Whether you are bursting with Christmas cheer or need to banish the bah humbug feelings, watching these holiday movies will enhance your spirit. You’ll laugh, you may even shed a tear and we bet your Grinch heart will grow three sizes bigger.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, Randy Quaid, Doris Roberts
Synopsis: It’s Christmas time – Clark decided to invite all the family to have the most fun-filled old-fashioned family Christmas which nobody shall ever forget. It’s Christmas and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark’s continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Rated: PG
Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor, Taylor Momsen
Synopsis: Discover the magic of the Mean One this holiday season! Oscar-winning director Ron Howard and Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer bring Christmas’ best-loved grump to life with the help of the irrepressible Jim Carrey as The Grinch. The Grinch is a celebration of the holiday spirit no home should be without! Why is The Grinch (Carrey) such a grouch? No one seems to know, until little Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) takes matters into her own hands and turns both Whoville and The Grinch’s world upside down, inside out… and funny side up in her search for the true meaning of Christmas.
Home Alone
Rated: PG
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, Roberts Blossom
Synopsis: An 8-year-old boy who is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France for Christmas must defend his home against idiotic burglars.
The Polar Express
Rated: G
Starring: Tom Hanks
Synopsis: This is the story of a young hero boy on Christmas Eve who boards on a powerful magical train that’s headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus’s home. What unfolds is an an adventure which follows a doubting boy, who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole; during this ride, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery which shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
Elf
Rated: PG
Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Edward Asner
Synopsis: This hilarious Christmas film tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Years later Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity.
A Christmas Story
Rated: PG
Starring: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
Synopsis: Mention the Christmas Story movie and people respond with their favourite classic scenes such as the BB Gun, bullies in the alley, frozen tongue, the lamp of a lady’s fishnet stocking leg and many more. A Christmas Story is a 1983 film based on the short stories and semi-fictional anecdotes of author and raconteur Jean Shepherd, including material from his books In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash and Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories. It was directed by Bob Clark. A must have movie to watch every year and several times a year. It is chicken soup for the soul for the holidays.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers
Synopsis: George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all – and it’s Christmas! As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence. Clarence then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all of his good deeds over the years. Will Clarence be able to convince George to return to his family and forget suicide?
