‘Tis the season to watch movies. Sitting lethargic, full
of turkey and sweet potatoes, the best post-Thanksgiving treat is
to sit on the couch and pop in a favorite holiday film. These are
some of ours:
“Home Alone” (1990)
Every Thanksgiving, as sure as the fact that I would eat three
slices of pie, I would come home after dinner with my family and
turn on the tube to “Home Alone.” It was on ““
every year. An 8-year-old charged with protecting his home.
Classic. A paper Michael Jordan riding on top of a toy train to the
tune of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
Classic. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern burning, crushing, and breaking
parts of their bodies we didn’t know they had. Even more
classic. Slapstick humor and a great family message. Perfect for
the post-Thanksgiving couch.
“Love Actually” (2003)
Almost every famous British actor stars in the ultimate
feel-good movie, written and directed by Richard Curtis. But though
it might be about love, it’s not a typical chick-flick. The
film uses the holiday season as a catalyst for affection, allowing
its characters to partake in individual journeys to find love. Liam
Neeson finds love in his son. Bill Nighy, as an aging pop star,
finds love in his fans. And, of course, Hugh Grant as the prime
minister of England, finds good old-fashioned romance ““ in a
place he least expects it. “Love Actually” suggests
that the holidays bring more than gifts wrapped in shiny paper.
“A Christmas Story” (1983)
“I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot
Range Model Air Rifle!” The words are instantly familiar to
anyone who has watched TNT on Christmas Day. But this movie, about
Ralphie Parker’s quest for the ultimate gift, is memorable
for more than just its holiday message. It’s a timeless tale
of tongues getting stuck to flagpoles, cursing in front of your
dad, and getting your mouth washed out with soap that just happens
to take place during the holiday season.
“Christmas Vacation” (1989)
While it’s similar to the other “Vacation”
movies, “Christmas Vacation” blows the rest of the
series out of the water for one reason: the extended Griswold
family. The decision to bring in scores of grandparents, aunts,
uncles and cousins lends the film an even more insane air than the
rest of the series, which focuses mostly on the main family of
four. Try not to laugh yourself to tears when the squirrel gets
loose in the house ““ or at the fact that yes, that is indeed
Juliette Lewis playing Audrey.
“The Nightmare Before
Christmas” (1993)
A Halloween-like Christmas movie, or a Christmas-like Halloween
movie, “Nightmare” perfectly ties together the closing
months of the year. When Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown,
discovers Christmastown, he brings the concept back to his spooky
friends and attempts to create his own Christmas. Step 1: Kidnap
Santa. Step 2: Manufacture toys for all the little girls and boys.
Step 3: Spread holiday cheer by sneaking down chimneys across the
world. Danny Elfman’s genius music permeates the film, only
departing for seconds at a time. And the visually twisted
stop-motion animation is simply unforgettable.
“Bad Santa” (2003)
Billy Bob Thornton absolutely torpedoes any sense of good taste
toward Christmas cheer and snot-nosed children. Yet somehow,
through his alcohol-soaked exterior and propensity for sex with
large women in dressing rooms, Billy Bob’s Santa comes across
as more human because of those flaws. His interactions with his
portly 9-year-old friend, Thurman Merman, are priceless, as are the
various gift requests from brats at the mall (highlights include an
enthusiastic “Pokémon!” and a nonsensical
“Fraggle stick car”). The movie for anyone who’s
ever gone to a mall the day after Thanksgiving and wished they
could still buy a gun at Wal-Mart.
““ Devon Dickau and Mark Humphrey
E-mail Dickau at ddickau@media.ucla.edu and Humphrey at
mhumphrey@media.ucla.edu.