I love the holidays. There's plenty of reasons for this: the warmth, the joy, the time with my family, the mounds of gifts. (Obviously I am kidding about that last one.) (Sort of.)
But one of my favorite things about this time of year are the stories. I'm a book-lover, not to mention a movie-buff, and so tales about my favorite time of year naturally rank among my favorite books and films. There's plenty of holiday movies that I love, for making me smile -- or for tugging at my heartstrings.
But the holiday comedies tend to be my favorites. With so much food, fun, and family (especially the family!), the holidays can be a crazy time of year. It's the comedies like these that make me laugh, put this time of year in perspective -- and remember what the holidays are really all about.
So if you could use some holiday cheer, check out the list below of ten seasonal comedy classics. Happy Holidays!
Please note that not all of these films are family-friendly. Be sure to check the ratings first!
1. The Muppet Christmas Carol
With the newest Muppet movie still currently in theaters, this makes it a great time to check out their best Christmas special. The Muppets take on Charles Dickens classic story "A Christmas Carol," with Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge ... and, er, "starring" Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit. It's a surprisingly faithful adaptation of the original story -- if, of course, a bit Muppet-fied.
2. This Christmas
Family and the holiday season go hand-in-hand -- whether we like it or not. The Whitfield family is gathering together for the first time in four years, and the kids -- and their mother -- all have their share of unexpected developments to share with the rest of the family. Sparks fly, personalities clash, and the family generally drives each other crazy (complete with an all-out wrestling match) before everybody starts to remember what drew them together in the first place.
3. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
While the family's trip to Wally World still remains my favorite, the Griswolds manage to put their own unique twist on The True Meaning of Christmas in this comedy classic.
4. Elf
You don't have to be a Will Ferrell fan to enjoy this crazy comedy about a human raised by elves at the North Pole -- only to return as an adult to New York City to see if he can track down his birth parents.
5. Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights
An animated musical comedy that is not intended for all ages, this holiday movie is one of the few holiday films to focus on Jewish characters during the Hanukkah season. Adam Sandler voices a character whose mischievous ways get him in trouble with the law and leave him with a choice: spend the holiday season performing community service as an assistant referee for a youth basketball league -- or go to jail. Wacky hijinks ensue.
6. The Ref
This one's a comedy about holiday family dysfunction -- with a twist. Denis Leary stars as a thief who, coming out of a botched robbery attempt, kidnaps a married couple when his own getaway car goes missing. He quickly regrets the decision, however, when the bickering married couple (and their squabbling relatives) turn out to be more of a hassle than jail could ever be.
7. Love Actually
A bit more serious and sweet than some of these other entries (yet often still quite funny), this British romantic comedy features interlocking stories about average (and not-so-average) couples during the holidays. It's also a veritable who's-who of British actors, including performances from Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Rowan Atkinson -- and Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister.
8. Scrooged
There are enough adaptations of "A Christmas Carol" to warrant two versions on the list. This one is a darker comedy than the Muppets' entry, featuring Bill Murrary as a modern-day Scrooge whose a cynical, cold-hearted TV exec. A must-watch for Murray fans.
9. Home Alone
I can't watch this movie without being whisked back in time to my childhood. Directed by Chris Columbus (who would go on to be the first director to bring Harry Potter to the big screen), this is a movie that does what it says on the tin. Kevin McCallister's a nine-year-old kid who wishes his overbearing family would just disappear -- only to wake up one morning to find they've done exactly that. Left behind by mistake while the rest of the family flies to France on holiday might be bad enough, but then Kevin finds out his house is the target of two bungling burglars. (The sequel's not a bad watch, either.)
10. A Christmas Story
Looks like I've saved the best for last. (And come to think of it, I can't watch this movie without being whisked back in time to my childhood, either.) Ralphie only wants one thing for Christmas: a Red Ryder BB gun. But what's a nine-year-old to do when all the adults are convinced he'll only shoot his eye out? A nostalgic look back at Christmas, childhood, and the 40s, there's probably one or two scenes in here that'll have you nodding along at your own childhood memories of the holiday season.
Or maybe that's just me. (But be honest -- those mail-in prizes were never as good as you thought they were going to be, were they?)
-- Post by Ms. B
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