Bob Hope: Hope For The Holidays
Filed Under: Reviews, TV | Article Tags : box set , DVD review , tv on dvd
By: Erik Swift
November 2005
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“Hope For The Holidays” is a retrospective of Bob Hope’s Christmas shows that graced NBC television audiences for five decades. R2 Entertainment puts together a solid DVD that surely could have been longer, but the mix is right for the holiday season. As a gift for anyone that digs the late comedian, you can’t go wrong.
Consisting largely of the special of the same name from 1993, “Hope For The Holidays” features the funnyman and his wife Delores welcoming their family and several friends into their home for a little celebration. The friends are of the famous variety, and include regulars like Barbara Eden, Loni Anderson, The Judds and (prepare yourself) Joey Lawrence. The party scenes are predictably dull and only serve to set up the classic bits. Going through them is a who’s who of the sports world and Hollywood A, B and Z lists: Macauley Culkin, John Elway, Redd Foxx, John Forsythe, Dick Butkus, John Wayne, Jack Benny, OJ Simpson, Brooke Shields, Emmanuel Lewis and yes, Bing.
Red Skelton (as Freddy The Freeloader) shines in a 1978 broadcast that has Santa visiting Freddy & Hope. Phil Silvers’ smarmy traffic cop who tickets Santa (Hope) and his sleigh is a post-“Sgt. Bilko” standout. Wayne warbling “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is thankfully brief. The Duke does OK, but man, it’s like watching Clint sing in “Paint Your Wagon.” It’s nice, but it sure isn’t needed. And five versions of “Silver Bells?” I’m snoring. The bonus features’ blooper segment makes up for it, because William “The Refrigerator” Perry becomes a total dunce. The Fridge flubs everything. Repeatedly. Hope’s mastery of the ad-lib is on display often throughout the DVD, but it’s kept in check here. Hope lets Perry keep faltering, and the future Chicago Bear earns the laughs on his own until the comic can’t contain himself.
Hope is known for his one-liners, and they’re abundant throughout the disc’s 80 minutes. Everything is skewed, from Beverly Hills (where Santa’s arrival deserves valet parking) to presidents (a Harry S. Truman/Senator Joe McCarthy gift exchange). It is with the United States Armed Forces that the man is truly in his element. Soldiers from Washington to Indiana to Georgia and around the country chat it up with a native Englander who visibly appreciates their work. When Hope passed away in 2003, many polls said he would most be remembered for his travels abroad in times of both war and peace to be with American servicemen and women. In these years of conflict in Iraq, guys like Robin Williams have admirably picked up where Hope left off. He would be proud. At its best, “Hope For The Holidays” makes the season jollier.
Reviewer’s Opinion: RENT IT!!
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