Ok, with the holidays fast approaching I figure this is the time to stock up for the season on DVDs. My favorite holiday movies are comedies; I’ll list them in a moment. Your job should you choose to accept it is to find me movies like this I may have missed so I can add them to the collection.
Mixed Nuts: Sometimes I think I’m the only person in America who likes this movie. But it’s just so weirdly funny. Even the should be silly slapstick with the Xmas tree works.
The Ref: What’s not to like about Dennis Leary as a con trying to survive Xmas eve with a couple facing divorce. The Grandmother steals the show.
Train Planes and Automobiles: Steve Martin has the best “blowing a gasket” scene ever filmed.
We’re no Angels with Humphrey Bogart. Maybe not technically a holiday film, but it takes place a Christmas. It is light and fun and well made. I strongly recommend it.
Preston Sturges’ Miracle of Morgan’s Creek, which is a Christmas movie in the same sense that It’s a Wonderful Life is – the story ends on Christmas. But it’s a whole lot funnier.
I vaguely remember liking Trapped in Paradise, though I don’t remember enough to give it a wholehearted recommendation, or to be sure that it counts as a holiday film.
Holiday Inn–it covers all holidays conventionally recognized. Plus, it’s a classic. Groundhog Day–funny and good, but not a real holiday.
I can’t find Arbor Delights or Labor Day: One Man’s Struggle listed anywhere. Nor can I find Casmir Polaski Day: Poles Contributions to Illinois History, a documentary.
President’s Day is missing, but you could watch All the President’s Men, I suppose, and get an idea…
Black Christmas
Silent Night Deadly Night
Gremlins
Muppet Christmas Carol and get a cd of Patrick Stewart reading A Christmas Carol and treat like a radio show.
A Charlie Brown Christmas, Olive the Other Reindeer
I believe the first Lethal Weapon is set at Christmas. At least I remember Jingle Bell Rock during the opening sequence.
The Posideon Adventure is set at New Years and The Hudsucker Proxy ends, (and begins) on New Year’s Eve.
Now for something completely different; besides all the wonderful stuff mentioned above:
Reindeer Games - Gang robs Casino at Christmas in Santa outfits. Great shoot-em-up scenes and double crosses. Blood.
Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.
Santa Claus Conquers the Marians. I seem to remember it as Santa Claus versus the Martians but whatever. BAD, Bad, bad kind of claymation effort. So bad it was difficult to look away. Movie is in many a top five of worst ever mad. Comedic in that sense.
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship isn’t really a Christmas-themed movie, but it just seems that it could be shown around that time of the year.
As I recall it appeared on PBS as part of a series called Long Ago and Far Away.
