Oh… dear readers, it’s
been a very busy week at work and with life, so as you can see the 12 days of Christmas
count down has been interrupted. But I’m back! And hopefully going to make sure
that we finish on a strong note. Tonight’s article is a catch up on days 4
through 9, not quite as in depth as some of the other in this series but just
as packed with holiday joy.
Day
4. Jingle All the Way – Now, am I going
to tell you that 1996’s Jingle All the
Way staring the dynamic duo of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad is a good film?
No. But I will tell you that it’s hard to look away. Much like a car crash that
you can’t help but stare at Jingle All
the Way is so bad, it’s entertaining. For a bit of a change of pace this
holiday season pop in this piece of 90s of gold and enjoy some of the most
nonsensical, demented, and forced family fun of the season.
Day
5. The Man Who Came to Dinner – Based
on the 1939 play by Kaufman and Hart The
Man Who Came to Dinner is a hilarious film starring Monty Woolley, Bette
Davis, and Ann Sheridan. The play has become a community theatre standard and
the ’42 film has become a classic in its own right. The Man Who Came to Dinner tells the story of Sheridan Whiteside, an
acerbic critic, who slips on the front steps of an Ohio businessman’s home and
breaks his hip, then he and his eccentric entourage take over the home for the
holidays. This film was first introduced to me a couple of years ago by my good
friend Nick, one of the stories biggest fans, and I thoroughly enjoyed the film
and it only gets better with every watch. Enjoy this classic piece of Hollywood
cinema.
Day
6. It’s A Wonderful Life– Speaking of
classic Hollywood cinema, It’s a
Wonderful Life is a film that has found eternal life. Made in 1946 this
film is more popular today than it was upon its release. Featuring James “Jimmy”
Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, and Henry Travers It’s a Wonderful Life originally opened
to mix reviews and got lost in the end of year shuffle of 1946, although it
went on to gross quite a bit of money in 1947 the film found a home, years
later, on TV. Where it has been shown for decades upon decades and has become
beloved by many generations. Stewart would later go onto say that George Bailey
was his most favorite part. This film has become one of the most parodied films
of all time, by other films, countless TV shows (including this season’s Christmas
episode of The Big Bang Theory),
plays, and music videos have all done variations on George Bialiey’s story. If
for some reason you’ve not see It’s a
Wonderful Life, take this holiday season to fix that problem.
7.
Batman Returns – Everyone has a
film or two that they watch around Christmas time that’s not really a holiday
film but it happens to take place around the holiday season. For a lot od
people that film is Die Hard, and
while I do love Die Hard, the film
that fits my non-holiday holiday film is 1992’s Batman Returns. Tim Burton’s dark tale (a most redundant phrase)
finds Gotham City under siege from a gross penguin (Danny DeVito), and unscrupulous
businessman (Christopher Walker) and, of course, Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer)
and only Michael Keaton’s Batman can save the day. This is a fun, old-school
superhero film that holds up well today and is my favorite of the 80s-90s
batman series. Take a trip back to 1992’s Gotham City and get lost in the cold,
dark world of Batman Returns 
Day
8. The Family Stone – A highly
underrated film The Family Stone is a
perfect blend of dramatic, comedic, and emotional moments. Telling the story of
what happens when the Stone family gets together for Christmas this film
features a great ensemble cast that includes: Claire Danes, Diane Keaton,
Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke
Wilson, Tyrone Giordano, Brian White, and Elizabeth Reaser. While it’s not a
perfect film it hits all the right emotional moments and really lets us care
about every member of the Stone family. 2005’s The Family Stone is a great watch for any holiday season.
Day 9. White Christmas– The best of the classic Christmas musicals is Irving Berlin’s White Christmas featuring Bing Crosby,
Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen and some of the best dancers ever
put on film. This fun frolicking film focuses on a successful song-and-dance
team who become involved with a sister act, then the four mismatched lovers team
up to save the Vermont Inn. It’s a wonderful film that is both honest and endearing
while at the same time witty and self-aware. Crosby is on top of his game here
and this film is one of the simple traditional joys of the holiday season.
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