Christmas Comedy Movies: A Holiday Tradition

Every year there are 3 Christmas comedy movies I watch during the Christmas holidays. These movies are classics, which never seem to lose their luster. Even though I've watched them for years and know every line, they still make me laugh out loud.

There are tons of Christmas movies made for children, but these picks are for adults.

#1 Scrooged

Bill Murray stars in this rendition of the classic, A Christmas Carol. Murray is the head of a large Television company. He's grown bitter and jaded and has irrevocably lost sight of the Christmas Spirit.

As in the classic, 3 Christmas spirits visit him, Christmas past, present and Christmas future. This movie is a hilarious take on the old version of, A Christmas Carol; it always leaves me in stitches.

Whether Bill Murray is telling the grips guy to staple the tiny antlers onto the mouse's head or telling the grim reaper to back off in the elevator, Murray fits the role of Scrooge perfectly.

Favorite Quote: Murray, "The bitch hit me with a toaster"

#2 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

I enjoy all the Vacation movies, however Christmas Vacation is my favorite. Chevy Chase, (Clark) and his dysfunctional family; the Griswolds try to have a normal Christmas holiday. They spend it at home with their extended family, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

Of course nothing goes right, his holiday lights don't work, his perfect immense Christmas tree burns down and his senile aunt gives the pledge of allegiance rather than a Christmas grace.

This movie is a classic comedy that I look forward to every year. Watching a squirrel chased by a rottweiler jumping onto Julia Louis-Dreyfus's chest, then having Clark shut the door as if nothing happened, is pure comedy genius.

Favorite Quote: Cop to Clark's boss, "that's pretty low mister, if I had a rubber hose I would beat you..."

#3 Bad Santa

Bad Santa, starring Billy Bob Thornton, is a relatively new addition to my list of pre-Christmas must watch movies. It's certainly in a different category than my other picks. There is no lighthearted slapstick in this movie. The scenes are dark and twisted, however, every time I watch it I still find my jaw dropping and my gut wrenching with laughter.

It's not laughter evoked because there's a squirrel in Clark Griswold's Christmas tree, it's a different, baser laugh evoked because willie, (Thornton) is having rough sex with a large woman in the dressing room of a department store and telling her she "aint gonna sh*# right for a week!" Now that's entertainment!

Favorite Quote: Willie dressed in his Santa suit talking to Marcus the dwarf, "I beat up some kids today, but it was for a purpose, made me feel good about myself."

Soon after Thanksgiving, I start looking forward to watching these Christmas comedies, and no matter how many times I see them, I always laugh just as hard as the first time.