As it is December now, and we are edging closer and closer to the end of 2020, I will be providing my top favourite Christmas films of all time, which I look forward to watching every year, which help me become more festive for the holidays.
A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS (2017)
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christine Baranski, Susan Sarandon, Peter Gallagher, Justin Hartley, Cheryl Hines, Oona Laurence, Emjay Anthony, Christina Applegate, Lyle Brocato and Wanda Sykes.
Written and Directed by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore.
This film is a follow on from “Bad Moms (2016)”, which explores the “bad moms” own mothers coming to stay for the festive season, unexpectedly, and the three moms who, in the first film, were acknowledged as being under-appreciated and over-burdened, rebel against the challenges of Christmas and their mothers fighting them every step.
A funny, light-hearted, film for all to relate to this Christmas. I always watch this film around this time every year, as it is a hilarious film which has viewers laughing and it seems to be relatable to a lot of mothers in the world and the struggles of getting Christmas perfect.
If you haven’t seen this yet, where have you been? I have provided a trailer below. This film is also available to stream now on Netflix
HD Trailer of Bad Moms Christmas, via Zero Media on YouTube.com
HOME ALONE (1990)
If you do not rate this film to be one of the best Christmas Classics to ever exist, then I honestly have no idea what you are doing with your life. This film was released in 1990, and ever since has been a hit year in year out and is one of the best films to have been made. If no other film helps people delve into the Christmas festivities, then this film sure will.
If for any reason you haven’t seen this film, and if this is the case, have you been living on Mars!?, the story of this film is focused on an 8-year-old boy, named Kevin, who is left behind in a big house, whilst his family jet off and forget him, so he protects his house from two burglars, where he sets traps for them until the police eventually catch them.
This film was directed by Chris Colombus, and Written by John Hughes.
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, Catherine O’ Hara, and Devin Ratray.
HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (1992)
Same as what I mentioned about the first Home Alone film, if you haven’t watched both Home Alone films, where have you been all these years?
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a follow on from the first film, where the plot revolves around the now, 9-year old Kevin, a year after he was left at home alone, this time his parents make sure Kevin is with them for their Christmas Holiday to France, but at the airport Kevin loses his parents, and ends up on the wrong flight, finding himself in New York after landing. He gets himself into trouble again and crosses paths with the same criminals he caught merely a year ago. Still, this time, he is fighting off a few more people who work in a hotel he managed to book himself into using his fathers credit card and a voice-over setting on his recording device.
This is probably my favourite film out of the two films, as it shows New York all beautifully lit. With a lot of decorations around, it also brings back nostalgic memories of how things were back in the 90s, before traditional toy shops disappeared and how more people placed decorations around. It is an all-round funny film, filled with slapstick comedy and Kevin being creative with his booby-traps again.
Oh – and Donald Trump makes a small cameo appearance too!
This film was directed by Chris Colombus, and Written by John Hughes.
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, Catherine O’ Hara, and Devin Ratray.
ELF (2003)
Directed by: Jon Favreau.
Written by: David Berenbaum
Starring: Will Ferrel, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Mary Steenburgen, and Zooey Deschanel.
Elf is another popular film that is watched every year, and it is expected to be shown every year on TV. I love this film, it is another great film I watch every year in the run-up to the holidays, in fact, I watched this just this morning, and loved it, just like Friends The TV show, it never gets old for me.
The film focuses on Buddy, the elf, who discovers he is a human and not an elf, who was adopted and raised by Santa’s Elves. Buddy learns about New York City and his biological father, who is on the naughty list. Still, Buddy goes to visit NYC to meet his real father whilst spreading Christmas cheer in a world full of cynical people who have lost their way and their beliefs in Santa and Christmas.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik.
Written by: John Hughes
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki,
This is also another favourite of mine, and I don’t think this is appreciated enough, as it is a great film, and focuses on the Griswolds preparing for a family gathering during the Christmas holiday.
However, this doesn’t work out perfectly for Clark or his wife and kids, when his bad luck worsens by family coming over and judging how things are when they are there. Still, Clark is waiting for the all-important Christmas bonus from his boss, but things worsen when it’s not what he expects, and the temper of Clark over-boils.
Hilarious film, full of laughs, full of random behaviours, and for those who haven’t seen it, I highly recommend you do, if you like gags and jokes, this is a perfect comedy film for the holiday season! To me, Christmas is not complete without sticking this film on to laugh along with.
Also, if you are a fan of The Big Bang Theory, the son (Rusty) in this film is played by Johnny Galecki (who plays Leonard in TBBT).
Last Christmas (2019)
Directed by: Paul Feig
Written by: George Michael & Emma Thompson.
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Emma Thompson, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Boris Isakovic, Peter Mygind.
I have already written a review about this film, which you can find under my Film Reviews, but I enjoy this film, and it is one that, for me, places myself into the Christmas Spirit. Although this film is relatively new, only released in 2019, it is a great Christmas film and the directing of the film, and the storytelling, is that of a traditional style Christmas, with spending time with loved ones over the festive season.
If you have yet to watch this film, read my review on it, and watch it over the holidays or before, as it is available on Sky TV and on download now.
Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)
Written by: Sean Anders
Directed by: Sean Anders, John Morris.
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, John Lithgow, Linda Cardellini, Alessandra Ambrosio, John Cena, Owen Vaccaro, Scarlett Estevez.
Another recent Christmas film which stars Will Ferrel, where the story focuses on two fathers, who, during the first “Daddy’s Home (2015)” film didn’t get along with each other. In this follow up film, it is based on the forthcoming Christmas Season where both fathers, Brad and Dusty, have to find a way to get along with each other during the holidays for the sake of their family.
However, things turn dramatic when Brad (Will Ferrel) father, Don (John Lithgow) comes to visit and he soon finds out the real reason why his mother has not joined them all during the festive holidays.
This is another funny film to watch over Christmas, and something for all the family to enjoy too.
GET SANTA (2014)
Directed and written by: Christopher Smith
Starring: Jim Broadbent, Rafe Spall, Kit Connor, Warwick Davis.
I have only seen this film a few times the past few years, but I enjoy watching it, and feel it is underrated. The plot of the story is focused on a father and son who team up to save Christmas when they discover Santa is sleeping in the garage after the sleigh crashed and Santa finds himself running from the police.
This film is another good, comedy, film which I feel is now shown enough on TV or streaming, as it is a great film, where every-time I do watch it, I enjoy the journey I go on with the film, and even though I know how it ends, I am always on the edge of my seat during the film.
I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (1998)
Directed by: Arlene Sanford
Written by: Tom Nursall & Harry Goldberg
Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, Adam LaVorgna, Gary Cole.
This film has become a solid favourite of mine for the past few years after this was introduced to me from a housemate of mine during University. I also feel it is another film which is underrated as it is a good, light-hearted film to watch.
The story of the film focuses on a college student, Jake, who experiences difficulty getting home for Christmas after being kidnapped by his friends and left in the middle of nowhere, in a Santa costume. Whilst trying to get home by the deadline hour set by his dad, Jake learns a lot about himself and about the true meaning of Christmas during his struggles to make it home on time.
I love watching this film as it is, again, another classic comedy film which is one to crack a few laughs and a great one for all the family to watch and enjoy.
This film is available to stream on Disney+ or to download.
THE SNOWMAN (TV SHORT, 1982)
Directed by: Jimmy T. Murakami & Dianne Jackson.
Written by: Raymond Briggs
Starring: David Bowie, Raymond Briggs, Mel Smith,
It definitely would not be Christmas if these TV shorts were not to mentioned in this list, or even be shown on TV at Christmas time.
For as long as I can remember these TV shorts were always part of my Christmas, and I love watching them every year, where the plot of the show is based on Christmas Eve, where a young boy builds a snowman which comes to life, and the snowman takes the young boy to the North Pole to meet Santa Clause.
Available to watch on YouTube, and is often shown on Channel 4 UK during Christmas Time.
THE SNOWMAN AND THE SNOWDOG (2012)
Written by: Raymond Briggs & Hilary Audus
Directed by: Hilary Audus
Same as The Snowman 1982, without this being shown on TV during the holidays it wouldn’t be Christmas.
Although this was written and directed years after The Snowman, it is still a good TV short, and I enjoy watching this, and sometimes I get emotional at the end of the short. The plot of the story focuses on the boy, whose dog has just died, and after moving into a new home with his family, he finds a photograph of a snowman that was built in the back garden, so rebuilds him and also builds a snow dog too, where they both come to life.
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