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Holiday Movies

For the most part, I despise holiday movies.  I hate that they use the holidays to show us that we're all alike and we can come together.  It's a sad state of affairs that we don't feel this way about our friends and family every day.  I recently had a discussion about this with someone and it's true.  We use the holidays as an excuse to be civil, when in reality, it just shows how fake most people are to begin with.  I also hate the sentimental crap that oozes from holiday films, but every once in a while it works.  So I am compiling a list of my ten favorite holiday movies.  You will not find movie that simply take place around Christmas, such as Die Hard and Lethal Weapon, even though I always try to catch those two over some of the ones on this list.  It is purely holiday movies.

10.  Babes In Toyland - I have to admit, this has lost it's luster as I've grown older, but it's a Christmas morning mainstay.  Laurel and Hardy are wonderful, so it's got that going for it.

9. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - now while this pales in comparison to Vacation, the movie does have some laugh out loud scenes and has Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold.  Always worth a gander.  Plus, there's always been something about Beverly D'Angelo.

8. Four Christmases - I love Vince Vaughn.  He's funny in everything and this is no exception.  There are parts that are ridiculous, but the bottom line is, it's a story about families in all their holiday craziness and it kind of hits the nail on the head....over and over.

7. Scrooged - Bill Murray is great.  In a sense, this is similar to Groundhog's Day, but not as good.  The sentiment is deep, but the movie works thanks to Murray.

6. Trading Places - Now you could argue it's a movie that simply takes place during Christmas, but I don't care.  I needed a movie to stick in and wasn't putting Bad Santa on my top ten list.

5. Home Alone - While I have not seen this movie in about ten years, it is a classic.  The crazy idea that parents in their mad rush to get somewhere for the holidays, could leave their little child behind is incredible.  For whatever reason it works.  Plus, when my brother was little he looked like MacCauley Culkin.

4. Planes, Trains and Automobiles - this is actually a good movie on it's own.  It's really about sharing the holidays with someone.  It's actually quite a sad movie, but with Martin and Candy, there are hilarious moments.  One of John Hughes' best.

3.  The Ref - one of the more underrated films ever.  Denis Leary, Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis are amazing.  The story is silly, but the acting and the tale are home runs.  Denis Leary steals the show, but the bit players and the two other co-stars nail every scene.  Has a very "What About Bob?" feel to it.

2.  A Christmas Story - everyone's usual first or second favorite Christmas movie.  Ralphie shoots his eye out, the lamp, FUDGE.  Classics.  So what could possibly be better?

1.  Home for the Holidays - Jodie Foster directs Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr. and a host of others in this incredible story about the stress of coming home for the holidays.  Every single character is nearly flawless in how they were thought out.  It makes you run the gamut of emotions from start to finish.  Charles Durning is brilliant.  The pumpkin pie scene is one of my favorite of all-time.  Subtle, but brilliant and reminds me of my grandfather so much, I cry every time I see it.  One of my favorite movies, period.

As you may have noticed there is no It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th St.  Why?  I truly hate both movies.  I know, it's Hopper being Mr. Opposite.  I just don't like them.   I don't have Elf on here, because I've yet to see it.  Don't really want to either, because I hate Will Ferrell movies.  I will probably get around to it, but we'll see.  Love to hear any suggestions for movies I may have missed.

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