Each and every Friday throughout the calendar year, fresh theatrical releases find their way into cinemas worldwide. With genres abounding from drama and comedy, to action and romance, there is always something for all tastes. Nevertheless, come late November/early December, Hollywood typically attempts to get movie-theatergoers into the Christmas spirit by emptying their wallets for one or two holiday-oriented features. This year the evidence would be 20th Century Fox’s The Family Stone. (Films like Jarhead, The Ice Harvest, Just Friends, and Rent are also set during the holidays, but according to popular definition, these are not “holiday” pictures.)
Whatever your appetite, there is without a doubt a wide variety of Christmas treasures available on both DVD and VHS that offset other cinematic lumps of coal. Hopefully, the following list will provide you with an understanding of which films should help decorate your mantel and which motion-pictures should be buried beneath the North Pole.
Let us first start with the classics. Before the 1970s, Santa’s cinematic sack was stuffed with lots of gifts of joy and spirit. I’m sure everyone is more than familiar with both the stop-motion animated favorite of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) and the cartoon animated classics of Frosty the Snowman (1969), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), and the 30-minute A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), but some of the most endearing Christmas films to date came long before Alaska and Hawaii were added to Santa’s schedule of U.S. stops.
In 1946, Frank Capra helmed the outstanding story about celebrating life, entitled It’s a Wonderful Life, and one year later Kris Kringle was on trial with the fantastic Miracle on 34th Street. Finally, to round out the early Christmas ornaments, the thoroughly entertaining White Christmas (1954) is undoubtedly a holiday musical favorite.
Moving on, post-disco era to present, there are a few films that take on the comedic aspects of the holiday season, including the outright uproarious A Christmas Story (1983), the popular choice of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989), and the equally enjoyable Home Alone (1990). Also, newly added to the comical collection of Christmas features is the amusing Elf. So, whether it’s watching Ralphie nearly “shoot his eye out,” the Griswald’s family fun, Kevin defending his house, or Will Ferrell playing a six-foot tall elf named Buddy, either way, be sure your bladder is emptied of all eggnog before viewing these comedic treats.
Article comments
1 - Jenifer Gonzales
I agree that National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is an absolute staple during the holiday season. Actually, it can be enjoyed any time of the year b/c it's THAT funny. The best line, to me, is when Clark says to Cousin Eddie after he asks him is he's surprised to see him, "If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now." Classic.
Have you checked your shitters lately?