If you are anything like me, holiday movies, such as any of the “Peanuts” movies or any cartoon-y Christmas movie, get boring really fast. I don’t mean to seem like a Scrooge, but I’ve seen all of them about a hundred times and could probably quote them word for word. “Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville – did not. The Grinch hated Christmas – the whole Christmas season.” Bleargh.
I still love Christmas and the holiday season, and I still love all of those movies, but I like variety. I’ve recently discovered that there are all kinds of movies out there that have some connection to Christmas.
I’m really looking forward to seeing “Krampus”, which doesn’t come out until Dec. 4. This holiday movie features Adam Scott, Toni Collette, and Stefania LaVie Owen. While most holiday movies show the happy and cheerful side of Christmas, this one presents a traditional European folklore. Krampus is a horned beast who punishes naughty children around Christmas time. Max Engel, played by Emjay Anthony, loses his Christmas spirit and forces the family to rely on each other to rid themselves of Krampus.
Another not-overly-themed holiday movie, “Die Hard” (1988), features Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman on Christmas Eve. A New York City policeman, John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, visits his estranged wife, Holly Gennaro McClane, played by Bonnie Bedelia, and their two daughters at the headquarters of the business she works for. In this two hour long movie, John McClane needs to figure out a way to protect New York City from terrorists and save lives, not just Christmas.
Lastly, “It Happened on Fifth Avenue” (1947), is a two hour long comedy. Mike O’Connor, played by Charles Ruggles, is a rich businessman who lives in Virginia and also owns a townhouse in New York City. Since he does not live in the townhouse, he thinks that it is vacant. Really, a drifter, Aloysius “Mac” McKeever, played by Victor Moore, and his friend, Jim, played by Don DeFore, have made it their home. Things get really interesting when O’Connor’s daughter, Trudy, played by Gale Storm, shows up. The pivot point takes place on Christmas Day.
There are a lot of other movies that incorporate the holiday season, or Christmas itself, of all kinds of genres. Just in case I haven’t given enough variety, here’s some more, but it will be up to you to investigate them. “The Cheaters”, “Friday After Next”, “Gremlins”, “Star in the Night”, “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas”, “We’re No Angels” and “What Would Jesus Buy?” might be worth a try. Happy watching!
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