Watch Jingle Bell Rocks

Jingle Bell Rocks is a documentary film from 2013 directed and produced by Mitchell Kezin. The film showcases the history and culture of Christmas music through the eyes of Kezin, who is an obsessive collector of Christmas music. The movie starts off with Kezin explaining how his love affair with the genre of Christmas music began. He talks about his childhood memories and how the music associated with the holiday always brought immense joy and happiness to him. He discusses how his obsession led him to start collecting rare vinyl recordings of Christmas music from all around the world.

The documentary then takes us on a journey through the decades, exploring the evolution of Christmas music. Kezin talks to various experts in the field, including musicians, DJs, and collectors, about how the genre has changed over time. The film also features rare archival footage and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in Christmas music, such as John Waters, Wayne Coyne, and the late Clarence Carter.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Jingle Bell Rocks is how it exposes the controversies surrounding Christmas music. Kezin delves into the debates about whether Christmas music is overly commercialized, or if certain songs are culturally insensitive. He also explores the history of the "War on Christmas", and how it has affected the genre.

Throughout the film, Kezin shares his personal anecdotes about his quest to find the most obscure and unusual Christmas songs from around the globe. One of the highlights of the movie is when he travels to Jamaica to search for reggae-tinged Christmas music, which he eventually finds in the form of "Santa Claus is Ska-ing to Town". The film also features a performance of the holiday classic, "White Christmas" by the legendary saxophonist, Clarence Clemons, who passed away shortly after filming.

Overall, Jingle Bell Rocks is a charming and heartfelt documentary that will appeal to anyone who loves Christmas music or has fond memories of the holiday season. Its unique approach to exploring the culture and history of the genre, combined with rare recordings, interviews, and performances make it a must-watch for any music lover.

Jingle Bell Rocks is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.