12 Days of Christmas 2015: A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol (1984)
Starring: George C. Scott, David Warner, Roger Rees
Directed by: Clive Donner


With my last review of the year 2015, I'm going to leave you with my thoughts another version of A Christmas Carol that I'm brand new to watching. This time, let's just strip away the gimmicks. No Mickey Mouse. No Kermit the Frog. No Bill Murray. Let's have a genuine version of A Christmas Carol made by British filmmakers and starring British actors. Return it to its Charles Dickens roots and let's see something truly memorable that could lead to the definitive film version of A Christmas Carol. Ok...so this is a television movie, but I own it on DVD, it's distributed by Fox, and I've already reviewed a version that was technically just a 25 minute short, so I'm going to go ahead and count the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol as my final review of 2015 and the final review in my 12 Days of Christmas series this year. Wait...in my Scrooged review, I went on a tangent about television, and in that movie they are making a television film for A Christmas Carol. There we go. That's the segue I'm going with. Anyways, here's my thoughts on the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol. Enjoy.

Ebenezer Scrooge is played by George C. Scott in this version. What more needs to be said? The guy commands the screen as Scrooge. He knows how to play him as such a miserable, greedy schmuck. As time goes on, you can see him display a wide array of motions during his journey, particularly when he travels to the past. You see bitterness, lament, and even joy. That's a lot of complex emotions for an actor to get right in a performance and Scott is more than up to the task in this film. I definitely think he's the best Scrooge I've seen thus far, as his transformation really comes off as something sincere. Just look at that picture. THAT'S what I imagine Ebenezer Scrooge looks like. Bravo Mr. Scott.

The supporting cast is pretty solid here. A few of the standouts include David Warner as Bob Cratchit and Roger Rees as Scrooge's nephew Fred. There's even a small role from Michael Gough (whom I know as Alfred from the '80s and '90s Batman movies) that I had fun seeing. But the Ghosts really win over the supporting cast. The costumes they gave these guys and the performances that shine through really help elevate the narrative. The Ghost of Jacob Marley is actually pretty creepy to look at, the Ghost of Christmas Past looks like something out of a David Bowie video, and the Ghost of Christmas Present is jolly, but knows when to be stern. You may have noticed that I haven't really referred to the Ghost of Christmas Future/Yet to Come in any of my reviews. That's because he's usually an empty performance in a black cloak or a special effect. Anyways, the cast is able to keep up with Scott in delivering good performances throughout the film and definitely make it one of the best acted versions of A Christmas Carol that I've seen.

I'm sure there are many who would look at this version of A Christmas Carol as the definitive version to see. And in many cases, it is. Based on the ones I've watched this holiday season, this one seems the closest to telling an authentic story representing Charles Dickens. I mean, just sit through this movie and gaze upon the atmosphere. The snow, the shadows, the lighting. This film is just bathing in rich scenery to set a proper tone. However, the one thing that may hold up the modern, casual moviegoer is the dialogue. It's really tough to get into if you don't have an appreciation for the British culture. If you don't understand the older English dialect that you would see on stuff most commonly found via the BBC, then this may be a tough movie to sit through. Even so, the atmosphere is so spectacular and the performances are so well done that it's still a great movie to watch during the holidays, whether you understand what they're saying or not.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

With good performances and authentic feel to it, the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol feels like a definitive version for all Christmas fans to see at least once. It might be a tad slow or "British" for the general viewer, but if you're a fan of the Dickens classic, give this one a shot. You might find a good number of things in it that will leave you delighted to have watched it.

A Christmas Carol and movie images are copyrighted by 20th Century Fox

12 Days of Christmas 2015: Scrooged

Scrooged (1988)
Starring: Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe
Directed by: Richard Donner


I know what a lot of you are thinking here on Fowler's Film Blog: "Fowler, are you getting tired of sitting through so many versions of A Christmas Carol?" The answer is simply no. If the world hasn't gotten fed up with majority of these adaptations, then most of them should have something that causes them to stand out from the rest. If they were all the same, THEN I'd be sick of it. If you're able to tell the story with a good Scrooge, and a fun gimmick like Muppets or Disney characters, then the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is easy to entertain me. But what happens when your Christmas Carol film isn't actually A Christmas Carol? Scrooged is a 1988 comedy, serving as a modern interpretation inspired by A Christmas Carol. With a director like Richard Donner, notable for The Goonies, Lethal Weapon, and Superman: The Movie, and a main actor like Bill Murray attached, it has certainly gained a large following as far as popular Christmas Carol movies go for the last couple of decades. But this year marks my first year ever watching it, so what did I think of Scrooged?

For starters, I have a huge adversity in my household when it comes to Bill Murray. My wife doesn't get his humor and popularity, and it's hard for me to explain it to her when she's sat through films like Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day without laughing. As a result, I find that it's best I watch his movies by myself. In Scrooged, he plays a greedy and cynical television executive named Frank Cross. One thing that I love about his portrayal of Frank is that through his Bill Murray brand of sarcasm, he makes Frank a pain in the butt, but still likable. Through his past, you see that a lot of his greed and hatred for Christmas was brought through his upbringing. In the other versions of A Christmas Carol that I've seen, Scrooge just seems evil for the most part. The greed comes out of nowhere in the Mickey and Muppet versions. This at least feels much more understandable and tragic to behold. You're really rooting for the guy to see the error of his ways and he gets really close a number of times in the film, but then regresses. It's a roller coaster of momentum for him, starting with skepticism but ultimately coming to regret and the desire to reform. That's a lot of material for Bill Murray to work with and he does a great job with it.

The supporting cast for this film is absolutely phenomenal. Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Alfre Woodard, John Glover, Bobcat Goldthwait (who I swear is the comedic inspiration for Charlie Day after watching him in Scrooged) all play memorable roles that are able to play off of Murray really well. I especially like how they aren't carbon copies of their Christmas Carol counterparts. In this version, it is explored that Frank lost the chance of love in the past, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't have a shot at redemption with Claire, played by Karen Allen. I also like how Goldthwait and Woodard combine to form the Bob Cratchit character. I won't give too much away, but both play equally integral parts in Frank's life in the same way Cratchit did for Scrooge. But the major highlights are the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present, played by David Johansen and Carol Kane. Both have great humorous bits messing with Frank, especially Kane who resorts in beating the crap out of Frank whenever she can while still trying to be overly cheerful. Johansen's humor comes out of being an off the wall taxi driver (not the Robert De Niro kind) who literally drives Frank insane in his journey to the past. If Murray brought you to Scrooged, the supporting cast helps you see that this isn't a one-note gimmick film.

What Scrooged excels in, besides the cast, is its modern interpretation of the Charles Dickens classic. Instead of being greedy over collecting finances, its greed over power through television. The setting isn't an older, classical England, but rather a modern, corporate America. When they utilize moments from A Christmas Carol, it's done in a tongue in cheek way, calling back to the traditional story while also poking fun at it. The irony of it is when you look at all the television programming, or even half of what the corporation is looking for with the target audience, it was satirical at the time. But now, I think a lot of humanity has actually "evolved" into what this movie was actually making fun of. Does that mean the movie is in the wrong for trying to steer us away from that lifestyle? No, not at all. We're entirely to blame for that. But isn't it a fun kind of blame to have? Who doesn't like television? Especially the crap television that exists today. Good Lord, maybe I'm becoming a Scrooge after watching Scrooged. Well isn't that a bit of something...


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I'm really glad I decided to check Scrooged out this year. It had me laughing a ton and I really like the modern interpretation of A Christmas Carol. The big selling point on whether you'll like this movie is Bill Murray. Thankfully, I enjoy his work, so I'll be glad to watch this film at Christmastime for many more years.

Scrooged and movie images are copyrighted by Paramount Pictures

12 Days of Christmas 2015: The Muppet Christmas Carol

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Starring: Michael Caine, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz
Directed by: Brian Henson


And here we have ANOTHER Disney version of A Christmas Carol. No...I'm not doing that creepy looking Jim Carrey version. Anyways, onto The Muppet Christmas Carol. The Muppets are a great form of nostalgia and childhood for a lot of young children and families. Add a classic story and a warm environment like Christmastime, and you have a recipe for something that will be re-watched for years. If you're a Muppet fan, you're going to watch this movie. There's no question there. So what further selling point would you need? How about having a celebrated British actor like Michael Caine playing Ebenezer Scrooge? If you aren't intrigued by that point, then I don't know what else to tell you. Does the movie work? In many ways, yes it does. But it still has a couple of flaws that I'll bring up below. Again, if you like The Muppets, then it'll still probably be a part of your traditional Christmas movie playlist. But for now, let's look at the pros and cons that surround The Muppet Christmas Carol.

So Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge, and you'd expect that that would be a perfect fit. In many ways he is, but it's not a perfect portrayal. His singing, while spotty, feels genuine. And he's very good in the beginning when he's being the mean Scrooge. The part that's really unconvincing is when he's evolving into being a kinder Scrooge. Something about it seems a bit phoned and his character progression reflects by hitting plot points, but I don't feel like that particular Scrooge is being properly portrayed as we're hitting those points. I know Michael Caine is a great actor and has good moments as Scrooge, but it begs the question "Would you phone in the performance if you knew your co-stars were made of felt?"

Of course, you can't have a Muppets movie without The Muppets. Some of it feels pretty obvious with the casting. Kermit the Frog plays Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy is his wife, Fozzie Bear plays a version of Fezziwig named Fozziwig (never before has a Fozzie pun been used so well), you get the idea. My favorite Muppet portion is the stuff with Gonzo and Rizzo. Rizzo plays himself, but Gonzo claims to be a blue, furry Charles Dickens and the two serve as our narrators for the film. They work off each other well and provide a lot of jokes, from puns, to slapstick, and always with fantastic comedic timing. The Muppets were what you came for, and they do their job very well.

I will say that the one thing that doesn't stick out to me in The Muppet Christmas Carol is the songs. The Muppets are known for a lot of popular songs and musical numbers, but there wasn't anything that stood out to me here. I know there are some of you that are probably wondering "Hey, what about that scene when Scrooge sings a duet with his former love?" I remember that scene, but not the song. And even worse, the Blu-ray version that I have has that song cut out of the film to reflect how the film was originally shown in theaters. The sets are intricate and they go all out to forego too many jokes in order to properly do an actual movie about A Christmas Carol, but the songs, something The Muppets know how to do well, don't do much for me here.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Perfect? No. Enjoyable. Heck yes. The Muppet Christmas Carol delivers the characters you know and love from The Muppets, a beloved British actor in Michael Caine, and deliver a well-made take on the Charles Dickens classic. Just don't expect the songs to be stuck in your head.

The Muppet Christmas Special and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

12 Days of Christmas 2015: Mickey's Christmas Carol

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
Starring: Alan Young, Wayne Allwine, Hal Smith
Directed by: Burny Mattinson


Technically speaking, this may not be considered an actual movie, but it's celebrated in many homes nearly every Christmas and it was nominated for an Oscar, so I'm going to count it. In my final 4 days of the year, I'm going to close out 2015 by looking at the 4 versions of A Christmas Carol that I own. One of the most beloved Christmas stories ever told, there have been dozens of adaptations of the Charles Dickens novel, but the one that I was introduced to was Mickey's Christmas Carol. It should come as no surprise how much I love Disney, in fact you can probably imagine that I'm due for another Disney month sooner rather than later. But back to Mickey's Christmas Carol. There are tons of movies that have done A Christmas Carol well, so how does a half hour animated short fair with the rest of them? Would you be surprised that an animated short that has a third of the time that most movies do is capable of being one of the best adaptations of the novel?

No version of A Christmas Carol is successful without a good Ebenezer Scrooge, and this one is told via Scrooge McDuck. What else needs to be said? They both have the name Scrooge. Clearly, they are going to a good pairing. You get that he's greedy, but he has a joy to being greedy that's just enjoyable to watch. Making appearances in a few Disney comics, this short really put Scrooge McDuck on the map of Disney canon. Of course, this would lead to him being part of a great Disney cartoon in DuckTales (WOO-HOO!) and showing up in other Disney shorts for the last 30 years. Not a bad legacy for a character inspired by another character he'd eventually end up playing.

The other characters work out very well. You've got Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit, Goofy as the ghost of Jacob Marley, and Donald Duck as Scrooge's nephew Fred. You've got the main Disney powerhouse backing up this cast, and then you see them pull some more obscure characters for cameos. Jiminy Cricket, Pete, Mr. Toad, Willie the Giant and others are seen during Scrooge's haunting scenes with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. I think it works better this way than if you were to use a bundle of Disney's most famous characters. It'd be kinda distracting if Pinocchio, Baloo, or Dumbo was playing one of the ghosts.

Mickey's Christmas Carol is successfully able to tell a large and universally known story and tell it within the span of a half hour. It's a short targeted towards families and I think it's a great medium to do so. If you've never read this story or seen another version of it in TV or movies, then Disney is making sure that you'll get the bare bones of this beloved tale. Like a very in depth SparkNotes version of the story. You know, the type that won't give you every detail, but will still get you an A. That's what this short is like. Great job Disney.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Mickey's Christmas Carol is one of the best executed Christmas specials ever, let alone of the best Christmas Carol adaptations out there. If you can track this one down, it's worth the watch every year from here on out.

Mickey's Christmas Carol and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

12 Days of Christmas 2015: Ernest Saves Christmas

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
Starring: Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Oliver Clarke
Directed by: John R. Cherry III


Thanks to a last minute Christmas trip, I was in a place where I didn't get to finish the rest of my Christmas reviews on time. But with 5 days left in the year and 5 days left to go, I plan on fulfilling my holiday duties and will still bring you the reviews I intended. So let's get to...Ernest Saves Christmas. Oh for goodness sake, a movie like this made me really wish I hadn't reviewed a lot of the classics in my first year. This was awful. This was painful. This was insufferably stupid. This was an hour and a half of my time that took a grand total of 2 days to try and get through. Yeah...THAT bad. And I know there's a lot of '80s and '90s people that might find the character of Ernest P. Worrell nostalgic and enjoyable as a guilty pleasure. WAKE THE HECK UP PEOPLE. He's one of the biggest skid marks left on comedy and this Christmas installment of his many "grand" adventures left me wondering why we would bother celebrating this bozo for a grand total of more than 8 films, when we don't even give that many films to some modern action franchises.

Ernest Saves Christmas features the late Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell, one of the most annoying movie protagonists you'll ever have the displeasure of seeing. In fact, DON'T see it. Save yourself. Ernest is the worst part of his own movie. And I don't think that's a one-time thing. I'm sure it exists in all his other movies. Now, I'm not tarnishing the legacy Jim Varney left behind. He's been in other things I like (really, just the first two Toy Story movies but...) and admittedly the goal of Ernest is to be obnoxious, so he does what he's supposed to do. He makes funny faces, can do imitations, and that works as comedy to some people. Personally, it's not my kind of comedy so I'm the wrong audience for it. But at least I can acknowledge that even if I dislike it, I can appreciate that the guy was dedicated to his comedic bits for a LOT of movies.

There's one thing that actually works really well for the film and it's Douglas Seale as Santa Claus. His story is surprisingly compelling, he's overwhelmingly sweet and charming, and you are actually left enjoying him whenever he's on the screen. Does he have a belly that jiggles like a bowl of jelly? No, but he is certainly a jolly, likable character, so at least there's something redeemable to come out of this pile of garbage.

Point blank, ignore Earnest Saves Christmas. Stay as far away from it as humanly possible. It may, in fact, ruin your Christmas. If you have a deep love for the classics, ignore this one. It gets a mild point for the Santa Claus portrayal, but started out as a 0 out of 5 stars because of how annoying the title character is. He belongs nowhere near the list of memorable Christmas characters and this belongs nowhere near the list of all-time Christmas classics. It's stupid, annoying, and lacks any charm that would make a Christmas movie like this worthwhile. If I didn't get the message across, I'll leave you with this little nugget of a metaphor: watching an Ernest film is about as funny as a punch in the privates. Merry Christmas indeed.


Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Ernest Saves Christmas is one of the dumbest mainstream Christmas movies imaginable. Avoid watching this if you're curious about exploring the Ernest character, it's not worth your time. Only check this out if you are looking for a film with a REALLY good portrayal of Santa Claus. That is the only thing I can even possibly try recommending it for.

Ernest Saves Christmas and movie images are copyrighted by Touchstone Pictures

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac
Directed by: J.J. Abrams


After waiting 10 years for another Star Wars film to hit the big screen, sitting through the amazing advertising campaign with the spoiler-free trailers, pre-ordering the tickets a month in advanced, and waiting in line at the movie theater, the time has finally arrived. The wait is over as Star Wars: The Force Awakens has finally hit theaters. Directed by J.J. Abrams, featuring a new cast, and taking place 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the film has had probably the biggest amount of hype circulating a movie since...well, The Phantom Menace. Heading in, I was both excited and terrified. This film has been built up for years, the trailers have been amazing, and I didn't want to have to sit through another disappointing trip to a galaxy far, far away. After all the waiting and all the hype, how is The Force Awakens? I can happily say that balance has been brought back to the Star Wars franchise in the form of The Force Awakens.

Now, this is a film that surrounds a whole bunch of controversy for anyone who tries to spoil it, so I'll do my best to review the film without actually giving away all the major plot points and reveals. With that in mind, let's talk about a lot of the new characters that are brought into the mix. Without diving too far into their stories, we start off with the film's main character Rey, played by Daisy Ridley. Rey is an amazing character to watch, as she fills in sort of the Luke Skywalker role from A New Hope. She's a small part of a HUGE world and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. The difference is that she's not really looking for adventure. She's content with the idea that her life is the way it is and isn't looking for that big change that's coming. The obvious setup being that she has to embrace it, but it's an enjoyable development nonetheless. If Rey was unlikable, this movie wouldn't work. Period. It can be a great looking movie and have a couple memorable scenes, but if you can't connect with your main character, then your movie won't work. Hello prequel trilogy.

We've also got some great supporting characters to like besides Rey, like Finn, a former Stormtrooper played by John Boyega. Finn's backstory is extremely compelling, calling back to an idea of embracing fate or destiny, and thus changing out of that if you're unsatisfied with the results. Finn was a fun character that provided realistic comic relief. He wasn't over the top or stereotypical, but rather commented the way a Star Wars fan would if they were flying around the galaxy with the rest of the characters. Speaking of flying around, another great character was Poe Dameron, a Resistance pilot played by Oscar Isaac. He's such a cool character, oozing confidence in his pilot abilities and is just an overall likable dude. We don't get to see a lot of him, but since he's so likable in his introduction, we are sucked into watching those X-Wing battles. I mean, it's always great to see X-Wings facing TIE Fighters, but when you have someone you care about in the pilot's seat, you are emotionally invested in the space battles. See that? Effort. Characters I'm invested in. Action scenes that aren't pointless. It is so good to have a good Star Wars film back on the big screen.

Our heroes have a big threat against them in the form of the First Order, including the evil and mysterious Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver. A lot of people heading in were afraid this guy was going to be a discount Darth Vader, but he's actually given a lot to make him stand out as a villain. Yes, he has a gravelly voice and wears a hood, but he's got such a menacing tone that surrounds him. He just commands the scene he's in, proving just how powerful he can be. And when he wields a lightsaber, it is darn near frightening. He's not doing weird flips or overly choreographed moves. He is coming at you with a ferocity that you wouldn't want to be messing with. Is he Darth Vader or the Emperor? No. But he's miles ahead of the disposable Sith apprentices in the prequels, and he's definitely a villain that leaves a lasting impression, which is a very key component of getting the First Order over as a legitimate threat.

Now comes the part that gets tricky: addressing the characters from the original trilogy. It should be no surprise if you've seen the trailer that we get to see Han Solo and Chewbacca again, with Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew reprising their iconic roles. They come along with Rey and Finn on their journey and are a welcome addition to adventure. It's great to see them play these characters older. You can see that Han and Chewie have had their fair share of adventures between movies and they still have that best friend chemistry that makes them work so well together. Carrie Fisher returns as Leia Organa, now the General of the Resistance. Her screen time is limited, but it's very welcoming. Of course, the fans were over the moon for any interaction she has with Han Solo, proving that even 30 years removed from the franchise and their romance still fits like a glove. Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker are back as C-3PO and R2-D2, but they're delegated to mostly cameos, but it still works since they're able to work off each other and do their usual shtick together. And then there's Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. Luke's in the film...and that's ALL I can say without giving like 90% of the film's plot away.

At the end of the day, Star Wars: The Force Awakens lives up to the hype. Is it a perfect film? No, but it's the most fun I've had at the movie theater in years. For 2 hours and 15 minutes, this film, the characters, the fan interaction, made me forget everything about life existing outside the movie theater. As a movie buff, you cling onto movie experiences like that and I'm forever grateful that The Force Awakens was able to do that. That a film I thought couldn't possibly live up to the 10 year hype that existed in my head could live up to it. But it did. If I had any minor criticisms is that we don't get to have every question we have answered, making this feel like a transitional film in an obvious franchise. Again, that's a very minor, almost nitpicking criticism. I'm still beyond happy with the film we got. I can happily await the rest of this series to play out as J.J. Abrams and company have proved that Star Wars is in very good hands.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Only time will tell if this can stand out as one of the great Star Wars films. I'll wait for the hype to die down a little bit and have to reevaluate it with a few more viewings. For now, all I can do for a recommendation is to say you need to get out there and see Star Wars: The Force Awakens for yourself. If not, you're going to be missing out on the cinematic experience of our lifetime. It's a time for celebration moviegoers. Star Wars is back! May the Force be with you.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Studios

12 Days of Christmas 2015: The Ref

The Ref (1994)
Starring: Denis Leary, Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis
Directed by: Ted Demme


One of the holiday specials I was really looking forward to watching was The Ref. I love Denis Leary. I love Kevin Spacey. I had heard a lot of friends talk a great deal about watching it every Christmas. It seemed like a pretty easy connection to make. Then my wife and I sat down with some pizza to watch the film and were expecting to laugh throughout. That's not what we had, at first. We open with a first act that was grounded in reality, with a bit of levity thrown in. We really didn't get to the major laughs until the final act, but when it picked up, it REALLY picked up. Watching the film with the wife really helped, as we got a chuckle out of seeing the concept of a burglar abducting a bickering married couple, making HIM feel like a prisoner in their home. The fact that he grows fond of them enough to try and help them was also pretty funny. Then you throw in possibly one of the most awkward dinner scenes ever put to film, and the movie really won me over. Would I watch it every Christmas? I don't think I could call it a tradition yet, but I would definitely have no issues watching it if it's on during the holidays. With that in mind, let's see why The Ref has been considered a modern holiday comedy classic.

Denis Leary stars as Gus, a cranky burglar who chose the absolute worst family in the world to kidnap. This of course makes him very annoyed with his victims, and watching him try to contain his anger absolutely works. That's Denis Leary's attitude in a nutshell. If you make him upset, he's going to go ballistic and there will be cuss words and insults spewing everywhere. His reactions work as a great representation of the audience, as he's helped unlock a gateway to this crazy, dysfunctional family. And he says exactly what we've been thinking the entire film: SHUT UP!

The married couple we want to desperately shut up is Lloyd and Caroline Chasseur, played by Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis. If you've ever had problems during the holidays with a significant other, you'll be thankful that you aren't Lloyd and Caroline. BOTH have a laundry list of problems that they hash out at the other. BOTH are in the wrong. BOTH have some merit to their arguments. It's just a bad situation from the beginning. If you were Denis Leary, YOU'D feel the need to play ref as well.

The last thing I'll bring up about The Ref that really stands out among the Christmas movies is its ties to the Christmas story of Santa Lucia. Santa Lucia is a story and tradition that played a big part in the holidays during my time attending a Christian university. When this story was brought up in the film, I got a really big kick out of it. When I saw how it tied in to possibly the worst and most awkward family dinner scene in a Christmas movie, I got an even bigger laugh. The scene adds fuel to a temper filled and hilarious final act that needs to be seen to be believed. The amount of times my jaw dropped at how many harsh truths were dropped by this dysfunctional family during the holidays is something that can really make you appreciate that (hopefully) your family isn't this bad during Christmastime.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

If your holidays are full of dysfunctional family moments and awkward conversations (you know, like how holidays ACTUALLY are), chances are you'll really enjoy The Ref. The performances from the main three actors work so well and the family dynamic is so bizarre that it's one of the most enjoyable bickering families of the holiday season.

The Ref and movie images are copyrighted by Touchstone Pictures

12 Days of Christmas 2015: Eight Crazy Nights

Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
Starring: Adam Sandler, Jackie Titone, Rob Schneider
Directed by: Seth Kearsley


I'm sure a lot of you were surprised at how I actually gave some praise to a holiday bomb like Christmas with the Kranks. You ain't seen nothing yet. I grew up a big fan of Adam Sandler's comedy, and it was during the hit and miss stages. For every couple of successes, there was a bomb or two that would creep up on Sandler. Then came the disasters. He's had a serious fall from grace and receives a lot of hatred from moviegoers everywhere, but I think a lot of people forget that there was a point in our culture where he was the undisputed face of humor. There was a point in our history where Sandler was so popular that he was able to get a movie made to celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. And, to further cement how much of a classic holiday tale it was believed to be, it was an animated film. Eight Crazy Nights is one of those polarizing Sandler films that his fans consider either a hit or a miss. For me, I actually enjoy watching it every year despite it being crude and offensive. That's Sandler's bread and butter by now, at least this one is surrounded by holiday themes and animation. So let's dive right into Eight Crazy Nights.

Adam Sandler voices the film's three main characters. As Davey Stone, he pretty much just has to play himself, just as a mean drunk. This is very different for Sandler's usual type of character, who can usually be a drunk, but at least has that likable quality to them. They can have fun, crack some funny jokes and everything's alright with them. With Davey, he's just a bully. It's funny for a little bit, but then it goes on way too long. Even worse, they try to justify it with a traumatizing backstory. I think when Sandler tried to tie a moral to it, it doesn't work as well. Either have Sandler play Sandler or have him be mean the entire film. At least it would've stood out among the other Christmas stories we're used to. As Whitey and Eleanor Duvall, Sandler has to conjure up every ounce of energy to play possibly the two strangest and most annoying siblings in animated history. Are they among the great Christmas characters? Not at all, but they are surprisingly very quotable within my home, so I've grown to accept them. Those voices won't leave your head though, so consider yourself warned.

Say what you want about Sandler, but some of his best comedy came out of his songwriting. Heck, the entire reason this movie probably even exists is because he wrote "The Hanukkah Song." The music really stands out in Eight Crazy Nights as well, being overly catchy, while still maintaining the gross, mean-spirited humor that the film offers. At least it's staying consistent with the tone of the film. You'll be singing the songs as much as you'll be quoting the lines.

What isn't consistent is the tone of the film with the animation. I feel sorry for the animators that had to spend countless hours animating the beautiful Christmas settings and tie it together with Sandler's poop jokes. Those animators deserve better. Another thing that the tone affects is the main demographic. It's no secret that Christmas is the dominant holiday for a lot of the media. With Hanukkah being one of many holidays getting the short end of the stick, Eight Crazy Nights is one of the only, if not THE only major film that celebrates Hanukkah. If you're looking for a Hanukkah special that dignifies the culture and honors the holiday properly, my apologies to Jewish people everywhere, as that's NOT what you're gonna get with this one. But if you can have some fun with it, I think you'll get some laughs out of it.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Giving Eight Crazy Nights 3 stars might seem insane to some, but the songs are catchy, the animation is surprisingly beautiful, and this is one of my favorite Sandler films. It's crass, offensive, and entirely mean-spirited, but I find myself quoting it a lot around the holidays, so if you like Adam Sandler, this is a film you shouldn't pass up whether you're celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah.

Eight Crazy Nights and movie images are copyrighted by Columbia Pictures

12 Days of Christmas 2015: Christmas with the Kranks

Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd
Directed by: Joe Roth


And now, I celebrate Christmastime with a truly polarizing holiday film from this millennium. People either really enjoy this film, really hate this film, or have completely forgotten about it. Christmas with the Kranks was written by Chris Columbus (director of the first two Home Alone movies, the first two Harry Potter movies, and Mrs. Doubtfire) and stars Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dan Aykroyd. I remember seeing this one in the movie theater with my grandmother 11 years ago and really being happy that we saw it. Being a big fan of most things Tim Allen, I also find it refreshing to see him in a Christmas movie where he's NOT playing Santa Claus, so what do I think of the film with a fresh pair of eyes? I in no way think this is a GOOD film. I understand it's clunky and uninspired in many ways, but it also has a handful of really good decisions and ideas thrown into it. So is all really lost in a Christmas movie that is mostly forgotten if it has a number of things that are worth checking out?

Let's start by analyzing the main characters Luther and Nora Krank, played by Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. Tim Allen does a fun job of playing Luther as a greedy and selfish grump, while also bringing enough of his trademark humor to the table to make him a likable character. You get that he's thinking of doing something fun and cost effective for Christmas instead of the usual thing, but gets so lost in it that he's unable to salvage any form of sanity for himself. As for Jamie's performance, I'm convinced they sold this to her as a horror movie. Look at the way she reacts and screams at nearly everything, and you'll be convinced that she thought she was returning to the big screen as the "Scream Queen" moniker she had in the '80s. The chemistry these two share is actually realistic to a real couple and that's what I think makes the film's humor work for the most part. They have great comedic timing with each other, so I don't feel like I'm watching two great actors play roles, but instead see an actual bickering married couple.

Christmas with the Kranks also has a good supporting cast, but they're playing a lot of recycled character types that we've seen a million times. Generic cops, generic neighbors, generic bratty kids. There's nothing that really sticks out. Even Dan Aykroyd seems like he's just phoning it in playing neighborhood leader Vic Frohmeyer. There's great talent in the cast, but I think Chris Columbus could've done better at making these characters more memorable or important. The guy has history working with developing and establishing beloved characters (again, Harry Potter, Home Alone, and Mrs. Doubtfire), but I think it works better with him in the director's chair than the writer's table.

While the general public has probably forgotten about Christmas with the Kranks because of the recycled and lazy humor that is thrown at us, we shouldn't forget about a lot of the underrated good ideas that it offers. There's a lot of characters that are thrown our way and we get to know a few more than others. There's a great older character, played by M. Emmet Walsh, who likes to pick on Luther, and we find out his wife has cancer and it may very well be her last Christmas. That's a pretty heavy idea thrown in for a family comedy. The film also features a strong showing of community forgiveness, as well as generosity. We learn that true value isn't measured in money, but in the amount of friends and family that you can spend your time in. Are these customs new to us with Christmas films? Absolutely not, but that doesn't mean that they aren't little nuggets of positive filmmaking that can be found between the scenes making fun of Botox and spray tanning.


Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

If you like a cheaper brand of humor, as long as it's tied together with heartwarming themes and a happy ending, you may very much enjoy watching Christmas with the Kranks. It's by no means a holiday classic, but it's a fun enough family movie that could remind you at least once in your lifetime why it's a bad idea to try skipping Christmas.

Christmas with the Kranks and movie images are copyrighted by Columbia Pictures

12 Days of Christmas 2015: Bad Santa

Bad Santa (2003)
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Bernie Mac
Directed by: Terry Zwigoff


And now on to something that couldn't be further from a wholesome Christmas movie for the family to enjoy. I remember being really young and my dad really wanted to see Bad Santa when it came out in 2003. Don't worry, this story doesn't end with a traumatized 10-year-old me going to see that movie. In all honesty, I can't remember why we didn't see that movie. Maybe my father had a moment of conscience in the name of the holiday season, I don't know. Point is, I have a nostalgia with ALMOST seeing this movie. Then, this Christmastime, I finally decided to sit down and watch it. Bad Santa is not going to be a film for everybody, with it being a very raunchy, adult comedy. But even fans of raunchy adult comedy may not be the target audience for this film. With a great comedic ensemble and a festive atmosphere, the film plays out like a modern version of The Grinch. It's a film that tells the story of the ultimate curmudgeon around the holidays finding something worth caring about and ultimately embracing a bit of humanity he didn't know existed. This is of course masked with an epic amount of crass humor and cuss words, so let's see what stands out about Bad Santa and whether or not it's worth talking about all these years later.

Billy Bob Thornton is the star of the film, playing a drunken mall Santa named Willie Stokes. His performance is what really makes the film work. The interactions with the other characters and a lot of the humor is fed through how despicable and how pathetic Willie comes off. Yet, there's a likability factor that comes through in Thornton's performance as well. If you're a solid human being with a good string of conscience or morals, you normally wouldn't like a character like this at all. But Thornton does such a great job at selling how miserable, perverted, and mean-spirited Willie is, that we can't help but find him lovable to watch.

The supporting cast here is pretty good, but again, a lot of that comes down to how they interact with Willie. His partner in crime, played by Tony Cox, gets a lot of good one-liners against Willie, but a lot of that humor boils down to him being a little person. Willie has a one-dimensional relationship with a bartender, played by Lauren Graham, who has a fetish for guys dressed as Santa. That's a one-note joke that doesn't really go anywhere. There's also great characters played by comedic legends like Bernie Mac and John Ritter (the movie is dedicated in Ritter's memory, as he passed away shortly before the film was released), who have pretty good comedic moments on their own and with each other, being two of the only characters to get some comedic material outside of having to work with Thornton. But the best relationship Willie has is with the kid, played by Brett Kelly. This is really where the film gets its biggest comedic payoff, as well as a lot of its heart and soul. It's really hilarious to see how much he gets under Willie's skin, but we grow to love the bond they share as the film goes on.

So, who exactly is Bad Santa for? Everyone knows that one person who just can't get into the holiday spirit. They look at all the materialism and goodwill that goes on during the season, and it makes them feel sick. They're a Scrooge, a Grinch, a Hans Gruber. For me, that's my wife. So, when I put on this film for her, she found it absolutely hysterical and relatable. Bad Santa is a film that can make even the biggest of grumps during Christmas crack a smile and laugh, because they can look on it and say "At least my Christmas isn't THAT miserable." And that's a feeling we can all get behind, right?


Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

What will make or break your opinion on Bad Santa is how you feel about Billy Bob Thornton. He is the obvious star of this film, and this is one of the performances he'll be remembered most for. If you like his vulgar humor, then I'd suggest checking it out for that, as the other stuff in the film isn't all that memorable without Thornton. Just don't watch it with the kids around.

Bad Santa and movie images are copyrighted by Dimension Films

12 Days of Christmas 2015: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
Directed by: Chris Columbus


With the first Home Alone film being a success, a sequel was in the works to be released just 2 years later. I know what a lot of people are thinking just by looking at the poster, "They lose Macaulay Culkin AGAIN!?!?" Yes they do, but this time it's different. This time, he's in New York all by himself. I know the premise may seem really weak and forced, but to the film's credit, it had a tough act to follow. The first film is such a well-known classic, but also with a very simple plot to follow. In many ways when it comes to film, simple can be most memorable and effective. So when you try to redo the movie with a bigger scope, you're going to have some things that don't work as well and that's definitely the case with Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The film falls victim to a disease called sequel-itis and tries very hard to replicate what the original did so well. However, there are things that the film does really well, and in some ways are more entertaining than the first film. So let's see what works and what doesn't work with Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Macualay Culkin is back as Kevin McCallister, set one year after the events of the first Home Alone. When the first film came out, Culkin was the perfect age for Kevin, able to play him as both adorable and mischievous. For this film, puberty hit Culkin, so I don't really buy him only being 9-years-old. That voice change also, sadly, makes it really hard to not find Kevin annoying. It's a thing that follows child actors in film and TV when they've been playing the part for too long. When a once cute kid loses that novelty, producers will usually try to fix this by bringing in a newer, younger character into the mix. That's the case with Culkin here, just without the younger kid being brought in. When he repeats a lot of the stuff he was doing in the last film, that adorable factor has vanished and he's now bordering on going full sociopath.

Harry and Marv are back, once again played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, but this time they are known as the Sticky Bandits. Once again, these two are great. I'll never get tired of watching Pesci and Stern work together as Harry and Marv. In a world where spin-offs are made for great characters, they normally don't fare out well. But I would definitely see one about Harry and Marv. They are just such lovably idiotic buffoons and it's hilarious to see them get beat up by a little kid throughout these two movies.

One thing that is obnoxious is how much of the first film they try to get away with doing again, an action that exists in franchises (particularly in comedies) called sequel-itis. With the exception of the film's setting, this really can come off as lazy. The family is treating Kevin like scum, again. They lose him, again. Kevin has an adventure away from his family, getting into all kinds of mischief, again. Harry and Marv show up to cause some trouble, so Kevin has a house full of booby traps ready to foil their plans, AGAIN. It really becomes noticeable and you'll probably react one of two ways. If you have fun with it, you'll enjoy the little nods it gives to the first film. If you're a bit more of a critic and cynic like I am, you'll probably be stuck noticing how the once great John Hughes turned in a screenplay that feels so lazily written and slapped together as a film simply to capitalize on the previous film's success.

There is a lot of new stuff added to Home Alone 2: Lost in New York that I really do enjoy. For starters, New York. Yeah, it's a pretty simple concept to put these characters in New York, but it works really well. They take every advantage of taking Kevin everywhere. Central Park, the World Trade Center, Rockefeller Center, and the Plaza Hotel. Speaking of which, the stuff he does in the Plaza Hotel is very fun to watch as he tries to scam a lot of the staff members, particularly a concierge played by Tim Curry. Tim Curry is phenomenal even in his crappiest of films, so I get a kick out of seeing him in everything he's in. There's also a bellhop played by a young Rob Schneider and a cameo appearance from Donald Trump. That cameo alone is worth checking out in a modern day context, as it is funny to think how a candidate currently trying to run for President agreed to make an appearance in a film with Macaulay Culkin. But that's all I get into with politics here, if I went any further it would be silly.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

If you love the first Home Alone and don't mind seeing a lot of it repeated in a different setting, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a film you'll probably have a lot of fun with. The New York setting, the updated traps, and some of the scenes in the Plaza Hotel are sure to have you and your family laughing. It might not hold up quite as well as the first, but there's no harm in checking it out once.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and movie images are copyrighted by 20th Century Fox

12 Days of Christmas 2015: Home Alone

Home Alone (1990)
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
Directed by: Chris Columbus


Looking at the Christmas movies that you want to sit down and watch with the entire family, we've come to one of the modern classics. Home Alone is an early '90s family comedy starring Macaulay Culkin and written by John Hughes. That just screams a great combination for a great Christmas film (I'll probably be eating my words with the next review) and it's been one of my traditional favorites to watch every year since I was a little kid. Naturally, as a kid, the nostalgia I have for the film is for the slapstick. Now that I'm an adult, I watch it with a fresh pair of eyes and analyze the family themes, well-written script, and comedic timing that I wouldn't normally pick up on when I'm focusing on burglars getting hit with paint cans. And just to put it out there, I will NOT be reviewing the 3rd, 4th or 5th films. 3 is not centered around the holidays (more close to a winter in Chicago than anything directly), 4 was a made-for-TV movie and 5 went straight to DVD. With that out of the way, let's look at the original Home Alone film.

Of course everyone knows this as the family film that really put Macaulay Culkin on the map, as he plays our adorable, young hero Kevin McCallister. Kevin's the perfect age here to get away with his shenanigans. He's able to bridge the line between both adorable and mischievous, being both innocent and a schemer. He does a really great job of playing Kevin as a genuine kid. Sure, he mouths off and having those kinds of traps in his mind definitely show the early signs of a sociopath, but you still understand that he's just being a kid. Kids can be a lot smarter than adults give them credit for, and that's definitely the case with Kevin in this movie. He's left by himself and goes through all the emotions one would. He celebrates for a little bit, gets away with all the things he wouldn't normally be able to, but then starts to take care of himself and act like an adult in an act of survival. Culkin was the child actor of a generation because he showed a lot of adults what kids are capable of and showed kids what they themselves can accomplish a lot, while still putting on the image of being cute and cuddly.

Kevin has to protect his house from the bumbling Wet Bandits Harry and Marv, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. These guys are the entire reason I come back to this movie every year. They are so funny and work off each other so well that I wish we got to see more of them than Kevin. Like, had they taken this franchise to follow Harry and Marv, I totally would've been on board. They're simple comedic foils that work so well together. Harry is short and Marv is tall. Harry is the brains and Marv is stupid. You see it all the time with pairings, from Pinky and the Brain to Jay and Silent Bob. This great combination makes the Wet Bandits two of the most celebrated Christmas villains that we love to hate.

I'm sure this film could've been set at any other time during the year (such as a summer family trip or something), but Chris Columbus and John Hughes decided it would be worth it to cover the scenery in greens and reds. Surrounding the houses in fluffy, white snow and twinkling, bright lights really helps set a welcoming mood to the whole film. And I even enjoy a lot of the themes that older kids and adults will grow to appreciate. Like, even when they bicker, I love the family dynamic and I fully believe that they could be a real family interacting during the holidays. And I won't lie, the scene at the end always gets me a bit on the emotional side (ah, shut up!). It's a wonderfully written and thoughtful film celebrating the holiday season and everything around it.

But if I'm being honest here, Home Alone has probably stayed constant with viewers for 25 years because of the traps. This is some of the best slapstick you'll ever see and it's great to celebrate the comedic gold every year during December. Paint buckets to the head, blowtorches, and even a tarantula make appearances in this film's iconic final act. You'll laugh, you'll cringe, and you'll have a great time watching either with the family or by yourself. Just please...don't try any of that at home!


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Everything from John Hughes script, to the performances from the cast, to the iconic traps, to the Christmas atmosphere makes Home Alone one of the classic family movies to bust out every year for the holidays. Add this to your collection this Christmas, as I'm sure you'll be making it a tradition to watch this for years to come.

Home Alone and movie images are copyrighted by 20th Century Fox

12 Days of Christmas 2015: Love Actually

Love Actually (2003)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson
Directed by: Richard Curtis


After covering Star Wars for a bit, it's time that I move onto something a little different for the month of December (although, be prepared for one more Star Wars review around the 18th...). With the holiday season in full swing, I wanted to touch base on some of my favorite movies to watch this time of year, as well as some that I'm watching for the first time. I'm going for a 12 days of Christmas theme, a new review every other day leading up to Christmas day. If you're looking for reviews of Christmas classics like A Christmas Story, It's a Wonderful Life, and Die Hard (IT COUNTS!), see my December reviews from 2013. If you're a Harry Potter fan who busts these movies out during the holidays, I direct you to my August reviews from earlier this year. For now, let's get the 12 days of Christmas going with a modern fan favorite, Love Actually. A British romantic comedy centered during Christmastime, I had this movie in my collection for a full year before my wife and I popped it in our PS4 to watch. We figured that now would be a better time than any to finally give it a watch and see what all the fuss was about.

The biggest thing this film has going for it is its cast. This thing is LOADED with one of the biggest ensemble casts I've ever seen. Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Rowan Atkinson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, Andrew Lincoln and many more. Yes, Rick from The Walking Dead and Bilbo Baggins from the Hobbit movies (hmmm...Hobbit, that might be something to touch base on in the near future) are featured in this movie. Of course, they weren't megastars yet, so they are supporting roles. Still, it's funny to see them just kind of blend in with the rest of this terrifically talented cast.

The joy of having a cast this good is that the viewer can be taken through so many different interwoven stories. Nearly every character is connected to a character involved in another story, thus creating a fun chain for you to figure out as you're watching. One of my favorite stories include Colin Firth's character falling in love with his Portuguese maid, despite their being a language barrier. That story melted my wife's heart and I think it was really the segment that won her over. Other great stories involve Liam Neeson's character supporting his young step-son try and impress a girl at school, Hugh Grant playing the British Prime Minister try and hide the feelings he has for a member of his staff, and Bill Nighy playing an aged-rocker (a la David Bowie) being self-aware of how his character sold out and made a Christmas song. Those are just a sample of the many memorable stories that appear in Love Actually and I know I can't get to all of them, otherwise there would be no point in you checking out the film for yourself.

A fun cast, many entertaining stories on love, humor, romance, drama, all wrapped up in a festive holiday package. I can see why people enjoy watching Love Actually during the holidays. Is it anything groundbreaking? Probably not. It's every romantic comedy plot tied together in one film, with the major difference being that it's set during Christmastime. But it's a cute romantic comedy marketed toward couples and people who enjoy watching stuff on the BBC, so it definitely strikes a chord with the target audience.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

If you're looking to watch a romantic comedy during the Holidays, Love Actually is the film for you. A lot of the stories are great to watch and the all-star cast really helps something simple become very effective. This one is worth watching with your significant other at least once this Christmas.

Love Actually and movie images are copyrighted by Universal Pictures