expectations forced on her when she just wants to be an inventor and toymaker.
- Magic Man G - sung by Keegan-Michael Key. Once Gustafson becomes the top toymaker in the land through unscrupulous means, he busts out this little number as a celebration.
- Square Root of Possible - performed by Madalen Mills. The talented actress/singer performs "The Square Root of Possible" when she finally is able to pick herself up and have the confidence to overcome her obstacles.
- Over and Over - sung by Forest Whitaker. Jeronicus sings the ballad "Over and Over" while in a state of loneliness and defeatism. He looks back on his life, wondering if things could have and should have gone differently.
- Grandpa Me Nie' (Asew Jingle Jangle Remix) - performed by Bisa Kdei. While the song "Grandpa Me Nie'" doesn't appear in the movie's final cut, it is a part of the Jingle Jangle soundtrack.
- Make it Work - sung by Forest Whitaker and Anika Noni Rose. "Make it Work" happens towards the climax of Jingle Jangle when Jeronicus tries to fix a toy with Journey, and the two try to make it work, somewhat appropriately.
- This Day (Reprise) - performed by the Jingle Jangle choir. This reprise of the opening song is sung at the end of Jingle Jangle when the kids are looking in wonder at Jeronicus' new toy factory.
- This Day - sung by Usher and Kiana Lede. The "This Day" remix in the Christmas movie Jingle Jangle happens during the film's ending credits.
- Jingle Jangle Score Suite - by John Debney. This is the score that can be heard all throughout Jingle Jangle, and it also plays in the ending credits.
The film has been widely praised for its style, imagination, deeper themes, and the fantastic Jingle Jangle cast. As a result, it has impressively held on to a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, based on 14 reviews. People can check it out and decide for themselves over the festive period. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey was officially released globally via Netflix on November 13, 2020 and continues to be on the streaming service to this day.