December 11 – Christmas Vacation
In terms of Christmas comedies, it may not get any better than Clark and the rest of the Griswold family as they try to have a good old-fashioned family Christmas. Of course, with the Griswolds there’s never an opportunity for a traditional, relaxing holiday. It isn’t all the fault of Clark’s zealousness though, as most of the problems are caused by his ridiculous relatives, cranky neighbors, and a miserly boss.
It’s a comedy through and through, but there still are the touching Christmas moments that are expected from a traditional holiday tale (no I’m not talking about a squirrel in the tree or cousin Eddie’s RV). It’s a realistic depiction of how many people’s family Christmases actually end up (or maybe a worst case scenario that everyone fears). Most of all though, it’s a light-hearted, enjoyable Christmas movie and a very enjoyable watch.
December 12 – Scrooged
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol can be a bit dark in spots, and by spots I mean basically the entire thing until the end. While that sort of story does have its place, why not make it a dark comedy and let Bill Murray play the lead? That’s what Richard Donner did with Scrooged, his 1988, effects-heavy Christmas classic.
This one is absolutely hilarious, and there are few Christmas films which that can be said about. If it’s been a while since you’ve given this a watch, pop it in on the 12th and be reminded of what you’ve been missing.
December 13 – The Polar Express
While it certainly has its moments that are less than excellent, there’s no denying that Robert Zemeckis’ The Polar Express is still one of the best Christmas movies to hit the big screen in recent years. Based on a book that was already a holiday staple for many, the movie has worked its way into that same realm, with a more expansive story and some beautiful animated scenery.
There’s also the fact that Tom Hanks plays almost every character in the film (or six of them, but same thing). His performance is fantastic, at least in terms of the voice work. It’s a shame the animation of the characters doesn’t always measure up, but still, this is a great case of taking a book that is loved and adapting it into a movie without completely butchering it. If for nothing else, that in itself is commendable.
December 14 – Love Actually
Another movie that’s really more of a movie set at Christmas than a “Christmas movie,” Richard Curtis’ Love Actually has become a staple of the holiday season, and for good reason. Of course, there’s the great ensemble cast, with at least one storyline that anyone can relate to, but it really is the Christmas spirit that accompanies the story that’s taken it to the next level.
One of its many taglines reads “The Ultimate Romantic Comedy,” and that really is true. It’s the sort of romcom that subverts the genre expectations and can actually appeal to everyone. I think that’s due in large part to the Christmas backdrop for the story. In the ten years since its initial release, more and more people have been making this a solid part of their holiday plans, and I’m no exception.
December 15 – The Muppet Christmas Carol
Okay, okay! I promise this is the last version of A Christmas Carol that is on this list. There’s a reason the story has been remade so many times though. I think it’s a pretty awesome Christmas tale, and obviously the countless filmmakers and actors who have taken it on agree, but among all those versions, there may not be a more enjoyable one than Jim Henson’s iconic Muppet rendition.
All the usual Muppets are present with Kermit as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as his wife, and Gonzo as Charles Dickens. Plus, Michael Caine plays Scrooge wonderfully, especially for someone who is cast alongside a bunch of puppets. As one of the best family films of the season, The Muppet Christmas Carol is perfect for the start of the third week of the month.