Great Holiday Movies

Christmas Vacation - Starring Chevy Chase, a classic film in many respects. Every time I see it, Christmas Vacation makes me laugh out loud. Even though it's right in front of you, the message of this movie is so clouded by in-your-face hilarity that you might miss it. Take Clark Griswald (Chase) for example. His slapstick is great fun. But every time I see him breaking into hysterics over his so-called, "Christmas bonus" and cursing until the live long day, I break out laughing. Randy Quaid's Cousin Eddie is funny in general but when he starts draining his "shi**er" into a storm drain, it's outrageously funny. Then there's the equally great line, "If that cat had seven lives, you just spent 'em all."

A Christmas Story - Ralphie wants a bee-bee gun. Everyone is trying to tell him that he'll shoot his eye out. Does Ralphie care? No. Does he eventually shoot his eye out? I don't know, you'll have to see this classic Christmas story for yourself. I remember the first time I saw this wonderful tale of a boy desperate to get one gift for Christmas. They featured a deranged mall Santa Claus, burglars hopping fences, a boy gunning them down like Looney Tunes characters with his bee-bee gun rifle, and a warm, loving mother and kindly school marm turn into a witch and a court jester. This was all set back in the 1930s and '40s. This was one unique - if not crazy vision of the holiday season. But boy, it's charms have sure grown on me over the years since. Another major contribution to this holiday classic is Darin McGavin as Ralphie's dad, 'The Old Man' or Mr. Parker. When he gets mad, Mr. Parker throws very childish, very immature fits of fury, cursing and grumbling. It's a joy to watch this great old actor have such a great time. And in the end, you really can't but feel like everything is right in the word, because everyone got what they wanted, and everyone and everything is finally at peace.

It's a Wonderful Life - Starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, It's a Wonderful Life may be too sentimental for some people but it really has meant a lot to me over the years. The message that you can have no money, a drafty old house and perhaps even go to prison, but you have everything you need because you have the love of family and friends is so thick, it could choke the biggest cynic in the world. I happen to love and appreciate the way director Frank Capra handles this message, and all of the other themes expressed in this timeless holiday classic. Then there is Mr. Potter. If there was ever a villain in the movies I would've loved to have seen murdered, it's Potter. Lionel Barrymore is so great in this role, you feel like you could chase the actor down in the street and stone him to death like a Trekkie trying to avenge Spock's death. Every role, every performance is so believably good or bad, you can't help but be sucked into this tale of a
man who is desperate to keep out of jail and keep food on the table. Clarence is a joy. He takes George Bailey back, shows him what life would be like if he had never existed, and we don't even realize that we're watching a true Hollywood legend.

A Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - Starring Maureen O'Hara, Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood, this tale of deciding whether or not an old man is actually Santa Claus is the first and best. I liked Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle but he didn't quite grab me as believable a St. Nick as Gwenn's Santa. And what's her face was no replacement for Natalie Wood as the doubtful little girl, Susan Walker. Kris gets the job as the Santa Claus in the Macy's parade. From then on, Kris continually tries to convince everyone he meets that he is the real thing. O'Hara's Doris Walker refuses to believe. She send him to a deranged psychiatrist, who happens to declare him insane. After a while almost everyone, including Doris believes in Kris - maybe not that he's Santa but certainly that he's not a psycho endangering the lives of everyone around him, but it'll take a miracle to convince little Susie that is St. Nick. A wonderful gift to show any child and great treat for families to enjoy, Miracle on 34th Street may be the best movie about convincing the world that Santa actually exists.

The Santa Clause - Okay, you want to prove to yourself that Santa exists. Well there's a catch to catching Santa Claus on your roof. Don't put on the Santa Claus suit. Here, Tim Allen does just that. You may call it a curse, you might also call it a blessing, but if you happen to become Kris Kringle, there is just no going back. It's literally like trying to back out of a contract. Of course, Allen's Scott Calvin does not believe in the legend of Santa Claus. He refuses to believe that his first night as the big guy is real. After a while, Scott can't help but notice the little things and the big things; such as, his beard growing out much too fast, gaining weight much too fast, never being able to rid himself of either, and finally, his hair turning snowy white. Gee-whiz, who could Scott be turning into? Ha ha! This 1994 original Santa Clause is always going to be the best. It is great fun for the whole family. It steps out of the realm of impossible fantasy into a fantasy actually becoming plausible.

Bad Santa - Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Bad Santa is not for kids. It's a dark comedy for adults. Bad Santa may have a few too many cuss words, a few too many liquor bottles, a few too many references to doing big girls in the rear, but the overall themes and message in this outrageously funny film are definitely in the spirit of the holidays. Willie (Thornton) is a mall Santa who, with the help of his partner / elf, Marcus (Tony Cox) rob every place in which they put up their Santa's Workshop. Willie likes to get drunk and covort (sp?) with any hot or big women he sees. This is a man that feels so sorry for himself all the time, he actually pees in his Santa Claus costume. The question is: Is there anything redeeming about Willie? Well that question is what Bad Santa explores. In the end, you can't but feel like Willie is on the right track to becoming a good, decent and even giving human being.

More great holidays movies

Home Alone
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
The Polar Express
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
Scrooged
A Christmas Carol (1938)
The Grinch or How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
White Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas

Movies that feature Christmas I also recommend

Die Hard
The Bells of St. Mary's
A Nightmare Before Christmas
The Family Man