Christmas is a wonderful time of year. Not least of the highlights is a plethora of Christmas comedy specials coming out for those nights at home, eating far too many snacks. One of the big names for 2024 is Jack Whitehall’s “Jack in Time for Christmas”. But even with lots of time to kill over the Christmas break, is this Prime Video special worth the watch?
What is the Jack in Time for Christmas Plot?
Well, plot is a strong word to use. It’s a comedy special at the end of the day. But days before Christmas, Jack Whitehall finds himself stranded in the USA. All he’s got is four days to get back home to the UK. Lending from the popular movie, Jack needs to journey home using planes, trains and automobiles, with huskies and bobsleighs thrown in for good measure.
Along the way, Whitehall meets with Michael Bublé, Dave Bautista, Rebel Wilson, Jimmy Fallon, Daisy May Cooper, and Tom Davies.
Is Jack in Time for Christmas Funny?
I have a bit of a soft spot for Jack Whitehall, but not so much that I give him a free pass to make poor comedy. I never took to the show with his Dad (sorry Jack and Michael). Ironically, because their comedy is always incredibly scripted, which Jack in Time for Christmas has in spades.
Yet, the balance of script and genuine comedy in this Prime Video production has been gotten just right. I guess this makes sense given the likes of Clarksons Farm gets the same balance pretty right.
I had one of 2024’s rare “suffocating laughing” moments while watching Jack in Time for Christmas which involved Tom Davies. Honestly, I would have worn this one part of the show thin if this had been an old video.
It turns out that the scene I’m talking about was up to be cut out because Davies actually hurt himself quite a bit. Whitehall said, “we nearly killed Tom Davis, he really took a tumble and the minute he did it, he was like I know that that moment is going in the trailer and he’s going to end up going everywhere. I lied to him and said that it wouldn’t and that we would edit it out, but it was unfortunately just too good not to include, and also he was fine”.
So, is Jack in Time for Christmas Worth Watching?
From me, it’s a yes. It’s a harmless jaunt with plenty of big names to hold your attention. The scripting isn’t overbearing, particularly once Jimmy Fallon leaves the picture. Michael Bublé is a funny, edgier and possibly more true-to-self character and, as you may expect from Whitehall, the whole thing is self-deprecating and not taking itself too seriously.
Given the free time you’ll likely find yourself with over Christmas, if you have a Prime Video subscription, it’s worthwhile giving this a look.
Jack in Time for Christmas is now streaming on Prime Video.
