Gearing Up For The "Holidaze"

Holidaze (2013)

TV-14

Starring Jennie Garth, Cameron Mathison, Kristin Booth

Directed by Jerry Ciccoritti

The Story:

 Melody (Garth) is an executive who specializes in making little towns see how important it is to build a giant retail store in their town. When she is sent back to her hometown to close the deal, she runs into friends, family and an old flame (Mathison). However, she takes a tumble and wakes up in a world where she never left home and married her sweetheart. With a new look at life, will she change her ways and realize she has a chance to enjoy a truly wonderful life?

See what I did there? :)

However, this film is actually more like the underrated Family Man.

Instead of a movie where the hero sees what life was like if they had never been born, this one shows what life would have been like if they had selected family over career.

Strangely enough, they are usually happier when selecting the family.

Go figure.

One of the ABC Family films that debuted during their annual 25 Days of Christmas (now playing!) celebration, this one actually takes place closer to Thanksgiving.

Which means it is the perfect way to start getting into the holiday season without actually having to play a Christmas movie.

However, if you're like me and have no problem watching Elf or something like that in like, oh, June or July, then no worries.

:)

You'll see all the twists and turns coming, but that's usually not a bad thing in films like this one.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C/C+ range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Could become an annual way to kick off the holiday season with those movies that stretch back to Thanksgiving. :)

This Is Not A Very "Happy Christmas"

Happy Christmas (2014)

Rated R

Starring Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, Lena Dunham

Written and Directed by Joe Swanberg

The Story:

Jenny (Kendrick) is going through a break-up, so she moves in with her sister (Lynskey) and her family.  Dramatic or comedic things are said to ensue.

Welcome to my first, least favorite movie of 2015!

There was no humor.
There was no intrigue for the dramatic.

About the only thing the movie had going for it was a grainy feel and titles that made this movie feel like a 70s production.

I'm not exactly sure that's a compliment.

I made it just a shade over 16 minutes before I clicked it off and looked for something better.

I was being generous, I had lost interest in the movie long before that.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix if you'd rather judge for yourself.

Final Grade: F

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: This lump of coal is the perfect gift for that Scrooge you know.

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Twelve: "The Muppet Christmas Carol"

There goes Mr. Humbug...

The Story:

The classic tale of Christmas redemption as written by Charles Dickens... with a Muppet twist!  Charles Dickens (Gonzo the Great) and Rizzo the Rat narrate the story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) who is haunted by the ghosts of his dead partner(s), Jacob and Robert Marley (Waldorf and Statler).  Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future and is haunted by what he sees.  Will it be enough to change the heart of one so miserly as Scrooge?

Well yes, yes it will.

Is it wrong that this is my favorite adaptation of A Christmas Carol?
Unless you count Scrooged.

:)

But back to this version, yes it  has Muppets...yes it has singing...yes it has Gonzo and Rizzo  working narration...

But. It. Works.

It's magical, and I can't help but think of the tremendous legacy that Jim Henson left us when he passed away.

This, the first feature after his death (and the passing of Richard Hunt - Scooter) showed that the Muppets were in good hands with son Brian Henson at the helm.

And poor Steve Whitmire, welcome to the Muppet Family, please voice Kermit as Bob Cratchit in the first film since the voice of Kermit has passed away.

How's that for tremendous job pressure for your first gig??!!

Yes, the voice is different, how could it not be?  But it's still Kermit, the heart of the green frog we grew up with is still there.

From 1992, now 20 years later, this movie is still magical, and it gets watched at a minimum of once a year around this time.

I probably shouldn't like it more than my kids, but I do.  I grew up on the Muppet Show, so they are very much a part of my childhood, and I still love those guys.

It doesn't hurt that the storyline that the Muppets are tackling is one of the best stories, Christmas or otherwise, ever committed to paper by an author.

The deviations in the story that they take are either to make it work for the story or choice of Muppet (Waldorf & Statler) and the inclusion of Dickens and Rizzo was a stroke of storytelling genius that allowed for comic banter in an otherwise somber (and sometimes frightening!) story.

The musical numbers are all well done, and if you've only seen the version WITHOUT "When Love is Gone", then you haven't seen the film yet.

It's hauntingly beautiful, and you can't help but feel for Scrooge as you watch his heart break when he realizes what a mistake he has made in his life.

I could argue that it's Michael Caine's best performance, yes, ever, in any movie he's ever done.

Some would disagree and cite this movie or that...

But he nailed Scrooge, and I would rank his performance up against anyone who has taken on the role.

Don't let singing Muppets fool you, this is a great adaptation for the whole family.

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it, and I have the version that includes the song. I hesitate to upgrade to Blu Ray until I know for certain that scene is in there, and not just included as a Deleted Scene extra.

Wishing all of you a Very Merry Christmas!!!

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Eleven: "Elf"

You sit on a throne of lies!

The Story:

Buddy (Will Ferrell) crawled into Santa's (Edward Asner) bag during a visit to an orphanage.  Raised in the North Pole by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), Buddy has never realized that he's not an Elf...he's human!  In fact, he's the son of Walter (James Caan), who works at a publishing company in New York, and unfortunately has landed on Santa's naughty list.  Buddy sets off to New York to meet his dad, and along the way finds a girl, Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) and becomes smitten.  Then, on Christmas Eve... all of these storylines come to a head as Christmas is about  to be cancelled forever due to the lack of Christmas Spirit.  Can one lone Elf save the day?

Count on it!

It's been 10 years since Elf arrived in theaters.

In that decade, the movie has become a classic.

Or if not a classic, a staple of the holiday season.

There is "The Holy Trinity" of funny Christmas movies.  Scrooged. Christmas Vacation. Elf.

We can discuss and debate which is the best of those movies all season long.

At this house, the holidays don't officially begin until at least one of those movies has played.

Normally, that happens sometime between the first of November and Thanksgiving.

: )

This movie wears its heart on its sleeve, happily.  You cannot watch this movie and not smile.

Yes, even those out there that hate Will Ferrell, watch this movie and not be impressed with the childlike wonder he brings to the role of Buddy.

Surrounded by a great cast, this is Ferrell's best performance, hands down.

Directed by Jon Favreau, he proves equally adept at comedy as he does with action (Iron Man).

It doesn't get much sweeter, or funnier, than this.

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Infinitely.  Love this film.

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Ten: "Christmas Vacation"

Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?

The Story:

Clark (Chevy Chase) and Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) Griswold are back, along with their kids Rusty 3.0 (Johnny Galecki) and Audrey (Juliette Lewis).  This time, they are staying at home and getting the house ready for the in-laws to visit!  It's going to be the best Christmas.... Ever!!!

The Griswolds exist to remind you that no matter how bad  your vacations are, things could always be worse!

The third, and best, of the series returns with John Hughes pulling out all the stops for a Christmas classic, helmed by first time director Jeremiah Chechik.  It was all downhill for him after this film, but what a promising start to a career!

However, for the most part, the movie runs solely on the wonderful gags and dialogue that John Hughes developed for his cast, led by the perfectly cast Chase as the patriarch of the family.

I'm not here to argue on Chase's behalf as an actor, but for those that fail to find him funny or insist he's never done any good work, I'll simply say you're wrong, here's proof, and move along.

He is the beleaguered "everyman dad" that eventually some form of torture befalls to make the worst plans come to life.

Thankfully, it's Clark who takes the brunt of what goes wrong and provides the rest of us with a blueprint on how to avoid making the same mistakes.

Randy Quaid returns as the creepy cousin Eddie, and is simply outstanding in his performance.  Chase and Quaid have a perfect back and forth relationship throughout the movie that is just hysterical to watch their delivery, along with the funny lines.

It's not Christmas time until this movie plays, and it's one of a few Christmas movies that is not only allowed to play more than once during the holiday season...

It's encouraged!

If you don't already own a copy, it's also currently streaming on Netflix through the holidays!

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Owned it, wearing it out... the kids upgraded the house to a blu ray copy last Christmas!  They love me!! Or the movie... : /

: )

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Nine: "Scrooged"

Yule Love It!

The Story:

Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is the youngest TV executive in network history. He has big plans for a live performance of A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve.  Ah, but when Frank is visited by the ghost of his former boss (John Forsythe), it's only a matter of time before his world is turned upside down as he lives his own version of Dickens' classic tale.

Will Frank learn a valuable life lesson, or is he doomed for all eternity?

Richard Donner directs yet another personal favorite of mine.  I tell you, he's possibly the most underrated movie director of the 80s/90s.

While Murray gets acclaim for his later dramatic roles, this is my favorite role that he has done in his career.  Yep, better than Caddyshack, Stripes and Ghostbusters, to name but three.

He's funny, but in reactionary ways only, which is a great skill for an actor to pull off.

That he seems to be having a nervous breakdown due to the ghosts adds to the comedy of the film.

Unlike versions of the ghosts, these 3 aren't exactly nice or sentimental with Frank.  In fact, Carol Kane as the Ghost of Christmas Present is downright brutal with Frank.

:)

Naturally, Frank learns that the life he could have had with Claire (Karen Allen) is his one big mistake, and that's why I don't consider Scrooged to be a straight adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

  Does it borrow, oh yes, liberally.

But here, Frank, unlike Scrooge, gets the chance to rectify that moment in his life where things went wrong, and win back the love of his life.

Great performances across the board, and if you don't like this movie...

You have no Christmas spirit.

;)

Available to stream instantly on Amazon if you have Prime membership.

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  It is owned already and is watched at least once every holiday season.  I'm thinking there will be an upgrade to Blu Ray to keep it lasting forever in the near future.

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Eight: "Fred Claus"

 It's called Rubberneckin' baby....

The Story:

This is the story of Santa's (Paul Giamatti) older brother, Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn).  Needless to say, Fred isn't exactly enamored by Christmas anymore, and he's drifted apart from his little brother over the years, thanks also in some part to the parenting skills, espeically of their mom (Kathy Bates).  Fred is in love with a girl (Rachel Weisz) but is afraid to commit.  When a misunderstanding lands Fred in jail, there's only one person left to turn to.  However, the bailout comes with a condition: Fred's got to come North to work it off during the Holiday Season.  Naturally, Fred doesn't exactly fit in at the North Pole, but when an efficiency expert (Kevin Spacey) arrives, ready to shut the North Pole down, Fred may end up costing the entire world Christmas.

Will Fred work to end Christmas forever, or does he have it in him to help save the holiday?

I don't understand the hatred for this film, I think it's actually pretty fun(ny).

We've discussed Vince Vaughn already.  There's probably no better on-screen con-man/huckster on film these days than him, and Fred is no different.

He's the quick-witted, fast talking Santa's big brother who hates the holiday.

In fact, the reasons behind Fred's dislike both of his brother and Christmas are quite sad, and not entirely Fred's fault.

Sibling rivalry is a given in just about any family, but when your little brother is always gushed over by the parents.  Every time you do something neat, your little brother comes along and does something cooler...

And then he grows up to be Santa and adored by millions?

Yep, that's got to be tough to swallow.

Which turns Fred into the cynical con artist that we meet in this movie.

Amusingly, there is a Sibling Support Group scene that underscores Fred's (and other famous...mostly...brothers) gripes with his brother's success and his considerable lack thereof.

You'll also have a rousing Elvis singalong in the middle of the movie that livens things up and shows that the North Pole could use a little bit of Fred, and Fred certainly could use a little bit of North Pole.

Overall, it's a sweet movie that captures the magic of Christmas, and more importantly, the love and magic of family.

I'm a fan, and look forward to this one each year.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I liked it, I bought it.  It gets 1-2 spins each holiday season!

Tomorrow... it's the Final Four Christmas movies of 2013!!!  Time is flying!!

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Seven: "The Christmas Card"

I seriously want to live in this town...

The Story:

Sgt. Cody Cullen (John Newton) is serving a tour in Afghanistan.  For the holidays, he receives a random Christmas Card written by Faith Spelman (Alice Evans) who gives him some words of encouragement and invites him to come visit the family if he ever happens to be in Nevada City, California.  When one of Sgt. Cullen's men is killed in a mortar attack, he takes leave to go console the girlfriend, and then winds up in Nevada City.  He meets Faith, and in a nice twist of luck, saves her father (Edward Asner) from getting hit by a car.  Cody is invited to stick around for a bit, exchanging some work at the mill for a place to stay.  He agrees, and all is going swimmingly until Paul (Ben Weber), Faith's fiancé shows up...

Let's hear it for Hallmark!

Not to be outdone in the holiday department, Hallmark made this film in 2006.

Sadly, AT&T does not carry the Hallmark channel so I can't tell you if this film is playing this holiday season or not.

It should be, and if it is, I recommend a viewing.

It's sweet and charming.  A bit of drama with a helping of humor.

Yes, a lot like real life.

Faith's parents are hilarious in their obvious affection for Cody over Paul.  But as all good parents, they mostly want their child to be happy, so they will bite their tongue.

Mostly.

:)
Aside from Asner and Peter Jason, a great character actor, most everyone in the cast was a relative unknown to me.

But if the story is good, and the acting passable, it's hard not to want to watch a good Christmas movie.

That's what we have here.

Count me as  a big fan.

Probably my favorite of these sentimental dramatic romantic films that take place around the holidays.



Final Grade: B+/A-...

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: At least once, every year.  I do own this one, and I'm glad to have it!

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Six: "White Christmas"

A remake and changing  of a previous film that gets it right the second time.

The Story:

At the close of World War II, Capt. Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) is entertaining the troops under the command of General Waverly (Dean Jagger) who is getting ready to be shipped home.  When the enemy attacks, Wallace is saved by Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) who will use the injury that he sustains to turn Wallace's successful stateside career as a singer into a dynamic entertainment duo that takes the nation by storm.  A decade passes, and the boys find the Haynes Sisters, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen) at a nightclub event, and Judy and Phil conspire to get Bob and Betty to fall in love, with the ulterior motive that they will get more freedom if their partners are romantically entangled.  The next thing you know, the quartet is heading to a gig at an inn in Vermont, owned and operated by none other than General Waverly!  However, a balmy winter season threatens to shut down the place.  Will there be a Christmas miracle to keep the place operational?

Bet on it!

First the obvious, yes, this film is very, very similar to the Bing Crosby led Holiday Inn. 

However, where that inn opened only for the holidays and had specific song and dance routines based around those holidays, Holiday Inn focuses on Wallace and Davis rehearsing their show at the inn to pump some money into the General's pockets to keep the place open.

Better still, the partnership between Crosby and Kaye is just that, a partnership.  In Holiday Inn, Fred Astaire was a jerk.  Any time Crosby found a girl, Astaire tried to steal her.  Some friend.

So if you're going to choose one for the holidays, it should be this one.  The other encompasses all the holidays, whereas this one ends at Christmas with a wonderful closing number of the title song.

Speaking of songs, yes, this is a musical.  There is singing and dancing.

So if you hate that, you'll want to avoid the movie most likely.

However, as this is a classical musical comedy, the ratio of dialogue/plot to song & dance is very good.  There are stretches of movie before a song breaks out, and many times the songs simply help the narrative of the film, so it's all good.

All of the songs were written by Irving Berlin, and Crosby, Kaye and the ladies do an exceptional job with his body of work.

Plus, I dare you not to get a little emotional at the end of the film when the boys spring their surprise on the General.


Directed by Michael Curtiz, who directed a slew of Hollywood's best films of all time, including The Adventures of Robin Hood and Casablanca.

This one?

Better than those.

: )

Currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Amazingly, with cable broadcasts and streaming on Netflix, I still as yet have to purchase this film.  Maybe next year when it celebrates its 60th Anniversary?

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Five: "A Holiday For Love"

You can go home again...

The Story:

Jacob (Tim Matheson) is sent by his company to his hometown of Athens, Nebraska, to determine who to lay off and who to keep at the local tractor factory.  He arrives in the town pretending to need to make a larger order of tractors, and runs into Emma (Melissa Gilbert) and her daughter, Noelle (Michelle Trachtenberg) who take him in.  Emma just so happens to work at the factory, and is dating the local sheriff (Travis Tritt).  Naturally the two become interested in one another, but when Emma learns why Jacob is really there, will their budding romance survive... and will the small town that relies on the factory?

From 1996, I'm not sure if this was a Hallmark movie or a Lifetime movie, but I caught it sometime between one of those channels.

And I liked it.  A lot.

There is romance.  There is drama.  Plus a touch of humor throughout the film to keep things light.

It's also the struggle for a man to return to his hometown where he lost a lot of his childhood, including his father who walked out on the family when Jacob was very young.

However, Christmas is a season of miracles, and maybe...

Just maybe...

With the help of the townspeople...

Jacob is going to come up with a plan that works for the company AND the town.

He'll save the day.  Get the girl.  Live happily ever after.

I'm good with that!

It is available on the ABC Family website: http://abcfamily.go.com/movies
If you don't already own it or haven't seen it in some time.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  Every year around the holidays, and yes, I enjoyed it so much I did track down a DVD of it and it's mine, all mine!

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Four: "Christmas Cupid"

It's never too late... or is it?

The Story:

Sloane (Christina Milian) is a go-getter at a PR firm, but her golden goose is cooked when her star client, Caitlin (Ashley Benson) dies.  However, in true A Christmas Carol fashion, Caitlan comes back to haunt Sloane, and take her on a trip through Christmases past, present and future where she shows Sloane what is truly important in her life.

Can Sloane change her ways in time to win back her true love, Patrick (Chad Michel Murray) ?

Yes, another version of A Christmas Carol.

However, this time it switches to a romantic comedy idea courtesy of ABC Family back in 2010.

I don't think we saw this one until 2011, or maybe last year, but it became a hit in the household, and has been watched many, many times since, especially by a few of the kids who absolutely adore this movie.

Thankfully, I liked the version too, so I'm always happy to have a Holiday movie playing as long as it is one that I enjoy.

This one easily fits the bill, taking the standard Dickens tale and focusing on Sloane's love life versus Scrooge's miserly ways to show how Sloane crushed guy after guy by putting her job before her heart.

Blasphemy, I know.

:)

Anyway, it's a cute little movie and it is streamable on Netflix as of this writing, and probably playing on ABC Family sometime this month as well, and also available on the ABC Family website as well.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Watched it probably half a dozen times, maybe more.  Finally bought it this season, packaged with three other ABC Family Holiday hits! :)

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Three: "Angels Sing"

Life is what you make of it.

The Story:

Michael (Harry Connick Jr.) hates Christmas.  His wife (Connie Britton) and son (Chandler Canterbury) don't share his disdain, but deal with it.  When he was little, Michael's brother died in an accident trying to save Michael.  He blames himself, and has hated Christmas ever since.  His father (Kris Kristofferson) always told him it wasn't his fault, but Michael never believed him.

When Michael stumbles across a house being sold by Nick (Willie Nelson), the two strike up a deal that seems entirely too good to be true.  All that Michael has to do, is keep up the standards that the neighborhood lives up to.  When it turns out that his house is the key centerpiece in an annual holiday lights that people travel the globe to see, it seems that the Grinch is going to steal everyone's Christmas.

Ah, but fate has one more cruel trick up her sleeve that will maybe, finally, open Michael's eyes to the real reason behind Christmas celebrations, and why he has to accept that sometimes, accidents happen.

Wow.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this film.  I'd never heard of it before, and to my knowledge this is the first year it's been released.  Not on Lifetime, ABC Family or the Hallmark Channel.

Saw it was coming out on Netflix last week, put it at the top of the queue, and well, now here we are.

:)

Needless to say, yes, a movie that has Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Harry Connick Jr. (and Lyle Lovett... among others...) in it:

There will be singing.

But, it is not a musical if that's what you're worried about.

The singing comes naturally, most often in the form of caroling by friends or family.

The message about accidents is a powerful one, and one that Michael doesn't realize until it's far too late.

He felt that he was always to blame for his brother's death but never once did he consider who shouldered a greater burden than he ever could.

My advice?

Bring a tissue to this one, you might find it will sneak up on you and you're going to need one.

Plus, I really want the snowman decoration in the film!!

Final Grade: Solid B  Could possibly push it even higher.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  It's a deceptive crowd-pleaser with a bit of a sad overtone, but ultimately uplifting message.  I'm a fan, and I think I'll make sure it's in the library by this time next year.

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day One: "Christmas in Boston"

Love at first sight, mostly?

The Story:

Gina (Marla Sokoloff) and Seth (Patrick J. Adams) have been pen pals for over 13 years.  Bestest of friends, chance has brought Seth to Boston for a toy conference because he works at a giant toy company and Gina is a reporter who will be covering the show.  The problem?  Seth had sent Gina a picture of his best friend, Matt (Johnathan Cherry).  No real worries, as Gina had sent a picture of her best friend Ellen (Lindy Booth) also.  Silly kids.  So they make their best friends meet... and they hit it off.

Big time.

Now what are the two supposed to do?  Their best friends are falling in love with each other, and Gina and Seth are disappointed, yet connecting with each other unbeknownst about who they really are.

Plus, Gina has the toy business scoop of a lifetime. 

Will she publish the story and destroy Seth's career?

Is fate going to step in and save the day?

Yep, another cute holiday movie served up from ABC Family as part of their 25 Days of Christmas programming.

From 2005, this one was probably seen by us for the first time 3 or 4 years ago.

It's a cute little tale, and all of the actors do a fine job.

Nothing earth-shattering or genre revitalizing, but ABC knows how to crank out an annual new film for their channel, and I'm glad for it.

So if you're interested in a sweet little romantic comedy for the holidays, here's a good one to try and start off with.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: At least once a year around now, and now thanks to a multi-pack of ABC Family films, I do own it!

This Will Get You In The Spirit..."A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Christmas Time is here...

The Story:

Straight from the comic pages of the newspaper, the Peanuts gang came to television in their first (and best) animated special in 1965.

Nearly 50 years later, is it a dated relic or a timeless piece of holiday awesomeness?

I think you already know the answer to this one.

:)

Aside from being a variety of Charles Schulz's strips strung together, there is an overarching storyline that has Charlie Brown looking for some acceptance during the holiday season.  Naturally, his arch-nemesis Lucy will use him by roping him into being the director of the Christmas play.

Naturally, in true Charlie Brown fashion, he makes a mistake, is ridiculed for it, and feels mortified.

Thankfully, the gang all realizes that maybe Charlie Brown was on to something, especially after Linus' stirring rendition of what Christmas is really all about.

Maybe at the end of the day, they all learned a little something?

Hmm... watching the other specials...  apparently not. ;)

Plus, for those that feel that Christmas is too commercial, starts earlier every year, etc. etc... Schulz said it first back in the 60s, so it's nothing new.

Also central to the story, the remarkable Vince Guaraldi who composed some stellar Christmas tunes to score the special.  Many of those are ingrained in our consciousness, so you accept the jazzy score as part of Christmas.

It's also nice that several of the selections get airplay on the radio this time of year, that's how good the songs were.

It's not Christmas time without this one.

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  It gets watched at least once a year, and yes, I do own it.

Nobody Spends The Holidays Alone..."Unaccompanied Minors"

Nobody deserves to spend Christmas stuck in an airport.

Nobody.

 

The Story:

5 "Unaccompanied Minors" are snowed in at an airport on their way home for Christmas.  They sneak away from the room where all of the others are being held, and so the adventure begins!  They must outwit and outsmart the airport security and the airport director (Lewis Black) once they discover that all of the other minors, including one little sister, are back safely at the hotel.

An unconventional Christmas movie that owes quite a bit to Home Alone and the John Hughes school of storytelling.

That's a good thing.

The movie also shows the importance of family, especially during the holidays.  Plus, that those families may not always be traditional, and sometimes you might have to make your own family along the way.

Directed by Paul Feig, this is my favorite movie that he's directed.  As I've mentioned, I was underwhelmed with Bridesmaids and The Heat, but I think that has more to do with the scripts than with the director.

The 5 kids are all really good actors that I've seen pop up in a few other things in the years that have passed. 

The name stars of the movie, Lewis Black plays an excellent villain for the movie.  He's exasperated and evil, but like all good Scrooges, he's got a heart buried under the cold exterior.

Joining him as his right hand man is Wilmer Valderrama who gets beaten up for a bit before realizing that following orders is not in his best interest.

Finally, the always reliable Rob Corddry is hilarious as the parent of two of the children.  He drives to the airport to save his kids, and is hilarious in all of his scenes.

Released in 2006, I didn't get around to seeing this one until 2 or 3 years ago.  Searching Netflix for Christmas movies that we hadn't seen yet, this came and was an instant hit with the family. 

I found a copy for sale, and the rest is history.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Already own it, and it gets watched at least once during the holidays... and sometimes outside of the holiday season!

Black Friday Is The Perfect Day To Announce A "Holiday Engagement"

Haven't I seen this before?

The Story:

Hillary (Bonnie Somerville) longs for the approval of her parents (Shelly Long and Sam McMurray).  Now she is engaged to Jason (Chris McKenna), a successful lawyer and they are planning to head to her family for the long Thanksgiving weekend.  But when Jason gets a promotion that would require him to move, Hillary is less than thrilled, so Jason opts for career over love.  Now desperate, Hillary puts an ad on a dating site for  someone to pretend to be her boyfriend for the weekend.  Enter David (Jordan Bridges) a struggling actor who just might fit the bill.

My Fake Fiance.
Holiday in Handcuffs.
Holiday Engagement.

Welcome to the wonderful world of mistaken identity romantic comedies!  This one was offered up by the Hallmark Channel back in 2011.

To ring in the holiday season, let's start with Thanksgiving, which is different than Christmas, and provides a nice bookend to holiday viewing.

I'm always a fan of starting early, which is why you've seen reviews for holiday themed movies/specials appear sporadically throughout the year.   And I'm not done yet!

: )

It's nice to see that Shelley Long is still acting, I haven't seen her in ages.

The rest of the cast are mostly newcomers, at least for me, but everyone does a fine job playing their roles.

It's a very comfortable film, you feel like you've seen it before even on the first viewing, and it just becomes more ingrained on you with repeated viewings.

It's like enjoying a cup of cocoa on a chilly day. 

It never really gets old.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing, whenever you are ready to kick off your holiday viewing celebration!

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I won't be rushing out to buy it, but I could see giving it a whirl to kick off the holidays in future holiday seasons.