Day 12 (Merry Christmas!!): Elf (2003)

Charles 12 Days of Christmas Movie Reviews, 2016, Classics, Reviews Leave a Comment

It’s Day 12 of our 12 Days of Christmas Movie Reviews and I’m closing it out with Elf!! I’m not sure where we’re at as far as how many movies on our list could be considered NOT Christmas enough, but not only do I not care, it doesn’t apply to Elf at all anyway. This is a Christmas movie through-and-through. No ifs, ands, or butts. And not only are there are many references to classic Christmas films (including a Burl Ives inspired snowman), it’s a great original story about Santa Claus and Christmas magic as well. But Elf is really about, well, an Elf. His name is Buddy (played with …

Day 9: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Kelley 12 Days of Christmas Movie Reviews, 2016, Reviews Leave a Comment

Welcome back for Day 9! Today we’ll be discussing one of my personal holiday favorites: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989). This is one that Charles and I disagree on, because he isn’t really a huge fan. That’s okay, though, because I love it enough for the both of us. Is it in the same league as It’s A Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street? No, of course not. It’s silly, it’s zany, and it’s more than a little outrageous…yet this is a movie that is close to my heart. I usually have to be in the right mood to watch something in the Chevy Chase/Steve Martin/John Candy slapstick oeuvre, but I think I could …

Day 8: Gremlins (1984)

Charles 12 Days of Christmas Movie Reviews, 2016, Classics, Reviews 3 Comments

It’s Day 8 and that means it’s time for Gremlins!! Depending on whether you agree with Topher’s review on White Christmas and it NOT being a “Christmas movie” or Kelley’s review of It’s a Wonderful Life and it NOT being about Christmas, Gremlins might be the third non-Christmas movie on our list. Personally, I think they’re all Christmas films, but the argument could be made that if you can replace Christmas in a film with any other holiday and have little or no change on the plot, then it’s not really about Christmas and thus not a true Christmas movie. To me, this is akin to colorizing a black-and-white film. …