It’s Christmas and We’re All in Misery

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‘Tis the time for another list – our Christmas present to you, subscribers and readers:  Our favorite holiday flicks.  We know, we know, it was EXACTLY what you’ve been waiting for, right?!?!  😉  Hold on to your butts!

It’s A Wonderful Life – My parents told me every year how amazing this movie was, that Jimmy Stewart was perfect, that it’s not a feel-good movie, it’s the only movie in existence that will make you feel better than you’ve ever felt.  Like, better than five years of therapy or a bottle of Prozac.  Finally, in college, I watched it.  Start to finish.  How many times must I be taught that my parents are almost always right?!  ~Nikki

What’s hilarious is that I had a similar experience, although I watched it as a kid.  I was disgusted by the thought of an ancient, black-and-white, presumably BORING, way to spend an afternoon – at my parents’ insistence!!   I was fucking dead wrong.  If you don’t like this movie, you’re missing part of the basic human DNA code.  I remember when this was CONSTANTLY on TV, now they’ve wised up to the universal love and squander it, showing it once a season.  Assholes.  ~Annie

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Christmas Vacation – I refuse to watch this from Jan 1 through Nov 30 every year.  But, as soon as Dec 1 hits, I’m free to watch as frequently as I see fit.  The record: December of 2005, 11 viewings within 31 days.  It NEVER gets old.  EVER.                                                     Nikki’s favorite line: “I wouldn’t be more surprised if I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet.”                            Annie’s favorite line: “Take a look around here Ellen!  We’re at the threshold of HELL!”

The Family Stone – There are a lot of things I really hate about this film.  But what I love about it outweighs all that.  I really like almost everything about it.  Sarah Jessica Parker is vile and her character is too repugnant for words.  I think she was supposed to come off as uptight and chatty but still vaguely charming and instead, maybe because her performance was too convincing, she was just entirely awful.  Like, so bloody awful it was nearly unbearable while she was on the screen.  Also, I might not have minded the whole SJP jumping from Dermot Mulroney to Luke Wilson and Dermot Mulroney falling for his girlfriend’s sister thing IF any of those couples had any degree of chemistry.  SJP and Mulroney weren’t believable as a couple and she and Luke Wilson’s character were even less so.  Mulroney and Claire Danes had a tiny bit of chemistry, but not near enough to save that whole story line.  Aside from all that, I really liked it.  I loved everyone else’s characters and their performances.  I loved the whole New England family feel and their house and the Christmas vibe.  And Rachel McAdams at the end was so totally perfect.  (Actually, she was perfect throughout.)  SJP just fucked it all up.

Scrooged – Lord knows it’s dated, but how can anyone with a pulse dislike Bill Murray?  Or an adaptation of A Christmas Carol?  His evil, scheming, Ebeneezer-like, bastard TV executive Frank Cross, sporting that mystifying half-balding/half-mullet hairdo, is hilarious to behold.  Everything else is damn funny as well, and the straight 80s-ness comforts me like a binky and pajamas with footies.  My college roomies and I watched this almost every night before Christmas break – it was our “fall asleep-to movie.”

Bridget Jones’s Diary – not entirely a holiday movie, but it begins and ends during the holidays, which, as far as I’m concerned, is enough for this list.  And it really grasps the feel of the holidays from the music to the alcohol consumption to the snow (OH the snow — falling so softly, while Van Morrison sings and Colin Firth swathes you in his chic wool trench…) and the awkward family gatherings…it gets it all exactly right.

Just Friends – Ryan Reynolds and Anna Faris make one hilarious team.  Silly, outrageous, over-the-top, but also sweet and charming in this screwball comedy about a man who returns to his hometown the week of Christmas to face the woman who broke his heart in high school.  Ten years later, and 100 pounds lighter, Chris Brander (RR) confronts his unrequited love (the charming Amy Smart) while trying to keep Samantha James, the pop princess he’s unhappily hooked to (Faris), out of trouble over the holiday.  It’s ridiculous, for sure, and full of shameless absurdities, but the chemistry between all the characters and that special, Christmas-y return-to-hometown feel make it a holiday must.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles – Steve Martin and John Candy – need I say more?  Their banter and Odd Couple-esque relationship make this holiday comedy one for the ages.  A slovenly Candy hitches a ride with uptight Martin, both trying to get home for Thanksgiving, and a wild, troublesome road trip ensues.  Funny and full of heart, it reminds us why the holidays are worth the hassle.  RIP, John Candy.  You are missed.

Die Hard – I know action movies aren’t typically considered holiday flicks, but Die Hard is set on Christmas Eve and, despite all the violence and death, it really feels like Christmas.  Oh, who are we kidding, it feels like Christmas because of all the violence and death.  Also, this movie just kicks so much ass.

Love Actually – I actually hate this film (dripping with schmaltz, cheese, bashing us over the head with all the messages about love), BUTTTT it IS London at Christmastime, and stars like, 175 people that I reallly, really love.  I usually hate myself when the end credits begin, but if you want Xmas eye candy and tons of Brits, this is where you go.

Home Alone – I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that this is one of, if not THE, most entertaining family holiday flicks around.  Who would have guessed that a movie about a family freaking accidentally abandoning their child would be be so hilarious, heartwarming (and sort of believable!).  I love the old man neighbor, who Kevin McAllister has to learn is a decent man.  I love Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci, killing it as the bumbling robbers.  And I LOVE THIS SONG.  It is FOREVER Christmas.

While You Were Sleeping – I’ll never stop loving this precious little film, which takes place over the entire holiday season.  This is another one that gets the family stuff, the feel of the weather, the way their house looks, sooo right – you can practically smell dinner cooking.  If only 90s-era Bill Pullman would come sweep me off my feet. 😉

Shout out to Elf and Bad Santa– neither had enough of the warm, snuggly feel of Christmas to make the actual list, but both will make you laugh until you cry.  Will Ferrell makes Elf worth watching, in my opinion.  No other adult could behave like a naive, child-like imbecile with such sincerity and charm.  Billy Bob Thornton, on the other hand, sells the vile, repulsive drunk con artist shopping mall Santa as though he were made for the role.  And maybe he was.

Merry Christmas!!

~Nikki & Annie

The Ghosts That We Knew Will Flicker From You

Something about the holidays makes me want to read the classics.  Austen, Dickens, Shelley, maybe some Henry David Thoreau.  This is my first Christmas as a Kindle owner and most of the classics are free downloads (thank you, Amazon), which is a nice perk.  In all my years as an avid reader, I’ve never before picked up A Christmas Carol.  Shocking, I know.  There’s no time like the present, I always say (okay, I never say that), and so, on December 1st, I began the long-time holiday favorite so adored by generations the world over.  Though it is a tale I am familiar with – how could anyone not be, what with the many screen adaptations – Dickens’ story did not disappoint.

It’s a quick, easy read (I finished it inside of 5 days) and well worth your time.  What I love about reading so-called classic literature is the language.  Language is one of the rare things that seems to become simpler, less refined as we evolve.  Unlike technology, social norms, architecture, medicine and nearly everything else that grows more complex and intricate the more we explore and develop it, language seems to grow coarser.  The vocabulary of the general public has shrunk down to a mere handful of verbs, nouns and adjectives (and adverbs- do they exist anymore? does anyone know what an adverb is these days?), repeatedly used to describe a multitude of things.  So many words have been lost over the centuries.  Slang is constantly changing, of course, but I’m not talking about slang.  I’m talking about words like apparition, ironmongery, intimation.  Words that can only be found in books like A Christmas Carol, the literature of a past time.  Which is part of the joy of reading, being transplanted into a wholly different place and time.

I won’t bother to go over the plot of A Christmas Carol, since I feel certain anyone who comes across this post is familiar enough with it already, but I will say that there are some details in it that have been omitted from most of the adaptations, details that, along with Dickens’ fine prose and style, make it a must-read for any fellow lover of literature.  And for those of you who don’t enjoying reading (or don’t enjoy the classics) but much prefer the art of film, here are my favorite adaptations of this beloved tale:

Scrooged– I’ve long felt that Bill Murray can do no wrong and this is another fine example.  A very modern take on this classic (for its time, that is…now it may seem a bit dated) and hilariously silly, while still retaining all of the emotion of the original.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol– A 20-minute children’s version but, like most things created by Disney, well worth your time.  Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit and Scrooge McDuck are annual visitors at my house.

A Muppet Christmas Carol– Michael Caine is a wonderful Ebenezer Scrooge – perfectly capturing the depth of his evolution from greedy miser to generous, kind Christmas enthusiast.  Gonzo, pretending to be Charles Dickens, narrates with Rizzo the Rat, who provides witty comic relief.  Surprisingly enough, this is the most faithful adaptation I have yet to see.  Leave it to the Muppets to get it just right. 🙂

Which of the classics inspire you?

~Nikki

The Best Of You

‘Tis the season to be merry, folks, and if this week’s holiday episodes are any indication, I’d say that spirit of Christmas is abundant this year.  There were so many great things to watch this week that I felt a tributary post was due.  So, here you are, the best of TV: (fair warning, if you’re behind on your DVR, do NOT read this!)

Happy Endings: This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite shows currently on television.  We haven’t seen chemistry like this between a group of friends since, well, “Friends.”  Each character brings something distinct and cool to the group dynamic and they all manage to be both likable and realistically flawed.  I loved the whole Max-as-Santa thing.  For someone who hates kids, he sure is a sucker for the little tykes.  Eliza Coupe continues to impress me with her comedic timing and this week, Alex became slightly more relevant during an interesting moment with ex-fiance Dave.  Honestly, though, I couldn’t care less if they kept on not knowing what to do with her character because Elisha Cuthbert is so cute and charming, it doesn’t really matter what she’s doing.

American Horror Story: Violet is dead.  Who saw that coming?!  A few episodes ago, she downed a bottle of pills in a spontaneous suicide attempt and now we find out, she succeeded.  I, for one, was flabbergasted.  And none of the horror, the sorrow and the devastation was lost on me.  A mad shout-out to Evan Peters for bringing such rich depth to his character.  Tate is one evil, scary, demented kid and yet, I find myself wanting so much to like him.  Scenes like the one in which he reveals Violet’s dead broken body (to Violet) are what keep me from turning totally against him.  And Jessica Lange is fantastic as his lunatic mother, also evoking equal amounts of fear and sympathy.

Parks & Recreation: Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson and the rest of the Pawnee crew have become the people I wish I worked with.  How do they manage, week after week, to be so charmingly sweet without even a hint of cheesiness?  Kudos to the writers and to everyone of the cast members for walking this delicate tightrope with such ease and grace.

The Office: This season, the first without Steve Carell, has been lackluster, in my opinion.  It wasn’t until this week’s Christmas episode that I really felt like I was watching that most beloved show that has long been a favorite of mine.  Andy makes sense as the choice for Regional Manager and though he has gotten plenty of laughs, the writing itself has been sub-par, missing fruitful opportunities for both the humor and the satire we’ve all come to appreciate from this series.  Drunk Erin cracked me up and even though I was rooting for her and Robert California to hook up, I’m glad they went their separate ways in the end.  I’d hate to see such a scandalous affair endanger Erin’s job at Dunder Mifflin and I think Andy’s head may have exploded if such an event took place.  On the other hand, that could have been an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the pre-anger management Andy we haven’t seen since Season 3.  Or, perhaps, a chance to show his growth as a character, that he wouldn’t allow jealousy to dictate his behavior.  The pranking between Jim and Dwight was wonderful and I loved Darryl’s heroic tuxedo-sporting gesture.  The Transiberian Orchestra’s Carol Of The Bells montage with Dwight, Creed, Gabe and that creepy warehouse dude rocking the air-band was supreme.

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: The gang attended their high school reunion this week and, true to form, outrageous escapades quickly ensued.  The waitress has fallen off the wagon yet again and Frank managed to worm his way into the party wearing the name tag of one Nikki Potnick.  Mac’s real name is unveiled here and you’ll never guess what a ridiculous moniker it is.  My favorite, though, was Charlie passing out on the bathroom floor after sniffing a combination of bleach and ammonia.  I would NEVER want to hang out with these shmucks, but damn are they funny.  Can’t wait for Part II, the conclusion of the reunion!

~Nikki

Mele Kalikimaka Is The Thing To Say

Dear friends, loyal subscribers, lurkers, transient readers and first-timers (to this blog):

Today, in light of the impending holiday season and all of its accoutrement, I’d like to talk to you about holiday movies.  Annie and I will, sometime in the very near future, provide for you a list of our most beloved holiday movies, but for now I want to talk about what makes the great ones great.  (For the purposes of this post, a holiday movie is defined as a film set during the Thanksgiving-Christmas holiday season, which may or may not involve New Year’s, and in which the holiday itself plays an integral role.)

For me, a really good holiday movie must include all (or most) of the following:

• the feel of home and family (both the warmth and the aggravation)
• enough stress to be relate-able and/or to feel real
• enough humor to cut the tension
• at least one parent-to-child conflict
• at least one sibling-to-sibling conflict
• snow (I’ve never seen a great holiday flick set in Hawaii, or anywhere that doesn’t get snow during the winter)
• alcohol and at least one somebody-drank-too-much-and-made-a-scene scene
• one or more scenes in a crowded shopping mall
• a soundtrack that includes either (or both) modern holiday music or the Christmas classics
• a climactic scene involving a balls-out everything’s-going-to-shit freak-out
• Christmas carolers
• a botched holiday party/celebration

Tell me: have I forgotten anything?  Stay tuned for the flicks we recommend to enhance your holiday season.

~Nikki