There's a hundred better actors to play Howard,... two were in this!

Overall this was a good story and it doesn't deserve the criticism it gets about commercialism or sexual innuendos. Still, was Schwarzenegger the best actor they could find? Really? I can think of TWO who were better, right off the top of my head. And I know they were available because they were IN THIS MOVIE. (Sinbad and Phil Hartman) I'm sure there's plenty more. I can't tell what Howard is saying half the time. "Poooot dat koookie dawhn" "My-run, jour a gut gie ant ull" WTF IS THAT? Many of our Christmas traditions have their roots in Germany and Austria (Wreaths, Holly, Christmas trees) so having someone from that part of the world, bizarre accent and all, would be the only reason to cast him. And even that only makes sense if those connections are mentioned in this film, which they are not.