Christmas Movie Time

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is curling up on the couch and watching Christmas movies. Actually I’ll watch Christmas based anything, from the classic Rankin Bass cartoons of yesteryear to the yearly offerings of TV specials to spending hours down a You Tube rabbit hole of Vloggers, classic Christmas commercials, and whatever else may pop up.

But still, the movies are the main focus of holiday viewing. We all have our favorites, of course, and since this is my blog you’re about to read all about some of mine. Now y’all know how much I like lists, but instead of doing your standard movie ranking I’m going to switch it up and give you my own list of the most underrated and overrated Christmas movies.

Now, just because a movie is listed as being overrated in my eyes doesn’t necessarily make it bad, nor is an underrated movie a masterpiece. I’m just throwing out a few thoughts for your consideration. This list is purposefully short, as I decided to leave off some of the more controversial genres such as the Christmas horror film, and the purposefully crass R rated comedies that have become so prevalent over the last 20 years or so.

So here we go, with four movies you should maybe take a second look at, and four that could maybe use a breather.

DAVE’S FOUR FAVORITE UNDERRATED CHRISTMAS FILMS

4. MIXED NUTS (1994)
This one’s got a PG-13 rating and is a movie for grown-ups, but not in the “Bad Santa” kind of way. It is a dark comedy about a suicide hotline on Christmas Eve. Not exactly festive I know, but with a smart script and direction by Norah Ephron and a strong ensemble cast this one is a worth watching. Steve Martin is always enjoyable, as is Madeline Kahn (she was truly a gift to us all), and this is the movie that made me a fan of Rita Wilson. Add in Garry Shandling an Juliette Lewis, and you’ve got a win in my book. Okay, so I could do without Adam Sandler and his stupid voices but his time on screen is mercifully brief. Perhaps this film is a bit dated, and certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

3. ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (2011)
The first cartoon on this list, I feel like this movie gets overlooked quite a bit. It’s certainly not perfect, but it is quite charming. It’s a pretty standard Christmas Eve emergency movie. It shows us Santa’s high tech North Pole headquarters that enables him to deliver all those gifts in one night. However, when he misses one deserving child it’s up to his goofy but loveable youngest son Arthur to save the day. This movie is very British in style and humor which may be why it’s not considered the classic it could be, but it speaks to my sensibilities very much. Inventive animation and a stellar cast (Hugh Laurie!) make “Arthur Christmas” a delight.

2. THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS (2017)
Not so much underrated as unknown, which is a pity because this is a great film. This movie is a different take on “A Christmas Carol” in that it is the story of how Charles Dickens wrote the tale, and helps bring to light how our modern ideas on Christmas were shaped by this book. Semi-biographical, fairly revisionist, and absolutely fantastical, “The Man Who Invented Christmas” is a true holiday treat. If you are a Dickens fan, you’ll enjoy seeing a portrait of your favorite author on screen. If you are a fan of “A Christmas Carol” you’ll enjoy seeing the story come together based on real life inspiration and Dickens’ vivid imagination. If you like Christmas movies, this is one that is a bit different from your standard holiday fare, but sure to bring a smile-even to old Scrooge himself.

1. FRED CLAUS (2007)
Okay, I understand why this movie gets dumped on, but I really don’t think it deserves quite the level of basing it regularly gets. This, like “Arthur Christmas”, is a look at Santa’s family, this time focusing on his ne’er-do-well brother Fred and the relationship between the two. Okay, so it’s got plot holes you could drive a truck through. Sure, it never really decides if it wants to be a family film or a snarky comedy. However, it is filled with some great acting (Paul Giamatti as Santa! John Michael Higgins! Vince Vaughn. Elizabeth Banks! Kathy Bates!), some neat camera tricks, and some really funny scenes. It still manages to feel really Christmassy by the end and that is all that matters to me.

DAVE’s FOUR MOST OVERRATED CHRISTMAS FILMS

4. THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)
A lot of people really like this film, and I get it. The story is a good one at its heart, with a good message. Also, there is still something romantic about trains, especially one that takes you to see Santa. It’s just that the movie falls a bit flat. There should be a sense of wonder that never quite materializes, the movie is a little bit stodgy and boring instead of wondrous and inspiring. The animation was considered fairly cutting edge at the time, but it’s always just looked a little creepy to me. There is a lot of talent on display here, and the movie isn’t bad, but it’s still a miss overall.

3. DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000)
Full disclosure: I am not a Jim Carrey fan. I find his mugging and constant hammy chewing up of every scene to be obnoxious, tedious, and the opposite of anything that remotely resembles comedy. That being said, his role as The Grinch is the one time where I actually think it works. Try as I might, I can’t blame my dislike of this movie on Carrey and his antics. Part of my problem is that I believe a live action version of this classic book and tv special is just a really bad idea. You may capture the look to a degree, but you can never quite get it all right. The other issue I have is that expanding a short work for film is always risky, and while giving the Grinch a backstory is an intriguing idea, the writers really dropped the ball here conceptually. The original idea was that The Grinch detested Christmas because he didn’t understand it, although the Whos down in Whoville knew the true meaning and celebrated it gifts or no. In this version The Grinch is against the capitalisms of the Whos’ Christmas, and their cruelness and insensitivity. All the joy and love of the original is gone, replaced by a world wearines and what really feels like a mean spirited take on the holiday as a whole, only to be cleared up at the end because you can’t not do the heart growing three sizes thing. This movie is a mess, and a wasted opportunity.

2. HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (1992)
Most sequels are not as beloved as their predecessors, and that does hold true here, but most fans would agree that “Home Alone 2” is a worthy successor. Ehhh, I guess. I mean, it’s not a terrible movie, but it’s really just a retread of the first movie which, let’s face it, had its flaws, but is entertaining enough to deserve some rewatch love. For some reason though, the tone of this sequel comes across as being much darker, and the slapstick comedy is not as cartoonish. It looks like it hurts. There are a few bright spots, and Tim Curry is always a delight, but that’s not enough to make this any more than an obvious cash grab. Be that as it may, there are still people who love this movie and marathon it with the first one every year.

1. ELF (2003)
Okay…wait. Hold on. Calm down. Hear me out. I like “Elf”. I really do. I have seen it multiple times, and it makes me laugh. It gives me the feels, and I think it deserves to be considered a classic. So why do I say it’s overrated? Because it is. Here’s a few reasons as to why. 1.) Look, everybody loves Buddy’s innocence, but his obnoxiousness gets a little wearing. I can sympathize with his Dad, for sure. 2.) A grown man in an elf costume is funny once but not after repeated viewings. 3.) Come on, the shower scene is pretty cringe, even if it is an innocent mistake. Otherwise, I like the movie a lot. I just don’t feel like I need to watch it yearly, and I get a little tired of being bombarded with Elf quotes and merchandising every year. It’s just too much. I kind of wish it wasn’t such a success (no offense to the film makers or excellent cast). If it was just this little, silly movie that most people didn’t know about and you kind of had to find and appreciate on your own, I think that would make it a little more special. Which, of course, makes me a cotton headed ninny-muggins. I just don’t want to wear it on a t shirt.

All right, now that I have thoroughly annoyed you by picking apart your favorite movie (or, hopefully, inspired you to see a new one) I’m going to wrap it up for this edition of MonDAVEs. join me next week, when I have absolutely nothing planned and will have to wing it.

P.S.-Look for a special “Spider Man” post this weekend-guest blogger in tow!

Non-Christmas Songs

It’s that time of year again. Days are shorter, there’s a chill in the air (usually, although this year it’s moved back into Spring type weather-what’s that about?), and we’re starting the countdown to the big day. Yep, it’s Christmas time.

I am what is commonly known as a “Christmas Guy”. I am a geek about the holiday and have no regrets or embarrassment about the fact. The next few weeks of blogs will reflect that, but I promise not to get too wacky about it, (I am a “Christmas Guy” but not a crazy one!) and those of you who don’t quite share my enthusiasm should still find something to like and/or relate to. Otherwise, see you in January I guess.

For this week’s topic, let’s talk about Christmas music. Look, I know a lot of people don’t like it much, except for maybe a few days before the main event, and even then only in short bursts. Then there are those who love it, and start humming the tunes in July-and they’d only just stopped singing them in April. Some only like the old traditional songs, some like modern versions and some won’t acknowledge anything but hymns. So there’s a lot to unpack about the whole Christmas music issue on both an emotional and technical level.

What I’d like to discuss today though, is the phenomenon of the “non-Christmas” Christmas song, perhaps better referred to as “Holiday” music. These are songs that carry no religious significance, nor do they mention the Christmas holiday in any way. Yet they are only listened to or performed in conjunction with Christmas and the holiday season. Many of these songs could still be appropriately sung throughout the entire Winter. In fact, most of them are a celebration of Winter itself.

Yet, we lock them away come December 26th and leave them be until the next year. Why? Why can we not have classic Winter songs? There are songs we associate with Summer time, and sing them for months so why don’t we do the same with these songs? Perhaps because we have so closely associated Winter time and Christmas together that it feels strange to sing about one without the other. Maybe after the celebration of Christmas these songs just begin to lose their spark. After all, once the holidays are over Winter can become quite tough in many areas and carefree songs might not fit the bill anymore.

Whatever the reason I always felt it a bit unfair that these songs don’t get their due in the way they were intended. Still, they get plenty of attention for a month or so and we shine the spotlight on them yearly as part of our National traditions, and that’s more than can be said for most songs so it all works out I suppose.

Now here’s a list of my favorite “Non-Christmas” Christmas Songs. In an effort to keep things brief (too late!) this list will be focusing on tried and true classics. I’ve also included a few thoughts about each. Told you I was a geek. Anyway, here we go.

JINGLE BELLS
-Probably the grand daddy of all the songs on this list. It has been suggested that this was written as a Thanksgiving song, but wound up gaining popularity as a Christmas song instead. Poor Thanksgiving, passed over again! Considering the time frame of the publication of this song and Thanksgiving being recognized as a holiday this story is questionable, but not entirely unlikely. This was originally published in 1857 as “The One Horse Open Sleigh”, Thanksgiving would not become an official holiday until 1870, although President George Washington began the practice as early as 1789.

Legend also has it that this was originally meant to be a drinking song, which is not quite as interesting a story, but just as good.

SLEIGH RIDE
Basically Jingle Bells only more modern. The maddening thing is that the song is nearly there. If only it were a Christmas party at the home of Farmer Grey as opposed to a birthday party, we’d have ourselves a Christmas song! Yet it was not meant to be. So it is not a Christmas song, but it does give you that Christmas feeling which is why it is so beloved. It’s one of my favorites too.

It is also my go-to anytime someone complains that they have a song in their head and they can’t get it out. I will straight up sing the first two lines of this song at them in the jolliest, most committed way I possibly can. Any time of year. You have been warned!

MY FAVORITE THINGS
This one’s kind of borderline. This Sound Of Music number is a classic to be sure but is it a Christmas song? Well, not really.

It makes some sense to think of it that way though, with lyrics about “snowflakes”, “sleigh bells”, “silver white winters” and “brown paper packages tied up with strings”, but the lyrics stop short of mentioning any holidays by name. It was first used as a Christmas song in 1961 on a Christmas special (sung by Julie Andrews, no less), and first recorded as such in 1964 by Jack Jones. Okay, so it was really just used an excuse to get a hit song in advance for the upcoming Sound Of Music movie, but it worked. Still does.

IT’S A MARSHMALLOW WORLD
Perhaps a bit lesser known than the others on this list but still a staple this time of year. This is definitely one that should have it’s place all Winter long. Both the Darlene Love and Dean Martin versions are fantastic, by the way. Go give ’em a listen. Especially Dino’s, it slaps as the kids say.

LET IT SNOW
Not about Christmas. Just about snow and cuddling up with yer honey until it’s over. That’s it. Sorry.

WINTER WONDERLAND
Okay, see, here’s another one that’s just about how much the songwriter loves Winter and, um, going for walks apparently. Still, it does put you in the jingle mood pretty much instantaneously so it’s a win.

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
While a favorite song of many a child in December, and a beloved character to all classic cartoon lovers, there is not one word about Christmas or holidays or anything. Yet Frosty is always mentioned with Rudolph and Santa as though they are all hanging out at the North Pole together. That’s a fun idea, but an inaccurate one. Sure, in the television special Frosty does say that he’ll be back on Christmas Day but it is not in the original song.

THE BELLS OF ST. MARY’S
Written in the early 1900s, this song was a hit at the time that, once again, had nothing to do with Christmas. It even mentions the “red leaves” of Autumn. The song became associated with Christmas when used in a scene of the film by the same name, featuring a Christmas pageant. Since then it has become a minor, but often present addition to many a Christmas album, most notably by “Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans” on Phil Spector’s Christmas record.

I’VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM
Another one set in December, but not about Christmas, just the warm feeling of a Winter romance. Best listened to when sung by Francis Albert late at night, fire going, and drink in hand.

There are more, but we will leave it here for now. Thanks for reading. More Christmas stuff next week.

P.S. If you’re looking to make a playlist, this would be a good start…

Random Stuff From My Brain Box

A few random thoughts I have had this week.

The conversation I have had the most as an adult is as follows: “Excuse me.” “Oh no, you’re fine.” I have been on both ends of that conversation. Usually at the grocery store, often multiple times in the same visit.
Enough with the glitter already. Avoid the temptation this season and save whoever opens your gift a lot of bother. Sure it’s fun to look at, but it’s a pain in the butt. Kind of like TicTok.
Why is it called “The Great British Bake Off” in England but “The Great British Baking Show” here in America? Follow up: Why do I care?
Most “cat people” are fine with dogs, but a lot of “dog people” really, really, really hate cats. I mean, like, H-A-T-E cats, to the point of wishing them harm. Why is that?
This whole flavored candy cane thing has gone too far. If I get a candy cane I expect peppermint, that’s it. I was tolerant when some other flavors started creping in, like cinnamon, or chocolate, or chocolate-peppermint for that matter. I turned a blind eye to the Life Savers and Starburst companies making their own multiflavored canes. However, I was recently informed that there are new flavors like mac and cheese, dill pickle and, get ready-kale flavored candy canes. We gotta chill y’all. Some things are best left alone. Back to peppermint, please.
I bet if he really tried Peter Jackson could do a project that has only one part and clocks in under three hours. I know he did so in the past with his early horror films but he hasn’t been able to do so for some time. It would take some focus but I believe in him.
The technical terms involved in glass blowing have incredibly dirty double meanings, but I shan’t elaborate.
In the past 24 hours, the temperature has gone from 61 degrees down to 28(!) and back up to 59 degrees. This is why I am not a fan of autumn in this part of the country-it can’t get its act together weather-wise. Sure, Autumn is fun to look at, but it’s a pain in the butt. Kind of like Tic Tok.
Watched a documentary on the movie “Elf”. I didn’t realize that it was directed by John Favreau. I only know him from his association with the MCU. For those unfamiliar, he’s the guy who plays Happy Hogan in the Iron Man/Spider Man films. So Happy directed Elf. That makes me happy. Except I didn’t direct anything. Because I’m happy, not Happy. You know what, skip it. Never mind.
I love Christmas decorations. I always wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but I enjoy seeing them go up all over town, and if other people want to do it earlier that’s okay with me. The decorations at my house are somewhat humble via comparison to a lot of what you see. I think there’s more stuff inside now than out, but y’know, I actually look at what is inside more often, so why not? Anyway, my yard has a few small inflatables and there is a simple strand of lights on our porch and through the bushes. A few of my neighbors go all out though, which I appreciate and think is awesome. I’d love to join them, but I just can’t see me doing so. I simply don’t have the patience. I mean, when I think about all the hours of work these people put in, it’s just too much for me. Sure, it would be fun to look at, but it’s a pain in the butt. Kind of like Tik Toc.

Okay, that’s all I’ve got for today. that’s pretty much what it’s like to spend an extended weekend in my brain, which is not really recommended. I do it so you don’t have to. Christmas stuff next week. See you then.

Oh, and sorry for running that joke into the ground. The “Comedy Rule of Three” is in effect here. But to be honest I don’t know that it worked. Sure, it was funny at first, but it wound up being a pain in the butt. Kind of like MonDAVEs.

What, you were expecting a different punchline?

Seriously though, thanks for reading. Please come back next week when I promise to be more coherent.

We Came, We Saw, We REVIEWED This Movie!

It’s another Dad/Daughter movie review featuring 13 year old guest blogger Tessa! This blog is in danger of becoming a permanent review site, but we’ll just leave that here for right now.

Anyway, this week we are reviewing the newest film in the Ghostbusters series entitled Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It is a direct sequel to Ghostbusters 2, and a probable reboot of the series at large. For those who may not be aware, a plot summery follows. A single mother and her to kids move to an inherited house in a small town where they discover their grandfather’s connection to the Ghostbusters and, naturally, a supernatural threat to mankind. So there, that’s nice and vague. As usual, we will be as spoiler free as possible but there may be a few small ones. The rating system is as follows: 1-5 Daves or 1-5 Y’s (Y standing for Yasss!), 5 being the best.

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE: 4.5 Daves/ Tessa: 4.5 Y’s

Tessa: I liked this movie a lot more than I thought I would. It’s not like I expected it to be bad (it has Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace it couldn’t not be good), but I was pleasantly surprised at how good this movie was. Critics have been taking apart this movie (because they’re critics and that’s what they do), but I actually enjoyed it. I’ve seen the first Ghostbusters exactly once, and that was like a year ago, so I didn’t really expect to be able to follow along when the plot got reliant on what had been established in the first movie, but I understood it pretty well. It’s an enjoyable movie for any level of Ghostbusters fan, which I liked.

I loved every character, and it was a really funny movie as well. I expected there to be a bit of humor for Paul Rudd, but it would be a mostly action movie. But there was a lot of comedy, and it was done well enough that I didn’t think it was too much comedy. And I love how the new generation of Ghostbusters are all kids. As a kid, it makes me happy. It was very enjoyable and I really liked it!

Dave: As Tessa mentioned, the critics are not being very kind to this movie, and I understand why. Yes, this is a nostalgia trip that is uber-focused on fan service. Yes, the plot is really predictable. Yes, it goes for the heart more than the laughs and is more of a big budget adventure movie than straight comedy.

It is also a wonderful movie, and I loved every frame. I did come in with limited expectations, but found myself engrossed in the film quickly. I grew up with both the Ghostbusters movies and even though I don’t necessarily rewatch them on a regular basis, nor would I put them into a top ten, they are part of my movie DNA. I don’t know if I realized how much I loved these characters until I saw this film. I was really pleased with the way they handle the nostalgia for us original fans, and I think that this movie makes an excellent entry point for a new generation of Ghostbusters fans.

Speaking of the new generation, let’s talk about the new stars in the film. These kids are all quite relatable not only as characters but the actors themselves were all extremely likeable. McKenna Grace is very good in this film, she is one to watch for sure. Finn Wolfhard and Paul Rudd pretty much just show up and do what they do in every film they are in, and that’s no complaint. Worked for Bill Murray, right?

So sure, I could sit here and nitpick about some of the film’s flaws, but in my eyes the flaws are minimal and forgivable. Don’t let the professional critics fool you-listen to us.

T: Facts.

D: It may not be the laugh a minute movie that some would expect, but the humor in the film works just fine. This movie has a lot of heart, and true affection for both it’s characters and the original material. Go in with an open mind and I think you’ll find it quite enjoyable.

T: Also, I loved that there were some Marvel-esque cut-scenes! I just got the cutscene vibes from this movie (probably because a lot of it felt like a Marvel movie), and I was super excited when there were two cutscenes during the credits! My cutscene instincts never fail me.

D: Yes, those were fun! I’m not sure if they were parodying Marvel or if they just wanted to put more stuff in, but it works either way. It’s definitely worth sticking around for the extra scenes. There are some good cameos too.

Also, not gonna lie, I did tear up a little. Which is what you want from a comedy.

Go see this one in the theaters, we think you’ll really enjoy it on the big screen. It will work if you stream it or watch the blu-ray when it becomes available (I’ll be adding it to my collection, no doubt) but this is a good one for the theaters.

Bottom line: If there is an alternate universe where Steven Spielberg made a Ghostbusters movie during his heyday, this would be that film.

Okay, that’s it for this one. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone (maybe go to the movies over the holiday weekend?) and join me next week for more MonDAVEs.

More Of My Favorites

It’s bad out there, y’all. There’s lots of bad news wherever you look, and everybody seems to be tense and on edge. There’s only one thing for it. Dad jokes! Here are some more of my favorites.

A dad was outside washing the car with his son. The son says, “Why can’t you just use a sponge?”

The only thing flat earthers fear is sphere itself.

I only seem to get sick on weekdays. I must have a weekend immune system.

Why do Marvel like to use The Hulk in advertisements? He’s basically one big Banner.

I’d tell you a pizza joke, but it’s too cheesy.

I just found out I am color blind. The news came right out of the purple!

This morning Siri told me not to call her Shirley. Turns out I left my phone in Airplane mode.

Did you hear about those new corduroy pillows? They’re making headlines!

How do you get a squirrel to like you? Act like a nut.

Wanna hear a joke about paper? Never mind, it’s tearable.

And finally…

Never blame anyone else for the road you are on. That’s your own asphalt!

You know you’ll tell at least one of these so bad they’re good jokes. Pass ’em along and give somebody a laugh, we all need it these days.

See you next MonDAVE for more stuff.