Christmas Vinyl Doc Is A Mix Tape Of Mirth And Melancholy

By Joel Wicklund in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 12, 2014 4:30PM

Ah, Christmas season is here! Time for the family to gather round and listen to favorite holiday songs like "I Want the South to Win the War for Christmas," "The Day that Santa was Sick," and "Santa Came on a Nuclear Missile."

What? Those aren't in your collection of Christmas records? Then you aren't quite as much of a yuletide tune fanatic as the subjects of Jingle Bell Rocks!, an entertaining documentary about people with a passion—and in some cases an obsession—for the more rare, and often far more strange, seasonal recordings.

While those who like bizarre holiday songs will find plenty to enjoy here, this isn't really a movie about wacky Christmas music. And though there's certainly fun along the way, Jingle Bell Rocks! is also not really the lighthearted lark you might expect. Filmmaker Mitchell Kezin's main subject is really himself, as he explores how his own holiday music obsession stems from his upbringing with an absentee father. Relating a bit too strongly to Nat King Cole's recording of "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot," Kezin's unending hunt for forgotten Christmas gold is also his attempt at catharsis for youthful heartbreak.

While Kezin wears his emotions on his sleeve, and the movie is surprisingly melancholy at times, he doesn't let it become too maudlin. Connecting to other avid collectors, as well as few cultural luminaries, he shows there are many levels to Christmas craziness and different motivations for the pursuit of forgotten holiday vinyl.

Many Chicagoans will be familiar with Andy Cirzan, who is one of Kezin's key connections. The Jam Productions exec has shared some of his immense personal collection of Christmas obscurities for decades, first as self-distributed tapes and CDs, and for many years now on the airwaves as a guest on public radio's Sound Opinions and as co-host of the annual Christmas Club special on WDCB. Cirzan shows off his veteran vinyl-hunting skills (and it's always vinyl for him), plowing through dusty stacks in record stores and yard sales with his special tool of the trade: a portable turntable.

Music journalist and former Def Jam publicity head Bill Adler is the other fellow collector with a significant role in the film. Adler arranges a meeting between Kezin and Joseph Simmons—the Run of the rap group Run-DMC, who had their own holiday novelty hit with "Christmas in Hollis."

Also appearing to discuss their own takes on the music and meaning of Christmas are cult film legend John Waters, jazz singer and pianist Bob Dorough (also one of the voices of Schoolhouse Rock), novelty tune archivist and radio host Dr. Demento, R&B great Clarence Carter, minimalist rockers Low, and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips.

Coyne, who seems to bring goodwill to anything he is involved with, manages to make the ritual of Christmas lights seem far more special as he describes how they break up the dark and gray of winter. Sitting among suitably psychedelic holiday décor, he also chats about his band's offbeat film, Christmas on Mars.

Kezin does a good job of balancing his personal journey with the stories of others, including an interesting sidetrack into the history of the pop/jazz vocal group The Free Design. Their unique holiday offering was fantastically titled, "Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas)."

The childhood sadness Kezin is exorcising finally comes front and center when he plays an audiotape of his clearly drunken father trying, and failing, to create a festive atmosphere. It's a heavy moment and perhaps too heavy in relation to the rest of the movie. But flawed sincerity beats out too polished and too perfect in my book.

Kezin's autobiographical approach arguably comes at the expense at what might have been a more focused portrait of specialized vinyl devotees—a Christmas music version of Cinemania (though no one in Jingle Bell Rocks! seems quite as damaged by their obsession as the film freaks of Cinemania). But that subject has been covered in other films, albeit not with a Christmas slant. Awkward moments and all, Kezin manages to bring some depth to a movie that could have been just a diversion.

Jingle Bell Rocks! Directed by Mitchell Kezin. 93 mins. No MPAA rating. Opens Dec. 19 at the Brew & View at the Vic Theatre. Also playing at select theaters nationwide and available now on DVD, some video-on-demand services, and digital download.