During the month of December, most of us have our favorite Christmas movies that we absolutely must watch. For me, if I’m not able to watch my holiday favorites, it just seems like I completely missed the whole point of the holiday season, and I go into a mild depression come December 26th. So don’t get yourself in a post-Christmas rut and make sure you watch some awesome holiday titles. If you happen to be struggling to find some great flicks to watch this year, here are a few of my faves. Enjoy!
5) Home Alone II: Lost in New York
Plot in a sentence – Pretty much the worst parents in the world accidentally lose their child on Christmas…again.
Why see it – Don’t get me wrong, the first Home Alone was great, but Home Alone II was even better. In this second installment, all our favorite original characters (along with some good new ones) return for another crazy Christmas. Marv and Harry are back to try and ruin the holiday by stealing stuff that isn’t theirs and our hero, Kevin, tries to thwart their plot with what probably should be considered lethal deterrents. Seriously, those guys should have been dead about 12 times over, and Kevin’s ass should be well on his way to juvenile hall.
Be sure to explain to any children who may be watching that setting booby traps is frowned upon, but other than that, this movie is awesome for anyone to watch.
4) Scrooged
Plot in a sentence – On Christmas Eve, three ghosts visit an out-of-touch TV network executive and show him what as assh*le he’s been.
Why see it – A modern retelling of the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, this oddly funny flick is worth a watch. Though it’s a little darker than most Christmas comedies, it packs in a lot of good laughs and even ends with a good message of redemption and celebrates the true meaning of the holiday season. That, and it has Bill Murray doing what Bill Murray does best…be Bill Murray.
3) A Christmas Story
Plot in a sentence – A boy in the pre-World War II Midwest desperately seeks a way to get a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas but experiences resistance to his wish thanks to the danger the gift poses.
Why see it – From the moment TBS starts playing this on Christmas Eve to the final flash of the credits on Christmas Day, this movie is playing on a loop at our house for a solid 24 hours. It is an absolute classic. And if this movie doesn’t trigger childhood nostalgia, then I don’t know what would. Every little boy or girl at some point in their young lives had that one memorable gift that they wanted more than anything in the world. We’d ask our parents for it, write a convincing crayon-inked letter to Santa for it, possibly contemplate stealing it from Toys R’ Us, etc. This movie perfectly captures the yearning for that one special Christmas gift and the accompanying innocent imagination of what lengths one would go to get it.
Yet another great thing about this movie is the depiction of perceived “hardships” that many of us experienced when we were kids. I mean our world was pretty much over if we said the “f-bomb” in front of our parents or got into a fight at school, am I right?
This movie is appropriate for all ages. There are plenty of adult themes creatively placed throughout, and honestly, this flick is plain, flat-out funny.
2) Christmas Vacation
Plot in a sentence – A family man hopelessly tries to please his entire family by hosting Christmas but is gradually driven to insanity thanks to a series of misadventures.
Why see it – To me, this is the most classic Christmas movie of them all. My family and I have watched this flick every December dating back to…well…since I can remember. It has some of the funniest and most iconic characters in the history Christmas movies. You just try and tell me that you haven’t heard at least one impression of Cousin Eddie yelling “Sh*tter was full” every holiday season.
It is (for the most part) appropriate for the whole family. The dirty humor is subtle enough that it will fly over any youngsters’ heads until they are old enough to understand. Heck, I even have a few friends who don’t celebrate Christmas that claim this as their favorite Christmas movie.
1) Die Hard
Plot in a sentence – A sh*tty husband, who also happens to be a New York cop, visits his estranged wife at her Los Angeles-based company Christmas party, only to have their reunion spoiled by some greedy assh*le faux terrorists.
Why see it – Some folks claim “Just because it takes place on Christmas doesn’t make it a Christmas movie.” To those people, I say you are bunch of g-darn Grinches. Just because it trades in candy canes for Yippee-Ki-Yays and merry gifts for machine guns doesn’t make it any less of a Christmas flick. They say “Ho-ho-ho” and they even have a Christmas tree…that just so happens to get blown up. It’s a Christmas movie, so DEAL WITH IT!
Not only is it a Christmas movie, but it is also quite possibly the greatest action movie ever made. With a mix of vigilante-ish justice, subtle humor, somewhat of a love story, and a touch of holiday cheer, it has something for everyone. Give yourself an early Christmas present this year and watch Die Hard…multiple times.
What are some of your favorites?