The 12 Days of Christmas- Day 10: 'Trading Places'

If you haven’t seen Trading Places I’m going to ask you to turn off your computer and immediately go to your nearest TV and start watching, it’s available on Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, so assuming you have one of those services (if you’re reading this site I’d say that’s a certainty) it won’t cost you a dime. Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd in their prime, a young and gorgeous Jamie Lee Curtis and more classic 80s comedy moments than you can shake a stick at (where did that saying come from…like, who was shaking sticks at things in the first place? Is it a witch reference…like with a wand? Can you tell I’m somewhat ADD?). As a matter of fact, one could argue that Trading Places invented many of those 80s comedy tropes being as it came out relatively early in the decade, 1983. Today we know Eddie Murphy as the quintessential buddy comedy actor, this film gave him those roots. Sure, he had 48 Hrs. prior to this but really that movie was much more action and Nick Nolte is far from a comic counterbalance.

For the 3 of you who don’t know, Trading Places is about two guys who have their lives swapped by the old grumpy guys from The Muppet Showon a $1 bet. Ok, I made up the Muppet show bit but there’s no way that you can deny the similarities. Basically Dan Aykroyd plays Louis Winthorpee III, a spoiled yuppie and president of Duke & Duke, a stock trading firm. After literally running into homeless con man Bill Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) Winthorpe accuses Valentine of trying to steal his briefcase and has him arrested. Meanwhile the Duke Brothers place a $1 bet that if they make the two switch stations in life Winthorpe will turn to crime and Valentine will become a success, basically a nature vs. nurture scenario. The next thing you know the Duke’s are bailing Valentine out of jail and giving him Winthorpe’s job, home, and butler. Meanwhile they frame Winthorpe for stealing and plant drugs on him to have him arrested. In comes the prostiture with a heart of gold, Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis) who sees Winthorpe as a good investment opportunity and agrees to help him get back his life if she pays him back plus interest.

Where do I start? Like I stated earlier this is Aykroyd and Murphy at their best. Watching Aykroyd play this snooty pampered rich boy is nothing short of perfect. Obviously the highlight of the funny is Eddie Murphy’s Billy Ray Valentine, look no further than the prison scene for proof of that. The glue of the film is the chemistry, not just between Aykroyd and Murphy, but also the group as a whole when you mix in Jamie Lee Curtis and Denholm Elliot who plays Coleman the butler. The funniest scene of the flick, in my opinon, is when all four of them are together on a train during New Year’s Eve in disguise.  Of the movies made by that 80’s comedy crew (Aykroyd, Murphy, Chevy Chase, etc) this one sits near the top, a lot of people would put Caddyshack in front of it, but not me.

So where’s the Christmas angle? All around my dear friend, all around. The movie takes place during the holiday season and really has the benefit of being the only film on our list to tackle both Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The atmosphere of the film is drenched in yuletide trimmings, with one of the most memorable scenes having a drunk Winthorpe crashing the Duke & Duke Christmas party in a dirty Santa suit. This is another one of those films that has less to do with the sugary sweet Christmas spirit and more something to watch as a buffer between the more saccharine faire. As we talked about before with Lethal Weapon these buffer films are essential so you don’t get burned out too quickly but can still stay in the Christmas theme. 

I leave you with Billy Ray Valentine's Karate Man demonstration

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The 12 Days of Christmas- Day 9: 'Scrooged'

Charles Dickens was probably unaware that when he wrote A Christmas Carol he was writing the most prolific Christmas tale in history. A story that has spawned a thousand incarnations including, but not limited to, both a Muppet and Disney version of Ebenezer Scrooge’s tale of redemption. Needless to say it takes a lot to stand out in a pool that deep. We shouldn’t be surprised though, if anyone can stand out in a crowd its Bill F%#king Murray.

Scrooged takes on the classic A Christmas Carol format with the story of Frank Cross, an ultimate 80s business man/capitalist type who’s forsaken all of the good things in life like love, family and friends, for his career as the head of television network. Framing the story is the production of IBC’s (the network) live production of, you guessed it, A Christmas Carol. So right there you know a little about Frank, he’s making the entire production work all night Christmas Eve to put on a live show. The film starts with Frank firing an executive, Elliot Laudermilk (played perfectly by Bobcat Goldthwait), giving his brother the shaft both in the gift he’s sending and by not attending his yearly Christmas party, and screwing over his long suffering assistant Grace. Summary: Frank’s a dick. In comes the ghost of his mentor warning Frank of a visit from three ghosts and we’re on our way.

Bill Murray, it’s Bill Murray. There are a ton of reasons that this movie is a top 3 choice for me around Christmas but none of it works without Murray. We know he’s great at playing the jerk so that’s no surprise, but it’s what makes him likeable that really cements it. There’s a fine line between that funny sarcastic guy in your social group and the jerk-off that no one wants to hang out with, Murray has always expertly towed that line and it’s no more on display than it is during Scrooged. There’s also the little things that he always brings to his performances that are so endearing, things that I can’t really put a finger on. Things like a certain inflection he puts on words and the way his voice gets really high when he’s excited, it all wraps together to create the perfect Ebenezer Scrooge-esque character.

Murray alone does not a classic make, the ensemble really launches this flick into the atmosphere. I already mentioned Bobcat Goldthwait, who I’ve always had a soft spot for. Then there’s Karen Allen as Cross’s long lost love Claire, who’s impossibly cute doe-eyed look makes you believe she could melt the ice around Frank’s heart. Alfre Woodard’s Grace in the Bob Cratchit role. It’s her section of the story that really brings the Christmas spirit. The scene where Frank sees her family in their small apartment, a grandma, Grace, and four kids without a Christmas tree because they couldn’t afford it, this is where the change begins to happen. It’s really a life lesson for everyone around Christmas, here’s this family with little to nothing and still they are the happiest bunch in the whole film. I challenge anyone to not get misty eyed when Grace’s son (the tiny Tim of our story) says “God Bless us every one” in the closing minutes.

It’s got everything you need to get the story of A Christmas Carol with added laughs and an updated (well, not really anymore but more recent than Victorian England) atmosphere. 

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 8: 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'

Who can really think of Christmas without immediately referring to Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas. Of course, when I was growing up, I thought of it first and foremost as a Halloween movie, but the beauty of the film is that it can be played during both holidays and is probably the only one to be able to get away with doing so. 

The film, which is attributed to Tim Burton because he came up with the story and characters, is actually directed by Henry Selick. Jack Skellington, The Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, he's bored of the same thing year in and year out, and tired of Halloween. Feeling dejected, he roams into the woods and stumbles upon the entrance to Christmas Town and discovers a whole new holiday that he becomes obsessed with and wants to take over. 

There's too much to love about The Nightmare Before Christmas, so I'll bullet point all the awesomeness! 

• Two holidays in one - Seriously, this should be a thing in all movies. Knock two birds with one stone and you've got an instant classic! 
• The music - "What's This?" and "Jack's Lament" are two favorites. Danny Elfman is fantastic!
• The citizens of Halloween Town - They're all so bizarre and enthusiastic about Halloween. This should be everyone's reaction to every Fall/Winter holiday. Ever. 
• Sally's bodily weapons - Really, who wouldn't want to use their limbs as weapons if they could? Show of hands.
• Fantastic animation value - stop-motion animation and the beauty of the visuals make this film very easy on the eyes. 

And now, to leave you with something to hum along to as you gear up for Christmas: 

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The 12 Days of Christmas – Day 7: ‘Eyes Wide Shut’

 

Stanley Kubrick’s filmography is probably one of the most popular for cinematic criticism—can you imagine how many college film courses focus on 2001: A Space Odyssey or A Clockwork Orange? I know mine did. And so it goes without saying that his final film, 1999’s Eyes Wide Shut, has its fair share of analyses throughout academic journals and online blogs—including a shocking amount of pieces written about how the film is Illuminati propaganda. Seriously, Google “Eyes Wide Shut” and “Illuminati” and you will not be disappointed. You’re welcome and Merry Christmas!

And Christmas is why we’re here, actually, because Eyes Wide Shut is probably one of the most adult films to take place during the holiday season. And I don’t use the term “adult” just because of all the sex scenes, which, you know, there are a lot! But more so because of how Kubrick uses Christmas ambiance to add texture and atmosphere to the film, and to drive home certain ideas about consumerism and power that are central to his work.

I’m not going to write you an essay here, but I think Eyes Wide Shut is an interesting movie to watch around this time of year because Kubrick had such clear intentions in including the holiday—so let’s look at the five times the Christmas spirit was at play in the film … for better or for worse.

+ Oh hey, it’s Christmas! Eyes Wide Shut starts with a  shock by showing us Nicole Kidman’s bare butt (do not hate on Nicole; I love Nicole; I just wish she would stop doing things to her face), but it transitions quickly into place and time: It’s New York City and it’s Christmas! How does Kubrick do this? By demonstrating to us that his protagonists, Bill (Tom Cruise) and wife Alice (Kidman) aren’t particularly good parents, leaving their daughter Helena with the babysitter whose name they don’t know so they can attend a fancy party thrown by one of Bill’s patients. The holidays, a time for family togetherness? Not for the Harfords, and especially not with a daughter who symbolizes essentially nothing but the one thing keeping Bill and Alice together. Knock against the self-interested nature of the wealthy: Check.

+ Sleezy rich jerks have Christmas trees, too. Practically immediately after the Harfords arrive at the holiday party held by Bill’s patient, Sandor, the two split apart. Alice gets hit on a lascivious guy who dances with her, while Bill disappears with a couple of hot young models and then is called to tend to Sandor, who was having sex with another girl who passed out from a drug overdose. What’s in the room where Sandor and the girl were having sex? Opulent furniture, beautiful artwork, and a cheap-looking little Christmas tree, with neon lights that lend an eerie, otherworldly light to everything going on in that room. Creepy red light usually belongs in horror movies, and seeing it here really underlines the unsettling vibe Kubrick is bringing to Eyes Wide Shut.

+ Prostitutes who end up having HIV—yup, they also care about the holiday season. How often can Bill cheat on his wife? It feels like the opportunity presents itself over and over again for the handsome doctor, most obviously when he goes home with a young prostitute named Domino. The first thing we see in her apartment? A sparse Christmas tree, again surrounded by eerie red light, in a place where Bill shouldn’t be—but it’s not the reminder of the holiday season that makes Bill think of his family and leave Domino, but a nagging phone call from Alice. If Christmas is a great unifier (which Kubrick seems to be arguing by constantly inserting Christmas decorations and accessories into the film, but not having the characters overtly talk about it), what does it signify for those celebrating it? Is it an outward display of holiness, or a false attempt at hiding something darker and dirtier?

+ And speaking of “darker and dirtier”—the one place Christmas decorations don’t appear is at the mansion where the Master of Ceremonies lords over the costumed, occult orgy. No holiday frills. No Christmas trees. No lights. The people at the orgy don’t have to hide under the guise of Christmas, because they’re all in on each other’s debauchery and depravity—they’re barely even hiding from each other. The mask-wearing isn’t for inclusion, but for exclusion; think of how rapidly they sense that Bill isn’t supposed to be there. It’s the one place in the film untouched by Christmas, because no one there has to pretend to be anything they’re not. They’re all fine with being terrible, as long as they can be terrible together—without anyone else sneaking into their midst.

+ Finally, don’t forget the point of Christmas: Presents. Do you remember Helena? Bill and Alice barely do, and they only bring their daughter into their realm again at the end of the film: when Bill has dodged receiving HIV from Domino; when his connections with the secret society have been severed by violence outside of his control; and when he finally comes clean to Alice about his actions of the past few days, following up on her honesty about having sex dreams that don’t include Bill but focus on shaming him by being intimate with other men. Their marriage is totally fucked up, so why not spend some time with their daughter?

And the time is, of course, not emotionally meaningful, but consumerist: They take their daughter shopping as a way of bonding with her, acquiescing to her every wish instead of getting to know her. In a film that is constantly demonstrating the way the supposed generosity, compassion, and togetherness of the holiday season is distorted, deceived, and corrupted, it only makes sense that Bill and Alice would envelop their daughter with things as a way to teach her the Christmas spirit. Christmas may be a time of regeneration, renewal, and rebirth, but in Eyes Wide Shut, everyone is stuck in the same old shitty cycles. And no amount of holly jolly cheer—or Tom Cruise’s enthusiastic clapping—can cover up the rot.

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The 12 Days of Christmas – Day 6: ‘American Psycho’

For the most part, our 12 Days of Christmas series here at Punch Drunk Critics has been about films that are largely centered around Christmas or set during Christmas time, like my previous picks, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Batman Returns. But with American Psycho, I’m veering off a bit – because the cult classic only has one scene about Christmas, and yet it’s a perfect distillation of everything the movie is saying about yuppie culture, about New York City, about audacious wealth, about the absurdity of the upper class. In barely 90 seconds, director and screenwriter Mary Harron, adapting Bret Easton Ellis’s original novel, accomplishes all that. It’s an impressive feat.

So let’s jump right into it. Here is the scene in question:

At this point, we’ve already met Patrick Bateman, and we already know why this movie is called “American Psycho.” He’s an image-obsessed, intensely competitive, and everyone-hating person, safely ensconced by his wealth and by his ignorant, self-obsessed yuppie friends. Look at how everyone in this party is barely talking to each other, but more at each other – who hasn’t experienced that at a Christmas party? Do you really care what your co-worker’s second cousin’s girlfriend did for her wedding reception? Or how your neighbor’s brother’s teacher is doing with his fantasy football team? No, you don’t care. And Patrick Bateman certainly does not care.

But it’s in Patrick’s nature to grin and bear it – at least outwardly – as must we all. Oh, his terrible coworker who is secretly in love with him is going to put cloth reindeer ears on him? What fun! Oh, his terrible fiancee (cast perfectly with Reese Witherspoon, all irritating chipperness) for some reason has a Vietnamese potbelly pig as a pet? Great!

And what an excellent interaction between the two of them: He barely says anything, while she launches into, “Stop scowling, Patrick. You’re such a Grinch! And what does the Grinch want for Christmas this year? And don’t say breast implants again.”

How to get away from this conversation with a fiancee who he gives zero fucks about, and whom he tells later on, “You’re just not that important to me?” Spot your work rival across the party and go invite him to dinner, after which you plan to murder him, of course!

OK, maybe this isn’t part of your Christmas experience, but it’s an utterly on-point choice for Patrick. Everyone else is joyous, gleeful, and celebratory, but for Patrick, the party is torture – the only bright spot being the opportunity to manipulate Paul (Jared Leto, cast well, but not as well as he was in Fight Club, the previous year) into a death trap. Holiday party success!

And in only one scene, a short-and-sweet encapsulation of the only way Patrick Bateman would approach Christmas and you know, the rest of his life: with disgust, resentment, and a falsely cheery attitude. May your holidays never be that dreadful. Oh, and let Reese Witherspoon leave you with one piece of advice:

Seriously, just don’t do it. 

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The 12 Days of Christmas – Day 5: ‘Batman Returns’

 

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) was high up on my favorite movies of 2014 list, and like practically everyone else I’ve talked to, Michael Keaton was primarily the reason why. Michael Keaton, you guys! How easily he veers between stoic and stone-faced and bizarre and unhinged; how effortless he makes those contrasting emotional states look. Keaton excels with it in Birdman, but look at his filmography and it’s always been there – of course in Beetlejuice, but also importantly in Batman Returns.

It’s strange to go back and watch Batman Returns now that our pop-culture psyche has been shaped so thoroughly by Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, but since Tim Burton’s sequel is set during Christmas time and it is now, you know, Christmas time, you should do it. And get ready for just how Tim Burton-y it is, a dimly macabre – and almost anti-capitalist – view of the holiday season. All in all, it’s quite strange: Batman (Keaton) and the Penguin (a perfectly cast Danny DeVito) are supposed to be doubles, and the movie amps up the Penguin’s physicality to drive home their differences; Michelle Pfeiffer goes full unhinged, oozing confrontation in a way that Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman never did; and CHRISTOPHER WALKEN. Christopher Walken! Christopher. Walken.

Still need more reasons for why you should cue up Batman Returns in the next few days? OK, fine, let’s do this.

+ Reason 1: The overall set design! Want to see Christmas put through some kind of fascist nightmare? Look no further than the depiction of Gotham in Batman Returns – all ominous statues; imposingly tall, leaning-over-you buildings; marble and granite and materials that feel like no warmth will ever make its way into your body again. Christmas is supposed to be a festive time, but here, Gotham feels unabashedly cold – and as an indictment of the season, it works.

+ Reason 2: Alfred! Our favorite manservant spends this movie decorating Bruce Wayne’s almost grotesquely opulent Christmas tree and doling out hard truths to our favorite orphan. And he does them both like a badass because, you know, it’s Alfred. What is he going to do, fuck those things up? Please.

+ Reason 3: Michelle Pfeiffer’s scarily sexual Catwoman. The perfect mix of teasing and terror. And look, those hairdos speak for themselves.

+ Reason 4: Speaking of hairdos, please take note of Christopher Walken’s exceptional bouffant. It’s silver as hell and it’s moussed within an inch of its life and it does not fuck around.

+ Reason 5: The Penguin’s penguin army. If you have any kids in your life interested in seeing Dreamworks’s Penguins of Madagascar this holiday, shut that down immediately and show them Batman Returns instead. They might have some nightmares, but that’s a natural part of life, right? And then you won’t have to see Penguins of Madagascar, so really, it’s a Christmas miracle.

Batman Returns is available for streaming through Netflix Instant and for rent through Amazon Instant Video. 

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The 12 Days of Christmas – Day 4: ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’

2008’s Iron Man undoubtedly made Robert Downey Jr. the biggest star in the world, but 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is, I think at least, the movie that proved Downey was serious about being an actor again. All that charming aloofness, smart-alickiness, and smirking attractiveness were on display in director Shane Black’s film, and the two have since played nice together – just look to Iron Man 3 for proof.

But this is a series about Christmas movies, so let’s talk about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which is set during the season. A twisty-turny neo noir adapted by Black from the original pulpy novel by Brett Halliday, the movie is a movie about making movies, about what actors do when they act, about the ins and outs of Hollywood and how crummy and deceitful and entertaining and cynical it all can get. So here are the five reasons why you should make Kiss Kiss Bang Bang part of your Christmas movie rotation – and yes, Michelle Monaghan makes an appearance. Prepare your lustful jets.

+ Reason 1: Because these opening credits are amazing. The animation! That music! The nod to the original novel! Yes, yes.

+ Reason 2: RDJ’s narration! As the protagonist, petty-criminal-turned-actor Harry, he’s so smug and meta, it’s a lovely thing. No line of dialogue is wasted, but it’s also not overwritten, which means you get gems like this: “Don't worry, I saw Lord of the Rings. I'm not going to end this 17 times.” Who can deny that level of self-awareness? And all that fourth-wall breaking? No one.

+ Reason 3: Val Kilmer. Does anyone miss Val Kilmer like I miss Val Kilmer? Sometimes I think about him in Heat, and it makes me miss his hot ‘90s days, and then I watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and I laugh and laugh and laugh and I wish he would have gotten more shots at being a comedic actor. His take-no-bullshit attitude, coupled with RDJ’s absurdity, make them an excellent pair. Oh, and Kilmer’s playing against type as a private detective named Gay Perry who is, you know, gay. Just watch Kilmer’s facial expressions whenever RDJ is doing something. The man redefines the depths of a smirk.

+ Reason 4: Michelle Monaghan … 

… because obviously.

+ Reason 5: The one line you should say to all your loved ones this holiday season.

I mean, I know I will be.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is available through Netflix’s disc service and can be rented through Amazon’s InstantVideo.  

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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 3: 'The Santa Clause' Series

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... why, The Santa Clause movies, of course! What's Christmas without Tim Allen's version of Santa Claus causing all kinds of ruckus at the North Pole? A depressing one, obviously. When the very first The Santa Clause film came out in 1994, I was immediately smitten. Here was a Christmas tale that definitely wasn't the stereotyped version of Santa... kind of. The idea that Santa Clause could be, uh, killed, was unheard of. And to have him be replaced by a regular Joe Average toy salesman who isn't very fond of the holiday sounds ludicrous. But Tim Allen makes it work really well. Add in the ass-kicking elves, a North Pole that feels like a magical city of happiness and hot cocoa, and a father/son relationship that helps Tim Allen believe in Santa (and himself) and it's a sure-fire way to get Christmas going. 

The sequel, ingeniously called (note the sarcasm) The Santa Clause 2, comes 8 years later, and while many might not consider it to be as good as the first, it is certainly as enjoyable, especially if you're into fluff (like I am around this time of year) with a side dose of cheesy. With this film, we definitely see more of the North Pole, the elves, and the behind-the-scenes action. We see Allen's character try to find a Mrs. Clause and try and revitalize the relationship with his son. But probably the funniest and best part of the entire film is Toy Santa! Whoever thought of Toy Santa is a fu**ing genius because it's crazy, but it most definitely works. Please see proof below. 

Tim Allen taking on a double role in the sequel allows us to see two sides of him: The charming side and the randomly funny side as well. But aside from all of the antics and in all seriousness, one of the most enjoyable things about The Santa Clause movies, and is something that has brought me back to it time and time again, is the heart behind it all. It could have just been any comedic holiday film (the 3rd film is definitely, and unfortunately, like this), but it has great characters and always remembers that the father/son relationship that was so special in the original makes its way into the sequel as well. 

The characters are memorable, there are skeptics, there are jokes and trouble running amok throughout the entire films, there are good and well-established relationships, but most of all, there is magic. The spirit of the holiday season is most definitely alive and well, and if that sounds cliche, then so be it. The truth is, The Santa Clause movies make me feel like a kid again, makes me hope and believe in magic, even if for a short period of time. It's one of my favorite portrayals of Santa Clause ever because he isn't just the big guy in red. He's a human being with worries and people he loves and cares about with a lot of pressure riding on his shoulders, but with a childlike energy that makes everything in life not seem so bad. 

And to honor the films, here is one of my favorite excerpts from the first film where Charlie's stepdad, who's a psychiatrist, confronts him after finally finding out that Santa is, in fact, real. 

Neil: Charlie, I'm sorry I didn't believe you.

Charlie: That's ok, Neil. You were just denying your inner child.

Classic. 

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The 12 Days of Christmas- Day 2: Lethal Weapon

You’re not really questioning why the best buddy-cop action comedy of all time is on our 12 Days of Christmas list are you? Nah, I doubt it. It’s pretty universally known that Lethal Weapon and Die Hard (a later entry in this series) are the top 2 unconventional Christmas movies of all time.

One could argue that there are Christmas themes like redemption throughout but, honestly, I’m not here to sell you on Lethal Weapon maintaining the Christmas spirit. No, it’s on the list because one can only take so much fa-la-la-la-la before you’re ready to become a Lethal Weapon yourself and become sick of all this yuletide joy. That’s here Lethal Weapon comes in…Riggs and Murtaugh provide you with a funny, action filled environment to detach from Christmas but thanks to the background of the film being the Christmas season you never get pulled completely out of it. They do it in kind of a genius way too. For instance, take our introduction to Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs. It’s a standard undercover cop doing a deal gone wrong setup BUT they set it in a Christmas tree lot, the scene has nothing to do with Christmas but you’re able to keep the season in your peripheral thanks to the setting. It’s the cinematic equivalent to going to get your haircut during December…you’re not buying presents or going to a party but you aren’t out of the season.

Of course, no Christmas film would be complete…conventional or not, without a family gathered around a decorated house on Christmas morning. This scene at the Murtaugh residence gives us the most “Christmasey” moment when Murtaugh gives Riggs his gift, the bullet Riggs intended to kill himself with. Redemption complete, and to all a good night. 

Just as an added bonus, I'll include the greatest gift given to the world by Lethal Weapon. The greatest mullet of them all!

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The 12 Days of Christmas- Day 1: Love, Actually

Welcome to the Punch Drunk Critics 12 days of Christmas, told with movies of course. We’re starting this the way I start my Christmas season every year, with Richard Curtis’s interweaving tale of Christmas magic, Love, Actually. Just a word of warning, this flick gets me sappy. I promise, not every entry in our 12 days will be sugary sweet but Love, Actually, well it gets me right in the feels.

The Christmas spirit, that’s what this movie gets most right, that’s why it is such an important part of my yuletide viewing experience. I can sit here and pontificate on the commercialization of Christmas and how we totally miss the point of the season, but I won’t. Yes, partly because I like getting gifts as much as the next guy but also because that aspect has become part of the season itself, a primal hunt for what we need. No, the reason I’m avoiding that part completely is that the movie does the same thing, it doesn’t damn us for mall fever it gently reminds us that the greatest joy comes from the original reason we are buying those gifts in the first place, so we can show those we love just how much we care. It’s funny, the film was made over ten years ago but its opening monologue stays more relevant today than ever. It’s a bit of dialogue that we should all read/hear at least once a year, preferably once a month. In today’s world of social media and constant commentary contributing to the overwhelming negativity that can cloud the world it’s increasingly important to sit down and be reminded that not only is love still out there, and I’m stealing Hugh Grant’s line here, Love, actually, is all around. So I’d ask you just to read this excerpt from the film, its opening lines and let it sink in, cheesy as it may be.

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinions starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.

I’m a kind of sucker for the emotional but I think we can all agree that this is a beautiful and needed sentiment. Once that actually outlines the film. The interconnected stories serve to show that the love shared through the season comes in many different shapes and sizes. From a recently widowed father trying to connect with his stepson to a pampered, past his prime rock star realizing that the friendship he shares with his much-maligned manager may just constitute the love of his life (it doesn’t have to be romantic love to make you happy, what a great thing to point out!). From the Prime Minister himself falling for his less than proper house maid, to a goofy twenty-something going to America to use his “cute British accent” to pick up girls. Each tale not only shows a different perspective on love and a different way in which it can be experienced, but also goes to great care to point out that love is love…one way is not better or worse than the other. Even the film’s least happy tale, of a husband and father contemplating an affair with his much younger secretary, shows his realization that lust and its immediate benefits pale in comparison to the long term feeling of real love, even if it’s not always as exciting.   

All of this is for not if it’s not done well. I’m not going to get into a full review here but I will say a two things, first, this is one of the most talented casts of the last 40 years and everyone seems to be all in…there isn’t a single performance I would say was “phoned in”. Second the locales, mostly London, are gorgeous and really feel like the prototypical picturesque Christmas. I mean, is there a more beautiful place than Britain during Christmas? I think I’ve made my case but I’ll reiterate once again that this should be the first movie for everyone to start the season, there’s no better way to be reminded of what it’s all about from the start. 

Let's all do something this holiday season that makes us feel like this!

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