13 is probably a weird number to land on when talking about Christmas movies. 12 probably would have been ideal, but 13 is also my favourite number, so that’s just how it’s going to be.
Christmas is fast approaching now, and I’m not ready for the big day until I’ve watched certain Christmas films. In no particular order here are 13 on my must-watch list:
Jack Frost: This is one of the first Christmas films I’ll watch each year and I’m usually baking whilst doing so. I saw this film in theatres when it was originally released and even wrote about it in my diary. Fair warning that this is a sad one if you’ve never seen it. Musician Jack Frost dies in a tragic accident on Christmas Eve and returns as a snowman the following year to both fulfill his unfinished business and help his grieving family deal with his absence. The film stars Michael Keaton as Jack Frost, Joseph Cross as Charlie Frost and Kelly Preston (may she RIP. This year’s viewing was significantly sadder) as Gabby Frost. This film has a fantastic musical score and fun soundtrack (especially if you’re a Hanson fan).
Jingle All the Way: It’s not Christmas until you slap on your awful Schwarzenegger impression and tell someone to “Put that cookie down!” Howard has messed up! He forgot to buy his son a Turbo Man for Christmas and now he must pay the price by fighting crowds of panicked shoppers on Christmas Eve to find the year’s most sought-out toy (shout-out to Tickle Me Elmo. I could feel the stress of all parents from that particular year…and I was a kid). This film is so much fun to watch and I’m even more excited to watch it each year having seen the Turbo Man costume in person at Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs.
A Christmas Story: The Christmas film that makes me wish we were still living in the 1940’s, decorations alone. This might be the most popular Christmas film. At the core of the film, it’s about a son’s relationship with his father, just to tug on your heartstrings a bit. The plotline follows a young boy named Ralphie Parker. He really wants an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock (and this thing which tells time), but his dreams are continuously stomped all over as everyone tells him he’ll shoot his eye out! What will he do? This film is hilarious, nostalgic and cozy. I’ll usually watch it about 2-3 times per winter season.
Christmas Vacation: I love this film so much that I literally have decorative throw pillow cases celebrating it with memorable quotes and pictures. Is there a more quotable Christmas film? Aren’t we all Clark Griswoldwhen it comes to all the holiday craze? “Hallelujah, holy sh–!” My mom and I still laugh when he goes shooting down the hill on his little saucer sled. Clark is hosting the holidays at his home and all the whacky relatives are forced to spend a few days together under one roof while Clark anxiously awaits a holiday bonus that he hopes will be enough to cover the cost of the inground pool he has already planned to have installed in the summer. I’ve met a few people who have never seen this film. If you’re one of them, you should change that this year.
The Santa Clause: Do you know how long it took me to realize I’d been spelling Santa Claus wrong for years because of this film?! Years! Whether you like Tim Allen as a person or not, you have to accept the fact that he is Christmas when it comes to holiday films. If you’re a 90’s kid and this isn’t one of your favourite Christmas movies, I’m judging you. Probably just as hard as you’re judging me for not having Elf on my list. The premise of this film is this: Scott Calvin “kills” Santa and has to reluctantly become the new Santa whilst trying to prove to his ex-wife that he’s not going nuts and dragging their son down with him. The sequel films aren’t quite as magical, but I’ll give the second one credit for introducing me to one of my now favourite Christmas songs ‘Naughty Naughty Christmas’ by Danger Danger. I also want to put it out into the universe that I was one of the weirdos who had a crush on the head elf Bernard. Sorry not sorry.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (live action): Pallister is really giving the Grinch a bad rep this year in Manitoba, but we’ll put all that aside for a moment to discuss this fantastic film adaptation. The costumes in this film alone are enough to awe someone, but then you add Jim Carrey into the mix as the title role? Incredible! I have never wanted to be a Who so badly. The Grinch is a Who gone rogue. Bitter about the world (who isn’t?) he isolates (must be 2020) atop Mount Crumpit and plots to ruin Christmas for the Whosin Whoville until little Cindy-Lou Who comes to visit and convince him that there’s more to Christmas than greed and mass consumerism.
Home Alone: KEVIN! I’ve been reading online recently that people are just figuring out that Catherine O’Hara is in this classic Christmas film? Where have you been??? Either way, welcome! Macaulay (I definitely had to Google how to spell that) Culkin is left home alone after his wealthy family takes off to Paris for the holidays and must defend himself and the house from two rascally intruders by using ordinary items lying around the house. Order a lovely cheese pizza just for you and get ready for a laugh.
The Polar Express: I cry every. Single. Time. Of course, I would, Tom Hanks voices multiple characters in it. Tom Hanks can always make me cry. A boy’s belief in Santa Claus is coming to an end, but thankfully the Polar Express comes roaring to a pause outside his house on Christmas Eve night to call him aboard on an epic journey to the North Pole with a slew of other children – each with a different reason for being chosen for the ride. Will the magical journey be enough to restore the boy’s belief? Based on Chris Van Allsburg’s book of the same name, this film has some beautiful animation and will have you shaking ornaments in desperation to hear the jingling of a bell.
A Very Brady Christmas: I’m not going tell you this film is actually good. It’s beyond cheesy and I don’t think I’ve ever actually sat and watched an episode of the Brady Bunch, yet I feel nostalgic when I watch this film? This is usually what I have on when I’m wrapping winter break presents for my students or writing Christmas cards. Mike and Carol Brady invite all their kids home for the holidays and they bring all their current problems with them. Corny as it may be, it’s really not Christmas until I’ve watched this one and that’s why I’m listing it as a favourite.
White Christmas: I’m not a huge fan of classic “old” films, but this is definitely one I fangirl over every year. More so than It’s a Wonderful Life. Probably because of the huge dance numbers included in it. War veterans (and performers) Bob and Phil make it big in show business with their musical and meet the Haynes sisters, Betty and Judy (also performers). All four them travel to Vermont for the holidays where they discover that Bob and Phil’s General (Waverly) from the war is a landlord at the hotel. Problem is, tourists have left because it hasn’t snowed in Vermont and General Waverly is on the verge of bankruptcy unless Bob and Phil can weave together a plan to help him. Dancing, music and a love story all wrapped up in one is what makes this a classic. Christmas and Bing Crosby go together and even has me wishing for huge adhesive snowflakes by the end of the film. “Snow, snow, snow, snow, SSSNOOOW!”
The Year Without a Santa Claus: I don’t care how old I get, it’s not Christmas without the Snow Miser and Heat Miser. Santa wakes up feeling sick and a doctor basically tells him that no one cares about him anymore (harsh). Santa therefore makes the decision to cancel Christmas. Mrs. Claus sends elves Jingleand Jangle (not the drugs on Riverdale) along with a young reindeer, Vixen, to find proof that people still care about Santa. While on their search Vixen is sent to the pound and the mayor only agrees to free her if Jingle and Jangle can prove that they’re elves by making it snow in Southtown. Mrs. Claus needs to convince the Miser brothers to get along in order to allow it to snow in the town for one day. Will it work?! (Of course it will. It’s a children’s film).
Last Christmas: This is a new one on my list. Admittedly, as I write this, I’ve only seen it once, but I feel like it’s going to be one that makes my list every year. It was a pretty big flop in theatres – probably because of how incredibly transparent its plotline is. I’m not even going to explain it, because I feel like I’ll just spoil it instantly in my summary. I’ll just say it’s about a grumpy aspiring singer named Kate who meets this guy named Tom outside the shop she works at one day. This is the most “Hallmarky-type” film I can sit and enjoy watching. Probably because it stars Henry Golding and is based around one of the greatest Christmas songs ever by Wham!
Mrs. Brown’s Boys Christmas Specials: Not a movie, but a TV show that my family became obsessed with after our family from England came to visit one year and introduced us to the show. Warning: you’ll probably need a pretty racy sense of humour to enjoy it. This Irish program features a crude-talkin’ Agnes Brown (portrayed by Brendan O’Carroll in drag) and her family in a variety of odd situations, but the Christmas specials are really the greatest ones. Considering that the cast is made up of an actual family and their close friends you can really feel the heartfelt messages instilled in each special. You’ll be cry-laughing and then just crying by the end because of the underlying sentiment.
That’s that. 13 Christmas films (or specials) I must watch before I can allow December 25th to commence. What Christmas film gets you into the holiday spirit?