Amac Productions

“It’s Turbo Time!”

Do I care that he’s not a real superhero? No. No, I do not.

He’s a superhero. He’s real in the world he belongs to, and honestly, he’s a superhero of a kind.

And if you don’t believe me, check out the movie itself.

Or better yet, let me tell you.

At the end of the movie, Jamie decides he doesn’t need the superhero action figure his father has been so desperately trying to get his hands on for the entire movie. He doesn’t want it, because he has the ‘real’ Turboman at home.

His dad.

Isn’t that sweet and touching?

It is.

Because ultimately, Howard AKA Turboman, learns a valuable lesson.

Spend time with your family.

That’s all that matters.

Not the stuff or the toys.

Or anything else.

It’s making time for each other during the holiday season.

Turboman helped to teach Howard a very important lesson. He only gets so much time with his son. He needs to keep his word. He needs to be there.

For all the reasons he’s terrified of when he sees his son in Myron’s place in the diner, drinking booze, and shouting ‘here’s to you, dad.’

Not shouting at his kid because he’s frustrated about his bad day. One he did to himself, mind you. Because he put off going to get the present until the last minute. Instead of listening to his wife.

And honestly, anyone who could get that man to listen is a hero.

It was a heroic effort to make Howard realize the true error of his ways.

From nearly being arrested, beaten by Santa Claus, all the people laughing in his face, women beating him with purses, and so on. The entire day culminated in him putting on the suit and realizing how much he hurt his son by not being there for him.

Because it’s not about the doll.

It’s about spending time together.

The moment in his bedroom, when he said he felt like he and his son were really bonding were more of the moments that he needed to make time for.

Not running around looking for a toy.

Yes, it’s important to Jamie and that’s why he spent the entire day looking for it.

But I think having his dad there was way better.

Because I don’t remember all the toys I was given when I was younger. But I remember my parents smiling faces on Christmas morning. I remember pulling them out of bed. I remember seeing family on Christmas Eve and packing up a large bag with all the gifts in it.

I remember setting out milk and cookies for Santa. Getting sent to bed super early, but always trying to convince my parents to let me watch one more Christmas special. Always one of the claymation. Had to watch it in bed, because I needed to sleep for Santa to come.

I remember moments that made the holidays special.

And Jamie will remember that his dad was Turboman years later.

He’ll learn that he wasn’t really a hero. That that day was his own doing. That he was really in trouble a few times during the chase. He’ll learn it was an accident that he ended up there.

But it won’t matter.

Because his dad showed up.

He was his hero when he needed him to be.

And that’s what counts. Years from now. Or I suppose in this year, since it has been 28 years since the movie came out.

Yikes.

And Turboman is a hero in universe.

Saving people. And inspiring people to be better.

And he also managed to become a real-life action figure at Walmart a few years ago. One I own, because how could I not?

This was one of my favorite movies as a kid.

Still is.

“Ta ta, Turtleman!”

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