The thing about any Holiday movie list that you make up is that it can be broken into three different types of films. The first being the comical and crazy aspects of a season when we run around like chickens with our heads cut off to find the perfect gift, max out our credit cards and just act loony to begin with. The second type of film is the uplifting film where we remember what the holidays are supposed to be. Whether it be about family or about just helping out your neighbor or even a stranger these our the kind of films that give you that warm and tingly feeling. And the last type of film is the film that is not really about the holidays but rather just happens to take place during the holidays. So for this months feature we will break the list into three parts so you can laugh, cry and go yippee kiyai.
Lets start with a little of the good ole fashioned Christmas movies and on top of that list maybe on top of every holiday viewing list has to be It’s a Wonderful Life. Even though a good portion of the film doesn’t take place during the holidays the climax of the film does as well as the moral it teaches. I have always been a big fan of Jimmy Stewart and this is when he is at his best as the lovable everyman George Bailey who makes a difference with the small things.
And what would the holidays be without a little Charles Dickens and the ultimate tale of redemption of a man who hates everything and everybody unlike George Bailey who just didn’t think he made a difference. That man is Scrooge and the story of course A Christmas Carol. Now this tale has been told so many times you have a long list of versions you can watch but for me I always remember the cartoon the best and Scrooge McDuck from my childhood in Mickey’s Christmas Carol. 
And what is the Holiday without a little Santa as the next film on our list is Miracle on 34th Street. Now this movie was also remade but you are better off just sticking with the classic. Also for a little more Santa love we must also add on the great animated cartoon Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, what other movie could have an elf who wants to be a dentist and a little Santa all at the same time.
Now for a little comedy and first up the movie that defined being a kid at Christmas time, A Christmas Story, you’ll shoot you eye out. This movie has so many classic moments that a cable network runs it for 24 hours straight right before the holiday. This movie help bring back memories of being a kid once more and waiting for that glorious moment.
At about the same time we were being treated with Ralphie, Clark Griswald was in top form as well. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was one of my favorite Christmas movies as a kid and its brings the hilarity and misfortune of the holidays, mixed with some family and a time when Chevy Chase was still funny. 
Now animated Christmas movies are some of the best to watch. We already mentioned Rudolph bit a few more to catch our Frosty the Snowmen for some good ole holiday fun. And then How the Grinch Stole Christmas in all Dr. Seuss’ glory or even the much maligned Jim Carey adaptation the Grinch. Followed by A Charlie Brown Christmas and then all washed down with Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
Not to leave out some more modern films that might eventually gain the status of the classics we include Tim Allen as Santa Claus and Will Ferrell as a six foot Elf. Both films are funny, charming and light and fluffy goodness. Something to tickle your funny bone and remember the season is also a time to be merry.
Even though it may seem a little late I still want to include one Thanksgiving movie, Pieces of April. This film is about family and all its disfunctions and can work just as well for Christmas as for the day we ear turkey and watch football. 
Now the next movie on the list may have some people scratching their heads but I have always been a fan of Ernest P Worrel and if we can have Clark Griswald on the list why not Ernest, Vern. Ernest Saves Christmas is such a fun and silly movie about a bumbling good natured guy that you just can’t go wrong.
Now for some of those movies that just happen to take place during the holidays but aren’t really about the holidays to round off our list. We will start with a guilty pleasure of mine, Home Alone. Sure they ran this movie into the ground with like twelve sequels but the first two are just classics. How much pain can you take to rob a house and when is enough, enough. When Kevin finally decides to defend what is his you are in for a fun ride of hilarity.
And for the film that made Bruce Willis a star and made us forget that he was trying to be a comical actor Die Hard. Nothing like some holiday cheer than breaking up the bad guys party with some gun fights, explosions, and flying glass. The sequels forget all the Christmas cheer but we never do.
Another movie that forgets the holidays in it’s sequels and another movie that gave us another bona fide action hero is Lethal Weapon. Probably one of Mel Gibson’s best performances as the craziness just flowed from him in the film, much like his antics the last couple of years.
And to finish off our list we give you two last movies to watch. The first Bad Santa just reminds us that the season doesn’t always have to be cheery and the last one Gremlins reminds us to never feed our weird pets after midnight.See you next month with another installment of the movie club, oh and ho ho ho. |
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