Holiday movies are one way I try to grasp on to those childlike feelings that were once wrapped in a glow of green and red wrapping paper. As an adult, the holidays have changed, but we all knew this day was coming. The movies that I once enjoyed as a child do not resonate those childlike feelings quite like they used to, but I still rush to the channels showing them in hopes I can forget about the stresses of this time of year.
I have developed a list of holiday films that will put you in the Christmas spirit after surviving the caffeinated blur that is finals week.
Four Christmases
Four Christmases pretty much sums up a lot of what it’s like to be an adult during Christmas. Vince Vaughn stars with Reese Witherspoon in a funny and realistic holiday flick that raises awareness to the stress and turmoil that is Christmas time. Vaughn and his high paced jokes along with family awkwardness ties in well with problems that we face on Christmas day. Overbearing families and funny sequences in which Vaughn and Witherspoon find themselves having to spend time with their family rather than spending time on a tropical island may make you feel like the holidays aren’t that bad after all.
Christmas Vacation
Every family I know calls themselves “The Griswolds” after watching this movie. I think this is because we all see the terror that comes with having a lot of family interacting with each other over the holidays. We all have family members that try to keep peace as tensions run high, but none do it quite like Clark Griswold in this film. Griswold’s infectious personality reminds me of the cringe-worthy moments spent with family over the holidays. The Griswolds house their entire family and walk on eggshells through the holidays while the family discovers things about themselves that can only be found through the magic of Christmas. With a family the size of mine, the story of the Griswolds is a correlation of feelings that I have during this time of year. Even though my entire family may not be residing at my house for the weeks leading up to Christmas, I still can sense the family tensions rising as everyone is in and out of the house getting ready for a day that the pretty much is only still exhilarating for the children in my family.
Every Christmas Episode of The Office
Obviously this isn’t a movie, but who can resist Steve Carell going against office etiquette in nearly every episode of The Office. When I watch the show, I always am fascinated by how awkward the writers are able to make me feel throughout a Carell monologue that is usually interrupted by assistant to the regional manager Dwight Schrute. The Christmas episodes of the show are a must watch during the holidays, and let’s be honest, you’re going to Netflix binge at some point during the break, you may as well get into the spirit by divulging into Steve Carell being the greatest awkward enabler on modern television.
Elf
I mean, what would a list of Christmas movies to watch over break be without Elf? Will Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf in a way that will always be burned into my mind. One of the things that I looked forward to growing up is watching Elf on television and it isn’t Christmas time until you have watched Elf so many times that you lose count. In ways, Buddy the Elf describes all of us as kids growing up during Christmas time, we never want to let go of traditions and beliefs that are now simply unfathomable that once made the Christmas season special.
Die Hard
Just kidding, Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. I’ve been seeing this debate on Twitter for a while now: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? It’s not, as much as you may want it to be. Yes, Bruce Willis says, “Merry Christmas” in the movie, but Christmas is not of essential importance to the plot. Yeah, the main characters are at a Christmas party and a lot of the typical Die Hard action goes down at that party, but the movie is awesome whether it was Christmas time or not. You can watch Die Hard during the holidays, I probably will, but I would watch Die Hard at any time of year and be satisfied.
A Christmas Story
This is a timeless classic. I remember as a kid gathering with family the night before Christmas to watch A Christmas Story; I also remember when I was a kid I didn’t understand some of the jokes that were made during the film and wondering why my parents were laughing so hard at those parts. We still gather to watch this movie, but now we all get the jokes and the relatable comedy that faces a little boy and his family leading up to the big day. The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Ralphie, and his journey to get his coveted Red Rider BB Gun. Don’t have A Christmas Story on DVD? Don’t worry, TBS broadcasts the movie for 24 hours straight on Christmas Day.
All of these films will be on pretty much all throughout the holidays, so while you’re recovering from your usual winter break hangover, you might as well try to tap into those hidden holiday feelings.
