Christmas 2022 is just around the corner!
Let’s take a look at five festive films of, um, varying quality, that should ensure you can be in the right mood when Christmas comes around again this weekend. We’ve got your back!
Home Alone 2
Come for Macaulay Culkin’s shenanigans, stay for Donald Trump’s embarrassing cameo. The director of the 1992 classic, Chris Columbus, recently revealed that the President essentially bullied his way into the movie, only allowing filming at his Plaza Hotel if he was allowed to feature.
There’s also a lot else to enjoy. Piers Morgan has had to deny that he’s the iconic ‘Pigeon Lady’ who helps Kevin McCallister (the similarity is uncanny). After the success of the lovely comedy show Schitt’s Creek, a lot of people are now waking up to the fact that the indomitable spirit that is Moira Rose, is played by the same actor who portrays Kevin’s mum, Catherine O’Hara. Talk about range.
Elf
Did you know that the creator of The Mandalorian also directed Elf? Us neither but it’s quite the feat. Elf is, pound-for-pound, laugh-for-laugh, the funniest Christmas movie of all time. Don’t question it. After leaving the cast of SNL, this was the role that sent Will Ferrell into comedy superstardom.
He’s simply a joy to behold as Buddy the outsized Elf who goes to New York City to find where he belongs. Despite putting sugar and candy in spaghetti, he still manages to convince Zooey Deschanel to fall in love with him.
Another reason watching Elf is a good idea: it might remind you of Ferrell’s talent after his recent atrocious run of movies. With consistent clunkers like Daddy’s Home 2 and the truly shocking Holmes & Watson, his 00’s heyday is a distant memory.
Oh, and some of the cast are reuniting this very weekend for a live table read of the 2003 classic! Ferrell, Deschanel, and Favreau will be joined by Bob Newhart, Andy Richter, and Mary Steenburgen amongst others. The special event is being done to raise money for the Georgia Democratic Party.
Holidate
This one’s on Netflix so it’s an easy fix but it might just be a hate-watch. Starring Emma Roberts (who surely deserves better) opposite stock hunk former Home & Away actor Luke Bracey, the trailer for this one choreographed everything that will happen in the storyline.
Since it’s got a Netflix budget though, and pretty people, this is an unchallenging choice. It’ll be perfect for those hazy evening hours when everyone’s stuffed with food and just wants something to glaze over watching. There’s some self-aware jokes about formulaic rom-coms but the movie ultimately falls into the traps anyway.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
This one feels ripe for rediscovery in 2020. The Grinch is very much in style after experimental group 100 gecs just released an ode to the grumpy villain in their anti-Santa tirade ‘sympathy 4 the grinch’. Also Jim Carrey has been back in the limelight imitating Joe Biden on SNL and he’s at his bizarre best as the Dr. Seuss character.
Also, the movie came out in 2000, meaning it’s the 20th anniversary of its release. Critics were unsure about it at the time, with Roger Ebert calling it “a dank, eerie, weird movie”. Those three adjectives could also describe this year though; perhaps it’s a match made in terrible heaven.
Happiest Season
Only released a few weeks ago, this movie could be destined to become a future classic if critics are to be believed. I mean, it’s got Dan Levy and those eyebrows in it for one thing. A queer movie done well, Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis star as a lesbian couple as one of them struggles to come out to her conservative parents during Christmas.
The rest of the cast is also wonderful: Aubrey Plaza is a crazy delight in anything she’s in and Mary Steenburgen deserves a shout out for starring in two movies on this list. It’s also directed by Clea DuVall, who was in the 1999 movie But I’m a Cheerleader, which has since been hailed as a vital and excellent LGBT movie.
