Festive, humorous and sentimental entertainment

By Na’Jay Lewis

Holiday movies can be some of the most heart-warming and joyful of any genre. While the merriness of holiday movies may not be for everyone, Christmas is the one time of the year where you can get together with your friends and family to watch a heartwarming movie that will make you appreciate the beauty of life.

Whether you are into an animated flick like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” or a modern comedy favorite like “Elf”, there’s plenty of holiday film genres for all tastes.

Christmas is approaching quickly, and we are in the season of holiday cheer and giving galore. This list is sure to provide you with a chance to check out a holiday film with a friend or a loved one in the near future. Here’s our list of the top five holiday movies of all time.

A Christmas Story (1983)

“A Christmas Story,” directed by Bob Clark, is a humorous and heartwarming movie that highlights the nature of what childhood was like for children in the 1940s during Christmas time. It also does a great job at emphasizing the meaning of family and friendship.

“A Christmas Story,” in a lot of ways, introduced a new form of holiday film: one that was comfortable at exploring the misfortunes and bad luck that some of us experience during the holiday season.

Set in Hohman, Indiana in the late 1930s, “A Christmas Story” follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsey), who wants a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200 shot Range Model air rifle for Christmas. However, after begging and pleading to get the Range Model air rifle, Ralphie’s request is rejected by his mother Mrs. Parker (Melinda Dillon), his teacher Miss Shields (Tedde Moore) and a disgruntled department store Santa (Jeff Gillen). All of them insist that the rifle was too dangerous and Ralphie would shoot his eye out.

The acting performances, particularly from the entire Parker family, were excellent, as well as the childhood nostalgia that the movie provided. The excitement that Ralphie has for being able to meet Santa and his fear of the “bad kids list” make this film relatable and appealing to all people. The Parker family represented a middle class family trying to navigate often some of the most chaotic and rewarding times of the year: Christmas.

The witty humor, spectacular acting performances from the Parker family and tremendous nostalgic callbacks makes “A Christmas Story” a must-watch holiday film for you and your family.

RATING: 9/10

Home Alone (1990)

“Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal!”

“Home Alone” is truly a special kind of holiday film that is still a timeless classic to this day. Its witty use of slapstick comedy, nostalgic relatability and emotional depth make it a beloved Christmas classic that you will enjoy.

Directed by Chris Columbus and brought to theatres in 1990, “Home Alone” is a holiday masterpiece. Set in Winnetka, Illinois, the plot of the movie involves an eight-year-old boy named Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), who was mistakenly left home alone by his family who went on a Christmas vacation in Paris. He must defend his home against two burglars known as the “Wet Bandits” (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern).

Kevin’s acting performance and his mother, Kate’s (Catherine O’Hara) performance, was masterful. Kevin’s relatability as a child trying to have a sense of independence and self-reliance with the house to himself and Kate’s concern for her son, fearing his safety, makes their roles as protagonists in this film extremely relatable on all levels.

Columbus’s use of clever comedic elements, suspenseful buildup and emotional depth of the protagonists in the film, makes “Home Alone” a holiday film worth checking out.

RATING: 9/10

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

There’s nothing like spending the holidays with family, right? “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” perfectly encapsulates the chaotic, often eventful holiday season.

Released and brought to theatres in 1989, the plot of the movie centers around a father, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), who wants to have a perfect family Christmas with a big celebration. As he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations, things go awry quickly, creating uneasiness among the Griswold family.

Director Jeremiah S. Chechik does a great job at brilliantly blending relatable family chaos and holiday pressure with over-the-top comedy throughout the movie, as Clark becomes increasingly frustrated in attempts to have the perfect Christmas. From the Griswold family’s disastrous sled ride down the hill to Clark screaming out “Jelly of the Month” in his rant, this movie has its fair share of comedic moments.

The film’s clever use of comedy, tremendous acting performances from the Griswold family – particularly from Chevy Chase – and its realistic portrayal of the stressful, chaotic nature of the holidays make “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” an underrated gem you must watch this holiday season.

RATING: 8/10

Jingle All The Way (1996)

Featuring world-renowned action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, “Jingle All the Way” is truly a unique film. It is an action-comedy holiday film, accurately depicting relevant satire on Christmas consumerism and parental pressure.

With a heartfelt story of a father wanting to connect with his son, this film is truly something that can tug at any viewer’s heart strings.

Set in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1996, “Jingle All the Way” tells the story of a workaholic father, Howard Langston (Schwarzenegger) who wants to make things up to his son, Jaime Langston (Jake Lloyd) and wife Liz Wilson (Rita Wilson), whom he rarely spends time with. Langston promises to his son Jaime that he will get him “Turbo Man,” the hottest toy of the Christmas season at the time.

The problem is that it’s Christmas Eve and the toy is practically sold out, leaving Langston scrambling across stores in the Minneapolis area to fulfill the promise he made to his son. This sense of suspense and wonder leaves the viewer wanting Langston to be able to obtain a “Turbo Man,” to not only make his son happy but improve his relationship with his son and wife.

The physical comedy and superb action sequences in the movie add substance to the movie, as well. Scenes like Langston fighting the crooked Santas at the warehouse and the climactic Wintertainment Parade sequence at the end of the film highlight the chaotic, entertaining tone of the film.

Director Brian Levant’s excellent ability to blend an action-comedy tone to the film, masterful acting performances from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad (Myron Larabee), and a relatable parental message of physical presence being more important than material gifts, make “Jingle All the Way” worth a watch.

RATING: 7/10

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

“How The Grinch Stole Christmas” is a classic Christmas film that perfectly captures the true meaning of Christmas: loving and being generous to all people, rather than just caring about selfish or materialistic desires.

Set in Whoville, a whimsical town filled with oddly-shaped houses, the plot of the movie centers around the Grinch (Jim Carrey), a grouchy, green recluse who despises Christmas and the residents of Whoville. Before Christmas, he devises a plan to dress up as Santa in retaliation for being ridiculed as a child and in response to the citizens’ seemingly endless greed of gifts.

Director Ron Howard does a great job at putting a new spin on the original adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” by bringing an even bigger splash of imagination to the movie.

The flamboyant design of Whoville’s asymmetrical buildings and skybridges, Howard’s frequent use of tilted camera angles reflecting the quirkiness of Whoville and vibrant surroundings contributed to the film’s zany aesthetic.

The acting is engaging and entertaining, particularly Jim Carrey’s superb performance as the Grinch in the movie. Carrey’s excellent comedic timing, magnetic energy and quippy tone made him perfect for the Grinch role. Carrey effectively put a unique twist on the Grinch, while still preserving the character’s serious nature.

Howard’s creativity in which he constructed the production design of Whoville in the film, the Grinch’s intriguing character arcs and the heartwarming message of the importance of community, makes this modern holiday classic worth checking out.

RATING: 8/10