[All Time Favorites]· [Series] · [Comic Book or graphic Novel]· [Top Five Holiday Films]
Inspiring, but not clichéd, and religious, but not preachy, this story about a man who loses his will to live and is saved by a guardian angel shows how we should never lose hope. James Stewart and Donna Reed share a wonderful on-screen connection, showing you just what true love looks like.
An oldie but a goodie, tears and a smile will greet those who take this sentimental journey.
Top Ten Film Series (Trilogy or more sequels)
Top Ten Comic Book or Graphic Novel Films
Top Five Holiday Flims
(‘46) - I don’t know if this film was meant to be the seminal holiday movie, or just another film at the time. Regardless, it has everything you could want in a Christmas movie.
(‘89) - This third installment in National Lampoon’s “Vacation” series proves to be the best, with a very capable young director, Jeremiah Chechik (“Benny & Joon”), at the helm.
Written by John Hughes - everything seemed to be in the ’80s - Chevy Chase stars as the patriarch of the Griswold family who tries really hard to plan family activities that usually spiral out of his control.
Together with his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and his cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), zaniness and some real heartfelt moments ensue.
(’03) - Will Ferrell is brilliantly innocent and unintentionally troublesome in this Christmas movie about a man who thinks he’s one of Santa’s elves.
He heads to New York City to find his real father when Santa reveals he is adopted. Bob Newhart and James Caan co-star in equally perfect roles for their temperaments.
“Elf” is a truly magical story with gut-busting laughs that everyone will enjoy.
(’70) - My favorite version of Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol,” is a rousing, crowd-pleasing musical. The chameleon-like Albert Finney (“Annie”) stars as the indomitable Ebenezer with a grouchiness and mean-spiritedness that only he can portray, but with a quirkiness that gives him the air of a crazy old coot.
Together with toe-tapping sing-alongs like “Thank You Very Much” and “December the 25th,” and costar Sir Alec Guinness (“Star Wars”), this holiday film will both impress and enthuse you.
(’87) – A story written and directed by John Hughes (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”), this is not technically a Christmas movie, but rather a celebration of a family’s being together on Thanksgiving.
Steve Martin plays a family man with a short temper who is trying to get home for the holidays, and running into one setback after another - specifically a bumbling, good-natured John Candy.
Funny with a wholesome message and a sly, sharp wit, these two funnymen have perfect comic chemistry.