First and foremost this list is going to be entirely biased. But that's okay, you'll enjoy it anyway (yep, that rhymed). Truly, there are some entries here that might be questionable. Yet, I've had my own personal enjoyment with them all for various reasons. In many ways this is my attempt to get you to open your horizon.
Also of notice is that Elf isn't on this list. While I enjoy the movie and love Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel (as already thoroughly related within the Cave), I just don't think Elf ranks it amongst my all-time favorites! Sorry.
On with the show:
9. Fred Claus
Fred Claus get's a lot of shit. I don't know why. It's fun AND funny. I mean, it's got Vince Vaughn and if one guy on the planet get's my funny bone, it's the Vincster. Plus the move subverts so much of what we know about Santa while blending into the actual mythology without skipping a beat. And at heart, it's a touching tale about two brothers which almost always get's me. Give it a chance.
8. The Family Man
This is a phenomenal movie. It get's a lot of hate because Brett Ratner directed it (who get's a lot of hate for bullshit reasons) and because it's a re-hash on Dickens' A Christmas Carol (but you'll see that a couple times on this list). However, it's a solid flick with heart that has a lot of fun with that age-old question we all struggle with: WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN. It's a movie that uses Christmas and family to put a spotlight on what makes us our best and why that is and maybe even where we went wrong. Great flick.
7. The Santa Clause
WOW...you wanna talk about a movie that subverts the Santa Claus mythology and tips it over on it's head? This is the movie. Tim Allen is still the shit to me. Maybe I spent too much of my youth watching Home Improvement, but this guy can do no wrong...besides the drug deals in his past...which we ALL should be PAST. This film adds total definition to the Santa Claus world while spinning a new twist on it. A GENIUS twist at that. This is one of those movies that I'd love to rank higher if it weren't for the great's ahead of it.
6. A Christmas Story
Ahhhhh, the Elephant in the room. It's sad, but I honestly feel like this movie has been played out. There was a day when I swore to myself that no good movie could possibly be played out. A Christmas Story has become the exception to the rule. It's just so over-played!!! I blame Ted Turner for this. It's a PHENOMENAL Christmas movie and if I'd written this article even five years ago the flick would've been in the Top 3...but now? It's relevance has almost become irksome. I hesitated putting it on the list...that's right, Fred Claus would've been number 8 with no Christmas Story in sight...yet, everyone has to admit it's still relevant. Thus it stands at number 6...THIS YEAR!!!
5. Miracle on 34th Street (THE ORIGINAL...ONLY ONE THAT COUNTS)
The scene above convinced me that the man who thought he was Santa Claus in the original Miracle on 34th Street really WAS Santa Claus. In many ways there was a moment here that has navigated my whole life.
Agent Mulder of the X-Files had a poster hanging in his office wall:
I have thus realized that it's not that I can or choose to believe but that I WANT to believe.
As an adult I understand now that my strong affinity for Miracle comes from my strong affinity towards the lawyer who would risk his livelihood and reputation to prove that Santa Claus exists. This is the man that I wanted to be, this is the man that I am...if I were I lawyer, this is precisely the case I would take on. Why rip away magic and innocence when it should be protected and avenged!?!?!?
4. The Family Stone
This might be one of the worst advertised movie in history. I remember when it came out that I wanted nothing to do with it. It was sold as the typical Sarah Jessica-Parker rom-com with Christmas!
| My reaction! |
Yeah, no thanks.
I'm not opposed to a good romantic-comedy, but a stereo-typical, lame Sarah Jessica-Parker version? Nope...sorry, not a fan of the Jessica-Parker...unless we're talking Footloose!
It took my mother watching and loving this movie for me to give it a chance. I'm glad I did. It's touching, brave, and smart. It was sold as a story about a woman coming to meet her fiance's family...but what it's REALLY about is a family that is extremely diverse and fascinating (aren't we all) coming together for the Christmas holiday and coming to terms with a tragic situation that will affect each and every one of them in varying ways. It's a heartwarming movie that speaks to every member of the family. Whether you're close to your dad, mom, brother or sister, this movie will say something to you.
Mom, if you're reading this, I love you and you better not even dream of going first. I can't take Dad without you!
3. A Christmas Carol (1984-TV-George C. Scott)
You knew it was coming. You knew it was only a matter of time. True, the story has been told a thousand times...but this version was the best it's ever been told. MARK MY WORDS.
Not only is George C. Scott the best Scrooge you've ever seen, but everything from the remaining cast to the amazing music within this production makes it the best. I STILL get misty eyed when I watch this movie once a year. There have been many great adaptations, but for my money, this is IT. The end all, be all. However, there might be at least one variation I cling to:
2. Scrooged
The scene above makes this EASILY the number two spot on the list.
"We ARE the people we always hoped we would be!"
Man, I think about this at least once a week. The idea that we should HOLD on to Christmas all year round. The POWER behind this idea is wonderful. Think about it. How the world COULD be!?
Why did Scrooged get placed over an original re-telling of A Christmas Carol? Well, for one thing, this is Bill EFFING Murray!!! But above all, this is a smartly written script that is riffing on a Christmas classic while adding to it. If it weren't for how witty this damn movie is I don't know if I'd place it before the George C. Scott version.
But it's the retelling of an age-old story. And it's a lot of fun.
1. It's a Wonderful Life
Hands down.
BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE OF ALL TIME.
The above clip is uniquely ambiguous towards Christmas on purpose. If you've never seen this movie (and I know most of you haven't), I don't want to spoil anything for you.
Suffice it to say that this film is ALL HEART.
This is the tale about a good man who lives trapped (as he perceives) in a small town that has done so much good for so many people that the only way he can actually see it is by having his guardian Angel coming down from Heaven and showing him a world where he literally didn't exist.
It's a great flick that tells us we are more than the sum of our parts. We are a collection of our memories and encounters, we are who our family has become in part by our blood but also in part by our choosing. We are who we are by our choices and in doing the right thing over the selfish things that we might be enticed by. We are the best part of ourselves when we are trying to be the best we can be for the ones we love.
There's a line in the movie that sums it up for me:
"Remember no man is a failure who has friends."
AMEN.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
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