Hi folks! we’re sitting here wearing rudolph ears and santa hats watching, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” on Netflix.

Which inspires me, on this “Make My List Monday,” to make, well, a list. My unadulterated thoughts on holiday films.

Let’s start with the good:

How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Obvs. I’m talking the cartoon version, but I don’t even mind the Jim Carrey version. I just love this story. Only thing I DON’T like? The awful Faith Hill song in the live action version…
Elf. How can you not crack a smile at this movie? Will Ferrell is lovable, okay?
Love Actually. Sure, its cheesy, but I’m saying that we could all use a little more cheese in our lives around the hectic holidays.
Home Alone/ Home Alone 2. Slapstick at its best paired with every kids’ dream home and situation… with a happy ending.
The Nightmare before Christmas. Maybe I’m biased because I love Tim Burton. Here comes Sandy Claws…

and I feel like I must mention the bad:

The Santa Clause. AGGGGHHHHH HORRIBLE. I can’t believe there are multiple ones in this ridiculous series. I do NOT love Tim Allen.
Any movie regarding Christmas that airs on Lifetime or Oxygen. Often there is a down on her luck female who finds love AND magic through SANTA! What the eff? Are we women really supposed to enjoy this smarm? Awful. If you’re looking for cheese, see the category above…
Home Alone 3. Um- Macauley Culkin was clearly the magic in this series. What a preposterous idea to replace him and expect it not to suck.
Just Friends. Ryan Reynolds is hot. This movie is NOT.

the old school:

A Christmas Story. The leg lamp. Flick. Randy wrapped up in his snowsuit like a sausage casing… There is a reason this movie gets played on repeat… Farararara…ra ra ra ra…
It’s A Wonderful Life. Is a wonderful movie.
White Christmas. Its unhealthy how much I love this film. I have over half of the musical numbers memorized, still.

and I can’t believe how much I liked:

Jack Frost. With Michael Keaton. Maybe I was just premenstrual, but I cried more than once at this movie…
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Okay, maybe I’m not that surprised. But its not exactly conventional!
The Family Stone. Maybe its because they have a big family and I have a big family… so it feels like home… but we sure aren’t that mean!

and I am afraid to watch…

Jingle All the Way. Even thinking about Sinbad gives me hives and makes me remember all of the awful pop culture from middle school…
Christmas with the Kranks. Is this a Tim Allen movie too? I’m too afraid to find the answer to that, so I’m not going to google it. But I do have a premonition that he might be.
Any version of A Christmas Carol. I’m sorry, the story just scares me.

What are your favorite holiday movies? Are there ones you are embarrassed to enjoy or scared to watch for how bad they might be? Did I miss any?

Meri

Meri-Goes-Round